Gaming pc and VR has been going side by side pretty much very well. However, most gamer still thinks that there are some games they couldn’t play on. So do you want to play VR games on your gaming PC with an Oculus Quest headset? Here’s everything to know about connecting an Oculus Quest or Oculus Quest 2 to your gaming PC.
Oculus Quest is a gaming system that is designed for virtual reality gaming and experience. The series has released two models already: the Oculus Quest and the Oculus Quest 2. These two VR headsets can be connected to a gaming PC through a wired or wireless connection.
The most common way is by using a wired USB cable called Oculus Link. While for the wireless option, a user can choose to use Air Link, which is Facebook’s official wireless option. There is also a third-party app that can wirelessly connect your Oculus Quest to your unit, called Virtual Desktop.
Below is an outline guide of how to connect your Oculus Quest on gaming pc using the different options:
WIRED CONNECTION – OCULUS LINK AND CABLE
Before anything, you need to check if your Oculus Quest is compatible with your gaming PC and the Oculus Link cable. Here are the minimum PC requirements:
- Processor: Intel i5-4590 / AMD Ryzen 5 1500X or greater
- Memory: 8 GB+ RAM
- Operating System: Windows 10
- USB Ports: 1x USB port
While here’s a complete list of graphics cards that are compatible with the Oculus Link:
- NVIDIA Titan X
- NVIDIA GeForce GTX 97
- NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 Desktop (6GB)
- NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1070
- NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1080
- NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 Super
- NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660
- NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 TI
- NVIDIA GeForce RTX 20-series
- NVIDIA GeForce RTX 30-series
- AMD 400 Series
- AMD 500 Series
- AMD 5000 Series
- AMD 6000 Series
- AMD Vega Series
Remember those specification requirements will change depending on the VR game. So make sure to check the game requirements before installing it. You can also call your PC retailer and ask if your current unit is compatible with Oculus Quest or Oculus Quest 2. If not, ask them for recommendations on which components you should upgrade to run the VR headsets.
Once you’re sure that your gaming PC met the requirements of Oculus Link, then the next thing you need is a USB-C cable to connect your Quest to your computer. A USB C cord comes with the original Oculus Quest, which works with Oculus Link. However, the Oculus Quest 2 doesn’t come with the cable, so you need to buy one.
If your gaming PC has a USB-C port, directly plug it into the Oculus Link and Oculus Quest. If not, you can buy a USB-A to USB-C adapter to connect the cable to your gaming PC. Another thing is that the cable must be at least five meters in length to enjoy a range of movement.
Lastly, you will need to download the official Oculus App, which will run the Oculus Link. Download the software by following this link. Once the app is installed on your gaming PC, all you have to do is connect the Oculus headset with the Oculus Link cable.
Oculus Link Setup
Oculus Link is a setup that will allow you to connect the Oculus headset to your gaming PC. Turn on your Oculus Quest headset and connect it to your gaming PC with the Oculus Link to set it up for the first time. Open the Oculus App on your PC and click “Add a New Headset.” Then select the model of your Oculus headset: Oculus Quest or Oculus Quest 2. The app will run you through the first-time setup process.
Once you have set up your Oculus Link, it will be available to use every time you plug the Oculus Quest into your PC. Then you can launch any Oculus games directly.
The Oculus Link works with SteamVR to play VR games on Steam.
WIRELESS CONNECTION – AIR LINK
Another option to wirelessly connect your Oculus Quest to your gaming PC is using Air Link. This setup was initially released for Oculus Quest 2 but later released for the original Oculus Quest. However, Air Link will not work for all your gaming setup. Again, you need to check your PC requirements to see if it is compatible and can run Air Link. Once you’re sure that it will, you can download Air Link.
Make sure to download the latest version of Air Link. Aside from it, you will also need a stable network connection with a 5Ghz to run its connection. To completely set up Air Link, follow these steps:
- Step 1 – Turn on Air Link in your Oculus App.
- Step 2 – Go to the App setting, then click the Beta tab.
- Step 3 – Look for Air Link and enable its switch. By doing so, it will allow you to wirelessly connect your Oculus headset through Air Link instead of its regular wired connection.
- Step 4 – Go to the Oculus Quest Setting and click the Experimental Features Tab. Enable Air Link and proceed with the setup.
- Step 5 – Start Air Link in the Quick Actions menu of Oculus Quest. Then select your PC unit, connect, and you’re ready to play.
WIRELESS CONNECTION – VIRTUAL DESKTOP
Virtual Desktop is a third-party app that you can use to wirelessly connect your Oculus Quest headset to your gaming PC. It has similar functionality that users can find in AirLink. In fact, Virtual Desktop has long been available before Air Link. Plus, Virtual Desktop is available for both Oculus Quest and Oculus Quest 2. Still, according to users, it works better for the original Oculus Quest.
Similar to Air Link, Virtual Desktop’s performance will depend on the user’s setup. It will also need a stable internal network connection with 5Ghz and a gaming PC connected via Ethernet. You will also need a Virtual Desktop streamer up on your PC and its software for your Oculus Quest. Once everything is downloaded in your unit, run the streamer app on your PC and launch Virtual Desktop on Quest. Wait for your Oculus headset to connect, and then you can start launching any VR games or content.