Valve Index or HP Reverb G2

[DOOLYBOYMAN]

I wanna upgrade from my old Oculus Rift to something new! I like that the G2 doesn't include base stations and has amazing Resolution but I heard some downsides about the controllers in shooting games. The Index on the other hand I've heard so much good about it, that it might as well be the Jesus of VR but 1000$ is a bit steep even for my lavish tastes! If you have a G2, tell me your thoughts on it!

[140dB]

I've had HTC Vive, and it was really great in terms of performance and reliability, and now I've bought the HP Reverb G2, the resolution is really great, but it's poor in terms of optimization for both hardware and software, such as USB errors and controllers lagging, or suddenly the game it self lag.

[0Dd1]

G2 is okayish for a VR beginner.
The Index is far superior though. FOV, refresh rate, oontroller, software, ergonomics.

[dktronics]

Don't rule out the HTC Vive Cosmos Elite. This is a good headset that uses base stations, wands, and a good resolution of 2880 x 1700 combined. I don't have one personally, but the one I used was good, and I liked the ability to lift up part of the headset so you can see around you without taking the whole thing off.
A friend of mine paid £500 for the whole bundle, this wasn't new though, it was pre-owned.

[Titans of Time]

G2 has amazing video, audio (same as Index) and comfort, the controls are not nearly as good as the Index though.

[The Maddog]

Originally posted by dktronics:

Don't rule out the HTC Vive Cosmos Elite. This is a good headset that uses base stations, wands, and a good resolution of 2880 x 1700 combined. I don't have one personally, but the one I used was good, and I liked the ability to lift up part of the headset so you can see around you without taking the whole thing off.
A friend of mine paid £500 for the whole bundle, this wasn't new though, it was pre-owned.

Hate to break it to you but the Cosmos Elite is absolutely not worth it when compared to the Index. I'm not saying the headset itself is not good...just saying the rest of it drags it down.

Aside from the fact HTC decided to bundle it with the old outdated Vive wands (yeah, you can buy the Index controllers for it but thats an extra £300) a complete Vive Cosmos Elite package (something OP will need) is £881. Considering it's just £900 for the Index bundle which comes with the newest controllers and a free copy of HL:A (and taking base headset specs into account), you you get more and better for your money with the Index.

As for OP..

Index all the way imo. G2 is great for sim pit players but as a roomscale device and overall VR headset package, Index wins hands down. Tracking is a bit to limited on the G2 for my tastes. The G2 isn't a bad headset, I just feel that given it's price, you're better off saving a bit extra and getting the Index. If it drops in price by $50 or more then I'd be saying the G2.

[dktronics]

I've used the Vive Cosmos Elite, have you ? Sounds like you have read "Something" on reddit.
Good luck getting a Index, never in stock. Even on ebay, they go within minutes of someone posting a listing.
The Elite has a better resolution, the fov is just slightly lower - 110 vs 120 on index. Refresh is only 90hz, but in VR it's not as easy to tell 90hz from 140hz, as it is on a dedicated PC monitor.
There is also the Vive Pro, with AMOLED screens. Guess it depends on if you like the wands, or not.
I mean, everything looks better to me because I'm still using a Rift S. Although not for long, as Facebook creep is getting closer and closer.

[dkippers]

I just got my Index less than a week ago. I've spent half of that time trying to get an RMA. They keep asking me to try things that are unrelated to the issue citing incorrect information and generally showing no knowledge of how to support the headset. For the 4 days it was working it was leaps and bounds above my old Rift S but has been nothing but a pain on the support side.

If their support was keeping up with their product knowledge and more helpful I would recommend it hands down. As it is I'm waiting for my Reverb so I can actually play my VR games.

[0Dd1]

Originally posted by dktronics:

but in VR it's not as easy to tell 90hz from 140hz, as it is on a dedicated PC monitor.

Not true. Actually the difference is much greater and easier to see imo.

[The Maddog]

Originally posted by dktronics:

I've used the Vive Cosmos Elite, have you ? Sounds like you have read "Something" on reddit.

Since you cant read what I wrote, I'll just leave you to it.

[dktronics]

So, you haven't use one. Didn't think so. Typical Valve Index fanboy.

Originally posted by Worst Face:

Originally posted by dktronics:

but in VR it's not as easy to tell 90hz from 140hz, as it is on a dedicated PC monitor.

Not true. Actually the difference is much greater and easier to see imo.

It really isn't. This is nothing like the difference between say 60hz, and 144hz G-Sync where the difference is huge, and you are sat back from the monitor. With the screens right up next to your eyes, along with the lenses, anywhere from 90hz -100hz upto 140hz isn't much difference.

[dkippers]

Originally posted by dktronics:

So, you haven't use one. Didn't think so. Typical Valve Index fanboy.

Originally posted by Worst Face:

Not true. Actually the difference is much greater and easier to see imo.

It really isn't. This is nothing like the difference between say 60hz, and 144hz G-Sync where the difference is huge, and you are sat back from the monitor. With the screens right up next to your eyes, along with the lenses, anywhere from 90hz -100hz upto 140hz isn't much difference.

My experience differs greatly from yours. I went from a Rift S to an Index and went from moderate motion sickness after half an hour to none after over an hour.

[dktronics]

But all that bump in refresh rate did was to stop your motion sickness, you didn't gain much in visuals. My mate has a Index, his kids have the Quest 2, and he gets more issues with his index than I have ever had with my Rift S - which has been rock solid for 2 years. And his kid's Quest 2 blows the Index away for image quality, and that is a £299 headset, compared to a £999 headset. And don't get me started on the damn lighthouse setups - we spent 4 hours pissing around with those. Yes, it's a better headset than my Rift S, but it has way more issues - just look in this forum, for starters, then go to reddit steamVR - loads of Index issues.

[Kobs]

I recently switched from a CV1 to a HP G2 and the difference is night and day much MUCH clearer the colors are more vibrant (not really hard to beat the CV1 lol
I had to remove the original plastic face gasket though my face size didn't fit but on the other hand the youtube MRTV Frankenfov mod gave me more FOV a way to clean my headset since the new one is in PU leather and gives me as much comfort as the original (if it could fit me)
I play in a dimmed lit environment (home theater) and so far no problems with tracking what so ever everything is smooth as butter I just wish I had a better GPU (1070 TI)
Controllers work with 1.6V AA batteries if you put in 1.2V they will work but the life of the batteries will be shorter (probably what the peoples who said they eat batteries like cup cakes were using) I play like 9 to 10 hours a day and they last 3 days normal play time of 5 hours a day would double at least (always depends on the brand too)
I have nothing but good things to say about that headset

[dkippers]

Originally posted by dktronics:

But all that bump in refresh rate did was to stop your motion sickness, you didn't gain much in visuals.

Refresh rate never gives any gain in visuals that's not even the point. It decreases lag in games by providing the image faster. Being able to play for over half an hour is a huge deal to me and is definitely worth some additional cost.

From a strictly monetary price per feature the Quest 2 has better visuals but lower quality tracking and slightly higher lag.

Lighthouse tracking is actually really easy to set up in my experience. Exactly as easy as setting up my Rift S. It took me less than 10 min to put the lighthouses in the right position and just get playing. The increase in tracking quality is well more than worth it.

If you don't mind Facebook then the Quest 2 is almost definitely the correct choice. I personally deactivated my Facebook account 5+ years ago and have been happier every day since. I don't despise Facebook but the idea of having to maintain an account there makes the extra money worth it for anything else.

I agree with you on the issues with the Index. The tracking is vastly superior but their durability and support is severely lacking. I look forward to the day where there are more players in the VR space that can truly compete. Until then I'll begrudgingly trudge through the Valve support channels because I hated everything about having a Facebook account from just maintaining it down to them tracking every single detail about how I use the internet.

That said I make the money to make that decision others don't and they have the Facebook option.

[dktronics]

Well, at least we can agree on something, Facebook are pure evil. I set his kid's Quest 2 up, AFTER they got banned for simply making a username that wasn't their real names. Facebook wanted a Driver's license, a recent photo, a utility bill, phone number, mobile phone number, full address - we had to upload copies of the documents just to prove he wasn't trying something on. F*ck that. My Rift S will be long gone before that comes to the Rift.

The lighthouses are really picky on your room. You're good, If you have a good shaped room (no weird shapes, or L shapes), and minimal things in your room. My mate has a 70" OLED LG TV, a shiny leather sofa, a shiny coffee table, lots of shiny objects, and the 2 lighthouses go mad if the lighting is either too strong, or too weak. We have to make sure the lighthouses point away from the TV, so they can't see it, as well as nothing reflective in their eye line/sensor line. What took the time was the constant positioning of them, as well as their height. We started at ceiling level, worked our way down and ended up at roughly standing eye level.

On the Quest 2, all you need to do is setup a Guardian, calibrate the controllers, and you're off - ready to go. Obviously, the damn Facebook login, before you do anything, is a real deal killer for me. Kids love it, but then kids don't worry about privacy until they get to be adults.