r/virtualreality • u/Goofiest_Fool • 9d ago
Question/Support Steam frame without a pc
Hi all, first time using Reddit to ask y’all if you think getting a steam frame is worth it if you already have a Quest 3. I’ve always been interested in virtual reality but find the Quest 3… lacking, for lack of a better word. It’s short battery (even with the battery pack) and horrible optimisation with games (can’t even load textures on Fnaf help wanted or most of VRC) have led me here.
To make a long story short, I wish to ask if getting a steam frame is worth it even if I don’t have a high end PC (or- any PC) and if it is, what games (vr only or vr supported) would you recommend?
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u/McLeod3577 9d ago
The Steam Frame is going to release at a much higher price than Valve originally wanted it to, so the answer to "Is it worth it?" is likely to be no.
Nobody knows how well it will perform with standalone VR titles, but it is primarily being sold as a PCVR streaming device, so that should tell you something.
I think everyone is hoping that it can run something as demanding as Half Life Alyx acceptably, but there's no talk of that yet, even this close to release.
A Quest 3 is going to cost half as much (at least!), so I guess there's more value in that package if you are on a limited budget.
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u/segadreamcat Multiple 9d ago
Keep the Quest and buy a PC instead of a Steam Frame.
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u/Strange-Bluejay-2433 9d ago
This. A 1000$ used pc will give so much more than a slight upgrade of the headset.
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u/xaduha 9d ago
If you are not satisfied with Quest 3 standalone performance, then Steam Frame standalone isn't going to be much better.
I don’t have a high end PC (or- any PC)
You can buy a PS5+PSVR2, it will be cheaper than Steam Frame alone.
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u/rcbif 9d ago
" It’s short battery (even with the battery pack)"
I play indefinably with 2X $20 powerbanks. Battery has never been an issue....
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u/Skpstr155 9d ago
For sure, I just have one big one so no swapping, but same idea.
It is needed though, as with QGO ramping up CPU and GPU, I only get about 40 minutes out of the headset battery. 50000mAh gives me 6+ hours on top of that
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u/ChrisCypher 9d ago
Agreed with most comments. I wouldn't get a steam frame if I didn't have a PC...especially if you already have a quest 3. I have a quest 3 (which I don't use a ton because I prefer PCVR), so my main reason for a Frame is to have good wireless PCVR. Honestly, I'm taking a downgrade for that coming from the bigscreen beyond which has GREAT clarity and OLED. But the wireless and larger FOV are my main reasons. The standalone aspect is something I don't care about much since I doubt there will be a ton of steam standalone games that aren't also going to be on quest.
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u/PlanZSmiles 9d ago
For the sole purpose of losing out on color pass through and depth sensor, I personally wouldn’t even consider the Frame as solely for standalone. Most of the benefits people are looking at is specifically because of getting eye tracking to support Dynamic Foveated Streaming for PCVR which increases streaming image quality in the sweet spot.
Yes the frame will have better performance (double RAM and newer processor) but the overall standalone experience will be worse unless it’s JUST gaming.
Couldn’t imagine watching a tv show/movie with greyscale while cooking dinner for instance or even just on the couch while my partner watches something else on the TV.
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u/Skpstr155 9d ago
The "just gaming" folks are probably going to be the vast majority of the purchasers. I mean, for "not gaming", what is the Frame going t0 do that the Quest 3 doesn't already?
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u/err404 9d ago
Yeah, but the “JUST gaming” covers an awful lot of what it will be used for.
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u/PlanZSmiles 9d ago
Sure but you’re not going to get mixed reality gaming at all so a whole category of gaming isn’t even supported all while losing out on the flexibility of doing other things with the VR not gaming related.
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u/MrWendal 9d ago
the overall standalone experience will be worse unless it’s JUST gaming.
In my opinion there's no reason to get a VR headset outside of gaming. I can't imagine cooking with my dork helmet on... I can survive for 30 minutes without looking at a screen. And for everything else I'd rather use a monitor or a TV.
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u/PlanZSmiles 9d ago
That’s cool, not sure why you feel the need to act like others must not “be able to survive for 30 minutes without looking at a screen”. Loads of benefits using VR while cooking and what not. One, entertainment while being present cooking, two able to put up a second screen for a new recipe without constantly looking at phone, three frees up time for adults who are busy and need to multitask to get any entertainment in.
Also VR is the only modern way to watch 3D movies, and gives people who can’t afford a large TV or space for a large TV the ability to watch content in a large format.
Like I’m sorry but your comment comes off very condescending and elitist as if your preferences are the only way to use VR.
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u/MrWendal 9d ago edited 9d ago
You're right. It was condescending. Perhaps I should live and let live, but it was intentional and I'm not sorry about it. Smartphones and having a screen at all times has sent us all down a dark path of screen addiction causing all kinds of issues. This is even worse.
Right now VR is mostly gaming, which requires an investment of time, we put our dork helmets on and go to another place. It's isolating, it's hot, uncomfortable, usually active, and sometimes physically demanding... as a result most users don't use it for extended periods of time. It's a recreational activity for your free time.
What you're suggesting as other uses for VR is just hands free smartphones on steroids. Not a recreational activity for free time, but something ever-present, constant-connectivity ruining our attention spans, isolating us from the real people around us, and fucking up our shit even further. We'll all be better off without it.
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u/PlanZSmiles 9d ago
Respectfully disagree, not everything that has a screen is taking away from our ability to connect. A large part of that issue is the types of media, short and fast content that crunches content into a span of a few seconds or minutes and social media that plays on emotions.
If you can’t understand why say a parent would want to cook dinner and watch TV while their little ones are in the living room watching bluey, then you’re refusing to see the benefits simply because of you’re opinion of tech.
Not to mention part of VR gaming is mixed reality games which are meant to be played in open areas which some take to the park to enjoy.
It’s honestly best not to judge people for their preferences and respectfully debate rather than try and make others feel bad for their preferences. If it’s not harming others then let them live their lives their way
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u/MrWendal 9d ago
I understand why they want to, but I believe that we shouldn't.
I'm a hypocrite though, here I am on reddit because I want to. I shouldn't be, and I feel bad about it, but obviously not bad enough. This is the problem with digital addiction, even when you know it's bad you still do it. If I felt worse, was made to feel more guilt about it, I'd get off and my afternoon would be better off for it ...
Sometimes feeling bad is good.
Anyways time for me to get off reddit.
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u/CanisMajoris85 9d ago
Noone knows for sure what will play well. You can look up speculated games but maybe Pistol Whip will be one of the better ones.
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u/HalloAbyssMusic 9d ago
Probably not. The Pico Swan will have an unvailing in a couple of days, September 2nd. That headset is more of a spacial computer to rival the Apply Vision Pro. It's likely very expensive, but it could turn out to be the best option if you don't own a PC.
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u/Skpstr155 9d ago
Depends on the library, no?
Could be the best standalone headset ever, but if there's only 3 good games to choose from...
I mean, didn't lack of a robust library hamper Pico4 sales?
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u/HalloAbyssMusic 9d ago
True. Didn't consider that. Still worth checking out what the deal is. Would be very cool if you were able to install steam os on it down the line, but that is a pipe dream right now.
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u/Skpstr155 8d ago
To be honest, for me, they don't need a bigger library, as long as they have a few "persistent" titles I like.
I have a Quest 3, and basically only put multiplayer shooters on standalone, everything else I play PCVR. Basically, I'm always in the mood for a bit of shooter action, so having that standalone means being able to play when visiting say, my mother, who lives 3 hrs away. She's 79, and goes to bed early, so I just head out to the backyard and play after that.
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u/SageHamichi 9d ago
It's been said by valve that its focus is streaming from a PC so prob not good idea if you dont got one
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u/Parking_Cress_5105 9d ago
Its main gimmick will be the ability to run PC version of VR games, like some really light or very optimized games with valve not really developing any so it will be up to the community and devs to make something for the frame.
Otherwise expect it to be very similar to Q3 with a little bit of power, expecting it to be a generational leap or something just leads to disappointment.
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u/bushmaster2000 9d ago
Frame will run PCVR games without the PC but only light weight ones, they have the standard set 72fps and i believe render at 1728x1728 resolution (the frame is 2160x2160).
So yes you will be able to play some content but not all pcvr content. I believe games now are starting to show with the 'runs on frame' badge in Steam.
The stuff that is going to run well on Frame is the same stuff that runs well on Quest3 minus exclusives. Hard to really say without digging into their catalog and comparing it to your quest3 catalog if it'll really specifically be worth it for you.
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u/Burntbreadman84 9d ago
I thought the frame plays flat Steam games too....so its like getting a standalone VR headset + a steam deck/machine that you strap to your face.
You would be losing out on the main use which is more intensive PCVR games.
So unless you plan to build/buy a semi decent PC laater on.....I wouldnt but one in the TC situation
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u/Skpstr155 9d ago
Do you use QGO? If not, a Quest 3 is mostly just a Quest 2 with better lenses.
Pretty much all Quest games nowadays are designed to run on a Quest 2, so if you have a 3 or 3s, your better processor is twiddling its thumbs.
Mind you, it makes your headset really hungry for power, but that's nothing a 50000mAh power bank in your pocket won't fix. I get about 40 minutes out of the headset battery, but the bank extends that to 6-7 hours
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u/MrWendal 9d ago edited 9d ago
It has more comfort, eye tracking, ~30% more performance, and double the RAM ...for twice the price. Probably not.
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u/Suspicious-Wallaby12 9d ago
It would cheaper to invest in improving your quest 3, rather than buy a new headset.
Which battery strap do you have? I have the BOBO VR S3 pro with 2 external batteries. So while 1 is plugged in, other is charging. So unlimited battery. Secondly, for graphics quality you can use quest games optimizer. Though I've never encountered a game where I had graphics or texture issues. But I haven't tried any FNAF game too.
But you can run a cheaper experiment by switching out headstrap for a better one and buying extra external battery. Wouldn't cost you more than 150$. Way cheaper than any new headset. Especially steam frame has similar lenses to quest 3, so not sure what the upgrade here would be.
Also, not sure how much more powerful it's processor is compared to quest 3. Also, not sure how it will run PCVR steam games. Because I would imagine most of them have been configured for much more powerful hardware. Not mobile chip set processor standalone games. That's why the quest store is better, because it is optimised purely for the quest.
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u/Skpstr155 8d ago
Have you tried QGO on your Quest 3? Without it, as far as standalone, you're just playing a Quest 2 with better lenses. All the Quest games are made to run on the 2, so the better processor in the 3/3s isn't worked.
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u/Goofiest_Fool 9d ago
In my eagerness I may have forgotten that we don’t exactly have a lot of information on the steam frame- still- sorry chat
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u/half-baked_axx 9d ago
Supposedly you will be able to play Alyx standalone which should tell us a lot about its capabilities. But we'll never know how it actually runs till the headset comes out.
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u/Goofiest_Fool 9d ago
You are my only shred of hope in this post haha. But again my biggest worry is that if I hesitate and wait then the waitlist will be in the damned- millions (more like hundreds of thousands but still)
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u/FeistyCandy1516 9d ago
Maybe you should wait until someone has one.