Here are the minimum specs you’ll need to experience virtual reality:
1. Intel Core i5-6300HQ processor
2. Nvidia GeForce GTX 980, 1060, 1070 or 1080 GPU
3. 8GB of RAM
4. Two USB 3.0 ports
5. HDMI 1.4
6. 1920 x 1080 display
7. Windows 8 or 10
On the Horizon
For now, VR users are tethered to their laptops thanks to the myriad of cables the headsets require to run. However, DisplayLink has started showing off DisplayLink XR, its wireless module solution, which will allow you to walk around your virtual space without a bunch of wires tethering you to an expensive desktop or laptop. Attached to the back of a VR headset, the company’s network display technology can support a pair of 4K monitors with a 120-fps frame rate over Wi-Fi of WiGig (wireless Gigabit).
Microsoft has also thrown its hat into the VR arena with its new MR headsets like the Acer Mixed Reality AH101 Headset. Partnering with major laptop manufacturers (Acer, Dell, HP and Lenovo), these headsets will be available in two tiers. The entry-level headsets will start at $299 and have the ability to work with integrated graphics whereas the ultra version of the devices will top at $499 and work with discrete graphics.
The following are the best VR-ready laptops on the market based on size and price.
The smallest member of the Alienware armada is back and better than ever with a lean, new profile and an Nvidia 10-series GPU, making it one of the smallest VR-ready laptops in the industry. If that wasn’t enough the Alienware 13’s backlighting and audio system got an overhaul while retaining the oh-so-captivating optional OLED display. In short, if you want a portable, powerful, VR-ready gaming rig, the buck stops here.
Best 15-inch – Acer Predator Helios 300 (17-inch) – From $1293.79
For the price, the 17-inch Acer Predator Helios 300 (priced at $1,279.99) is one heck of a performer. It offers a large, 1080p display that’s bright enough to make you want to ditch your desktop monitor. The laptop also has a powerful Core i7 processor and a Nvidia GeForce GTX 1060 GPU that can easily support either the Oculus Rift or HTC Vive. Plus, this And if that wasn’t enough, the notebook is one of the few systems that allows you to upgrade your hard drive and RAM. Based on our testing, the Helios 300 also has over 5 hours of battery life, which is rather impressive for a gaming laptop.
Best 17-inch – Razer Blade Pro – From $3999.99
Don’t equate the Blade Pro’s slimness for weakness. On the contrary, this svelte stunner is equipped with a Nvidia GeForce GTX 1080 GPU with 8GB of VRAM, the most powerful GPU you can get in a laptop. But the Blade isn’t just a beast on traditional games, it can also deliver some silky smooth frames in VR, so feel free to strap on that Oculus Rift or HTC Vive.
Year after year, the company manages to feng shui ridiculously powerful components into a space that’s only 0.7-inches thick. This time around, the company managed to squeeze the GeForce GTX 1060 GPU into the mix, creating a VR-ready, 14-inch monster that’s crouched and ready to strike. If that wasn’t enough, this latest iteration of the Blade is priced at an aggressive $1,799, putting it into direct competition with the likes of Alienware and MSI. But when you’ve got a gaming laptop this pretty and this powerful — the choice seems clear.
For the price, the Acer Predator Helios 300 (17-inch) is one heck of a performer. At $1,293.79, the Helios 300 offers a large, 1080p display is bright enough to make you want to ditch your desktop monitor. The laptop also has a powerful Core i7 processor and a Nvidia GeForce GTX 1060 GPU which can easily support either the Oculus Rift or HTC Vive. And if that wasn’t enough, the notebook is one of the few systems that allows you to upgrade your hard drive and RAM. It also has over 5 hours of battery life, which is rather impressive for a gaming laptop.
Just when I think I’ve seen everything gaming laptops have to offer, along comes something like the Acer Predator 21 X. Weighing a ridiculous 18.6 pounds, the Predator 21 X is an exercise in immodest overindulgence that I can get behind. This is the first laptop to feature a curved display that when combined with Tobii’s eye-tracking technology makes for a seriously immersive gaming experience.