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Steam is jumping back into VR hardware with the updated Index system, available to pre-order for a cool grand.

Valve Opens Pre-Orders for Next-Gen VR Headset

Steam is jumping back into VR hardware with the updated Index system, available to pre-order for a cool grand.
This article is over 5 years old and may contain outdated information

PC gamers on the lookout for a high-end VR experience just got some good news today as Valve made their next-gen Valve Index system available for pre-order.

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Components for the new VR system are due to ship out to pre-order customers on July 31.

At just shy of $1,000 for the entire setup, which includes the headset, controllers, cradle adapter, charging cables, two base stations, station stands, and cleaning cloth, the Valve Index is currently one of the pricier VR options on the market.

If interested adopters don’t feel like dropping $999 on the whole set at once, though, the Index is available a’ la carte in a variety of configurations. Each component can be purchased separately for those who already own previous VR equipment.

The Index’s headset runs at 120Hz, but is backwards compatible with 90Hz, meaning you can still play anything you may have previously bought for your Vive or vice versa.

In a notable departure from other PC-based VR systems, the Index will continue to utilize two wired base stations instead of wireless headset sensors like with the Oculus.

Valve Index Minimum System Requirements

Keen on trying out what the Index has to offer for a smoother virtual reality experience? You’ll need a laptop or desktop system with these minimum hardware and software specs:

  • Operating System: Windows 10, SteamOS, or Linux
  • RAM: 8+ GB
  • GPU” NVIDIA GeForce GTX 970+ or AMD RX480+ (available display port required, HDMI not supported)
  • CPU: Dual Core with hyperthreading
  • Port: USB 3.0+ port for headset cameras

Not sure if you meet the requirements? You can download an app to test your system and find out more about the Index over here.

Do you plan on picking up this new iteration of Valve’s VR hardware, or do you think the Index will end up suffering the same fate as the Steam Machine?


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Ty Arthur
Ty splits his time between writing horror fiction and writing about video games. After 25 years of gaming, Ty can firmly say that gaming peaked with Planescape Torment, but that doesn't mean he doesn't have a soft spot for games like Baldur's Gate, Fallout: New Vegas, Bioshock Infinite, and Horizon: Zero Dawn. He has previously written for GamerU and MetalUnderground. He also writes for PortalMonkey covering gaming laptops and peripherals.