SteamVR Performance Test

Many people see virtual reality solutions as the best addition to their entertainment systems, but one aspect that is often overlooked is the hefty hardware requirements of devices such as the HTC Vive.

SteamVR Performance Test is a relatively straightforward benchmarking tool that can help you ensure your computer is VR ready and, if not, provide you with upgrade suggestions.

Gamers who are not familiar with VR headsets may feel that anything above 60FPS should be more than adequate, but it is not recommended to run VR content at anything less than a constant 90FPS in order to avoid motion sickness.

Given that rendering high-resolution images at such a high frame rate is bound to put a significant strain on your system’s resources, it is best to ensure your computer can handle a VR headset before making a purchase.

When it comes to running the actual benchmark, you only need to launch the application and let it do its thing, as no configurations need to be performed. SteamVR Performance Test renders a short 2-minute sequence from the Aperture Robot Repair VR demo in a separate application window, and it is recommended that you do not run any resource-intensive processes for this duration to ensure the test results are accurate.

Once the benchmark has been completed, the program assesses your system’s capabilities and lets you know if your PC can render low or high-quality VR content at more than 90FPS. If hardware upgrades are required, the application indicates which components need to be replaced.

While the utility was able to identify our Nvidia video card without issues, some users have reported that the software utilized their Intel HD integrated graphics processors instead of dedicated adapters, which would, of course, lead to inaccurate results. If you are running a similar configuration, it may be something to take into account.

In short, SteamVR Performance Test is a clear-cut utility designed to help you ensure your computer can run VR content at 90FPS or more before purchasing a virtual reality headset. It can get the job done quickly and requires no advanced configurations, but it may not always detect installed Nvidia graphics cards if your PC is also equipped with an Intel HD IGP.