VR vs. Triples
Still debating whether to go with VR or triple screens for your first virtual cockpit or racing setup? Concerned about the transition from monitors to VR? We've gathered real user experiences and insights from YouTubers to help you make the best choice!
7 Reasons Why VR is Better Than Triples for Sim Game
1. The Ultimate ‘Wow’ Factor
“Oh man I’m never going back to monitors for racing. I was blown away in races seeing the cars I’m racing in 3D and just how massive the tracks are and how much more consistent you can be not only relying on the FFB from the wheel. It’s like I was blind before and can finally see.” (Reddit)
The sense of "being there" is something that flat screens simply cannot replicate, making VR an unforgettable experience.
2. More Precise Control Due to Realistic Scale and Depth
"With a monitor, you have to guess distances based on experience, but in VR, you can actually judge how far the car ahead is in real 3D space." (Reddit)
In VR, the stereoscopic 3D effect enhances depth perception, allowing for more accurate judgment of distance, width, and height. This makes overtaking in racing sims and formation flying in flight sims feel far more natural. Additionally, VR provides a true sense of scale, improving spatial awareness, which helps with hitting apexes in racing and executing precise maneuvers in flight simulations.
3. Full Field of View for Situational Awareness
"Even an ultrawide monitor doesn’t come close to the FOV you get in VR. In a real car, you see with your peripheral vision, and VR is the only way to replicate that." (Reddit)
VR offers a true 1:1 head tracking experience, allowing for natural situational awareness—whether tracking targets in dogfights or checking mirrors in racing. While some may argue that triple-screen setups provide a wider static field of view, VR effectively eliminates FOV limitations by enabling seamless head movement to see in any direction. In contrast, monitor setups require additional head or eye tracking to view areas beyond the screens, disrupting the alignment between the displayed cockpit and real-world controls, ultimately reducing immersion. Pimax Crystal Light allows you to fully immerse yourself in your simulation, replicating the real-world experience in a way that screens simply cannot match.
4. Hands-on Interaction with Cockpit Controls
"In VR, I can reach out and flip the switches in my plane—it’s the closest thing to actually being in a cockpit." (Reddit)
With hand tracking, controllers or properly positioned HOTAS, users can interact with cockpit controls in a way that closely mirrors real-world operations. Many real-world pilots and drivers use VR to train because the depth perception and natural movements translate directly into real-life skills.
5. Superior Driving Performance for Beginners in VR
"At the very beginner level, driving performance is actually superior in VR. The instinctive, true-to-life field of view and the notion of true depth make the initial experience much more natural to beginners, and their performance is on average much better compared to monitors." (Youtube video)
Suellio Almeida thinks that VR helps racing beginners feel more connected to the simulation, providing an instinctive sense of being inside a race car. This makes it a great choice for anyone looking to improve their skills and enjoy the excitement of racing, where they can experience the full immersion of the technology and continue to improve their skills.
6. Faster Adaptation to New Tracks
“VR allows me to learn the track much faster and make better car setups. I don't need brake markers or track clues because I can see the corner, know my position, and feel the car's rotation. Force feedback adds to the immersion, helping me find the perfect position on track and make the best braking inputs.” (Youtube video)
SimRacing Anrout believes that using VR accelerates adaptation to new tracks compared to using a screen, as VR offers a more realistic sense of the track and vehicle feedback. With an immersive perspective, he can directly feel the car's position and rotation, eliminating the need for traditional brake markers or track clues, allowing for quicker adjustments to the car and optimizing braking inputs.
7. Faster Lap Times with VR
"I think it's a stereoscopic 3D effect so it's allowing me to have a better sense of my relative position to the corner and able to trail break into the corner much more efficiently." (Youtube video)
VR helped Boosted Media achieve faster lap times due to improved spatial awareness, better car placement, and more effective braking, particularly in complex corners and chicanes.
Challenges from Screens to VR
1. Comfort
Some users are concerned about the comfort of wearing VR for extended sessions, while some sim racers think wearing VR is just like wearing a helmet. The comfort of VR can be adjusted through accessories like foams or straps to improve the balance of the headset’s weight. According to VR Flight Sim Guy's test, wearing the Pimax Crystal Light for a 3.5 hour flight session was comfortable and acceptable.
2. Motion Sickness
Motion sickness can occur when first using VR for some people, but it can be overcome with practice. By slowly increasing the time spent in VR, users can adapt and reduce discomfort, making the experience smoother and more natural over time.
3. Environmental Awareness
Using VR fully immerses users in a virtual world, which can lead to concerns about missing out on things happening around them, like the sound of your cat or notifications on their phone. However, many people enjoy VR for this very reason, as it helps block out distractions. Moreover, the Pimax Crystal Light features a see-through mode, activated by tapping the left side of the headset twice, allowing users to quickly switch between virtual and real-world views without interrupting their simulation.
4. Familiarity with Controls
Switching from screen-based simulation to VR may take some time to adjust, as VR doesn't provide the same physical cues, such as the exact position or feel of the steering wheel. This adjustment takes time and practice, but once mastered, interacting with virtual dashboards and knobs in VR provides a rewarding sense of accomplishment and immersion that’s not possible with a traditional screen setup.
5. Ease of Use
Some users worry about the complexity of setting up VR. However, thanks to continuous optimizations, Crystal Light now offers a plug-and-play experience. For popular sim games, there are plenty of online tutorials to guide you through VR and game settings. Although setup may take a little effort initially, it's a one-time process. On the other hand, setting up monitors also comes with its own challenges, often requiring more space and physical effort.
6. Budget
Achieving a high-quality experience, whether through multiple screens or VR, requires a significant investment. The PC requirements for high-end PCVR setups and triple-screen configurations are quite similar, so if your PC can handle triple screens, it should be sufficient for VR as well. The Crystal Light excels with its superior clarity, optical design, and software architecture, ensuring it remains a cutting-edge product for years to come. With a total price of $887 and a resolution of 2880x2880 per eye, it offers excellent value compared to other high-end VR headsets and monitors.
Upgrade to VR Today with 3% off
Get the 2880 x 2880 resolution per eye Crystal Light with 3% off today.
Upgrade to VR Today with 3% off
Get the 2880 x 2880 resolution per eye Crystal Light with 3% off today.
