VR vs Triple screens

All those fancy looking VR goggles and those immersive triple setups got you thinking? Which is better for you? Find out below!

It’s been some years since VR has hit the market and became the novelty hit that everybody talked about.

Now VR has become a very interesting alternative to running with triple screen setup but what are the differences, advantages and disadvantages of each of those? That’s something we will discuss here in this blog.

Triple screen setup

What draws people to triple screens to begin with? If you ask some of those who own such a setup or tried it somewhere, they might say that it is extremely immersive and informative in terms of situational awareness. However there’s more to that than you may think.

Why is that? People underestimate the importance of correct FoV and the correct sense of space and speed that comes with it.

What is FoV then? It stands for Field of View and reflects the amount of degrees that are visible for your virtual eyeballs, either measured horizontally or vertically. The higher you go with the FoV number the more space will be visible for you but everything will feel distant on screen and warped slightly.

For single monitor users that are often quite far from your eyes, calculated FoV can reach very low numbers where you feel your eyes are almost glued to the windshield if you are driving from your cockpit camera (Which you should as we are sim racers, we try to simulate the PoV of a real racing driver 😁 ). 

Therefore you should ideally look for a solution that allows you to bring the screen as close to your eyes as possible.

That’s also why in VR you see much more to the sides than on any even wide screen monitors, as your eyes are extremely close to the screens inside the headset, but more on that later.

Going with a triple setup allows you to be more comfortable with having low FoV value because you compensate for not having a lot of peripheral vision with 1 more screen on each side from the center monitor.

Examples of the triple setup with our own TR120 chassis

Setup by one of Trak Racer’s customers

Quad monitor setup setup with TR160 by John E.

As well as both free standing tubular monitor stand presented with the TRX cockpit

 

 

And integrated triple monitor mount presented with one of our bestsellers, the TR8 Pro

VR (Virtual Reality)

It has become increasingly popular in sim racing, and for good reason. It provides a more immersive and realistic experience than traditional monitors or screens, allowing drivers to feel like they are actually in the car and on the track. In this article, we'll explore the benefits of using VR in sim racing, as well as the pros and cons of this technology.

Benefits of VR in Sim Racing

• Immersion: One of the biggest benefits of VR in sim racing is the level of immersion it provides. With a VR headset, drivers can look around and see the interior of the car, as well as the track and the environment around them. This can make the experience feel more realistic and engaging.
• Depth Perception: VR also provides a better sense of depth perception, allowing drivers to judge distances more accurately. This can be especially useful in racing situations where precise car placement is important.
• Field of View: With a VR headset, drivers can have a wider field of view than with traditional monitors. This can be particularly useful in racing situations where it's important to be aware of what's happening around the car.
• More Realistic Sense of Speed: VR can also provide a more realistic sense of speed, as the driver's head movements are linked directly to the car's movements. This can make the experience feel more immersive and engaging.
• Better Focus: With a VR headset, drivers can eliminate distractions from their surroundings and focus solely on the racing experience. This can help them to be more focused and concentrated on their driving.

 

https://www.racedepartment.com/attachments/vr-headsets-for-sim-racing-jpg.549616/

Pros and Cons of VR in Sim Racing

Pros:

• Immersive and Realistic Experience: As mentioned above, VR provides a more immersive and realistic experience than traditional monitors or screens.
• More Precise Driving: The depth perception and wider field of view provided by VR can help drivers to be more precise in their driving.
• Better Sense of Speed: VR can provide a more realistic sense of speed, which can be beneficial for improving lap times and overall performance.
• Eliminates Distractions: With a VR headset, drivers can eliminate distractions from their surroundings and focus solely on the racing experience.

Cons:

• Cost: VR headsets can be expensive, which can be a barrier to entry for some sim racers.
• Hardware Requirements: VR also requires a high-powered PC and graphics card, which can be a further expense.
• Motion Sickness: Some drivers may experience motion sickness or dizziness when using VR, especially if they are new to the technology.
• Discomfort: VR headsets can be heavy and uncomfortable to wear for extended periods of time, which can be a disadvantage for longer races.

 

https://simracingcockpit.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/pimax-artisan.jpg

 

https://www.popsci.com/uploads/2021/08/21/Best-VR-Headsets-Header.jpg?auto=webp&width=1440&height=901.44

Conclusion

In conclusion, VR can be a valuable addition to sim racing, providing a more immersive and realistic experience for drivers. While there are some cons to using VR, such as the cost and hardware requirements, the benefits can outweigh these drawbacks. Ultimately, whether or not to use VR in sim racing comes down to personal preference and what works best for each individual driver.

VR is still a very rapidly developing technology that has a very bright future ahead and despite the high cost to get many of the top tier VR goggles today, triple screens can be about equal in price or even more expensive if you opt for top of the line screens like from QD-OLED technology which is taking the market by storm.

If you are not suffering from motion sickness when using VR, both triple screen setup and VR can bring you a different set of experiences and it will be down to you to judge if your preferences are leaning more towards one or the other!

Yours sincerely,

Trak Racer Team