Wednesday, May 11th 2016
No Takers for VR: TechPowerUp New GPU Survey
The latest TechPowerUp front-page survey springs up some interesting findings on what our readers are most looking forward to, with the upcoming GPUs. Timed ahead of market availability of new GPUs from both NVIDIA and AMD, this poll gains relevance. At the time of writing of this article, we had received 4,650 votes over a week-long period, which amounts to a reasonable sample size. Some of the findings were surprising.
An overwhelming 60 percent of the respondents find price/performance most important. Interestingly, only 7 percent find efficiency/noise important. The second most popular choice, at 14 percent, was "4K Playability" (the ability for the GPU to play games at 4K Ultra HD resolution, at playable frame-rates). Our readers are seven times more likely to invest on 4K Ultra HD monitors (which start at $300 if you look in the right places), than picking up a VR (virtual reality) headset. A negligible 2 percent of our readers find VR most important.
The battle for next-gen APIs seems to be going Microsoft's way, as DirectX 12 excites 7 percent of our readers, compared to 3 percent for Vulkan. More people seem to be looking forward to Vulkan than VR. A sizable 5 percent of the respondents are cynical and are just happy to have more games to play with on their existing hardware.
An overwhelming 60 percent of the respondents find price/performance most important. Interestingly, only 7 percent find efficiency/noise important. The second most popular choice, at 14 percent, was "4K Playability" (the ability for the GPU to play games at 4K Ultra HD resolution, at playable frame-rates). Our readers are seven times more likely to invest on 4K Ultra HD monitors (which start at $300 if you look in the right places), than picking up a VR (virtual reality) headset. A negligible 2 percent of our readers find VR most important.
97 Comments on No Takers for VR: TechPowerUp New GPU Survey
DX12 and Vlukan options don't really fit in the picture, since all of the upcoming cards will support both. No one even thinks about it, because it is already taken for granted.
VR is also "supported" by most upcoming cards (boils down to 2K-playability), so there is nothing to consider - you get it whether you care about it or not.
Also, I'm not sure about everyone here, but I always consider PRICE/PERFORMANCE/EFFICIENCY together before buying a new GPU.
Here's an example:
- card XXX costs $100 and scores 1000 pipimarks
- card YYY costs $110 and scores 900 pipimarks
- card XXX has a 120W max power draw
- card YYY has a 90W max power draw
Even though card XXX is $10 cheaper and 10% faster, I would still select card YYY because it is more efficient (and consequentially colder, quieter and less demanding on PSU) within similar price/performance category.
Basically what I am trying to say is that this poll is invalid, until you make it a multi-option poll. I care about all of it, including VR.
Don't get me wrong. I only point that reality proves the above chart 100% wrong.
VR in its current state is Pong. I want Battlefield on a virtually real battlefield. Same as the real deal...except the getting killed part.
How ever understanding that VR puts your head in the game even more than TrackIR will do as you have to keep your eye's on the screen(s) in front of you.
How ever TrackIR is $150 set back and does not require better hardware from not using it. Were as with VR you need much better hardware to run a game than normal, then their is the crazy assed price tag.
All so VR is new to the market too so they will get cheaper and performance will get better over time so a lot of people like my self are just waiting.
Maybe people have more sence when new tech comes even more so after being some what screwed over for not waiting "COUGH 3D".
That is not to say that this couldn't be induced in 100% or near 100% of people using VR if that were the intended purpose. Game designers / hardware makers are clearly trying to avoid this side effect though.
Crusader kings 2 in VR...? No thanks.
Sony might bring PlayStation VR to the PC
Ultimately, I would still prefer playing games (since most are 1st person I enjoy) at 4K 60hz. I just bought last year's Vizio 60" 4K TV on sale at Costco and it is fantastic especially at 120hz 1080p on such a large screen. If I can play any game on this TV maxed out with downsampling that would be my #1 priority.
Why so much bad prejudice when the majority haven't even tried it? Aren't we supposed to be open minded. Gee I think as PC owners we are the cool guys, not the conservative shut everything out old timers.
its a Fool me once shame on you, fool me twice shame on me thing.
so now here comes round 3 and I'm like...meh.
I was joking.
VR isn't for me personally as I don't have the money for starters. But I don't see it as evil or bad in it's current form.
Shocking :)
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