VR headsets for Windows 10 will run on modest PCs with 4GB RAM

Microsoft has revealed the required specifications for running its Virtual Reality headsets on Windows 10 systems. According to The Verge, the company has included a "Windows Holographic First Run" application in the recent test builds of Windows 10 to find if a machine is compatible. It added that the requirements are pretty rudimentary with 4GB of RAM, USB 3.0 port, a graphics card with DirectX 12 support and four CPU cores, with dual-core processors and hyperthreading. As of now it is unclear as to the kind of VR experience that the headsets will be able to provide with the specifications mentioned above. 

Other VR headsets like Oculus Rift and HTC Vive require higher specifications to perform well although Oculus has recently just rolled out a new feature that enables its VR headset to operate on slower hardware.  Both require a quad-core Intel Core i5 4590 or faster processor, 4GB RAM, USB 3.0 and an NVIDIA GTX 970/AMD R9 290 video card.  

The move has been hailed as an attempt to make the VR experience more accessible to users. Microsoft has begun with cheaper headsets, what remains to be seen is if the final PC specs will prove to be cheaper than the competition.

The company will launch VR support for all Windows 10 PCs as part of the Creators Update early next year. The company is reportedly creating its own VR platform using the Windows Holographic platform, which powers the HoloLens headset. The headsets, which will begin at $299, will incorporate inside-out tracking sensors, doing away with the need for external cameras or laser systems as are found on other VR headsets such as the Oculus Rift or HTC Vive. Microsoft will be partnering with several manufacturers such as HP, Dell, Lenovo, Asus, and Acer to build the headsets. Additional details and specifications, such as the required CPU speed and GPU hardware are expected to be revealed by the company in December. 

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Deepak Bhadana