最好的VR体验仍然存在于具有强大GPU(GPUs )和CPU(CPUs)的计算机上，这通常意味着用电缆将自己束缚在机器上。
Oculus Quest提供了一种经济实惠的一体化 VR 解决方案。内置完整的移动计算机和自己的应用程序商店，您只需购买耳机和一些应用程序，就可以玩一些非常高端的 VR 游戏和体验。
不幸的是，Quest仍然远不及台式电脑的性能，因此它的 VR 应用程序是完整体验的某种降级版本。好消息是Quest收到了一个名为Oculus Link beta 的软件更新，它有效地将其变成了Oculus Rift。我们开始了 Quest，呃，是想看看这个解决方案与真正的Oculus Rift相比效果如何。
哪些耳机可以使用 Oculus Link Beta？(What Headsets Can Use Oculus Link Beta?)
在我们进一步讨论之前，需要说明的是Oculus Quest是Oculus唯一(only )一款可以作为Rift使用的独立 VR 头戴设备。遗憾的是，价格实惠的Oculus Go不提供此功能。
事实上，Go 只是缺乏实现 PC VR 应用程序所需的高端空间跟踪。因此，目前，只有第一代Oculus Quest可以使用Oculus Link测试版功能。
我应该使用哪种电缆？(Which Cable Should I Use?)
要使用Oculus Link测试版，您需要一根线缆(cable)将头戴设备连接到计算机。一开始，唯一经认证可以工作的电缆是USB 3.0或更好的电缆。
这些可能具有USB C到USB C连接，或 USB A 到USB C，具体取决于您的计算机具有的端口类型。然而，最近该公司表示USB 2.0电缆也可以使用。其中包括包装盒中的长USB 2.0充电线。
Oculus建议至少使用 3m 电缆以获得良好的体验。他们计划提供使用 5m 光纤电缆的官方Oculus Link电缆。(Oculus Link)Oculus应用程序包括一个电缆测试器，它将指示您当前插入的电缆是否足够快，从而可以轻松了解您可能遇到的问题是电缆本身还是其他问题。
我们的建议是首先尝试您已有的任何可能兼容的电缆，前提是它们足够长。请务必先将计算机上的Quest和Oculus软件更新到最新版本。
如果您没有数据线（并且不想花费超过 79 美元购买官方(official one)数据线），那么请寻找任何来自知名品牌的高品质 3m USB数据线。(USB)我们使用了带有 A型到 C 型连接器的(Type C)Anker USB 3电缆。
请记住，电缆不是这里唯一起作用的因素，您的USB控制器或接头电缆也可能不兼容。尝试使用主板本身的USB端口，而不是机箱前面板上的扩展端口。
什么适用于 Oculus Link(What Works With Oculus Link) Beta
在软件(Software)兼容性方面，似乎没有任何东西不适用于Oculus Link测试版，但它适用于常规Rift。不出所料，我们在Oculus Rift商店中尝试的所有东西都运行良好。事实上，与我们一直使用的原始消费者Rift模型相比，由于(Rift)Quest中先进的跟踪、光学和屏幕，这是一种卓越的体验。
SteamVR也是如此。我们启动了最高级的半条命 Alyx(Half Life Alyx)，它运行顺利。Oculus Touch控制器或其他任何会影响游戏体验的东西都没有延迟、没有问题。
我们使用了前面提到的Anker USB 3电缆，它来自我们测试计算机上的一个前置USB 3面板，它以优异的成绩通过。
试验台(The Testbed)
说到我们的计算机设置，这台不起眼的机器使用主频为固定 4Ghz的Intel 4690K 、16GB (Intel 4690K)DDR1600 RAM和 6GB RTX 2060。这种特殊的GPU不是具有内置VR 专用 USB C(VR-specific USB C)端口的型号之一，但我们认为这是最好的选择（如果有的话）。
如果您在购买Quest时从未考虑过您的 PC ，那么您会很高兴知道最低规格并不像您想象的那么重。i3 6100、8GB 的 RAM和GTX 1050Ti或它们的同等产品会让您进入。您会发现如今许多中端计算机都满足基本要求。因此，如果您已经拥有Quest，那么尝试使用您拥有的任何计算机都不会受到伤害。
需要注意的是，在撰写本文时，Oculus Link不支持任何AMD GPU(AMD GPUs)。Oculus 正在努力支持尽可能多的硬件，但对于目前状态下的Oculus Link测试版，AMD 的驱动程序在向公众发布之前仍有大量工作需要完成。
设置 Oculus 链接(Setting Up Oculus Link)
假设您的Quest自己的开箱即用设置已完成，启动和运行Oculus Link是轻而易举的事。我们所要做的就是在我们的计算机上安装Oculus应用程序并使用与我们的Quest相同的帐户登录。然后，假设您的Quest是最新的，只需将电缆的一端插入计算机，另一端插入Quest。
然后只需对计算机或耳机本身上的任何Oculus Quest(Oculus Quest)提示说“是”即可。建立Quest Link后，您只需像使用Rift一样启动Oculus或SteamVR游戏。
Oculus 链接体验(The Oculus Link Experience)
正如我们已经提到的，游戏性能、保真度和跟踪对我们来说都完美无缺。Quest/Rift无缝过渡方面做得非常出色。您可以随时通过按下按钮从链接模式退出回到 Quest 自己的硬件。(Link)
同样，无论是在Link模式还是Quest模式下， Quest令人惊叹的由内向外跟踪系统的工作原理都是一样的。Oculus、Steam和Epic Games Store中的所有具有 VR 模式的游戏都为我们工作。
无线可能性(Wireless Possibilities)
Quest的最大优势之一是它的无线特性，但遗憾的是它缺乏具有良好 VR 功能的 PC 所具有的魅力。Link可让您体验许多(Link)Quest应用程序的高端版本以及Rift独有的应用程序。但是，您必须放弃无线自由。如果您购买像Valve Index这样带有无线选项的耳机，您就可以在没有电线的情况下拥有PC VR 。只要你在范围内。
Quest没有官方版本，但社区(community)创建了一个低延迟解决方案，以无线方式在Quest上获取PC VR 。我们还没有尝试过，也不建议大多数人这样做，但它确实表明Oculus理论上可以开发未来的更新或插件，真正将Quest变成“无所不能”的 VR 耳机已经（几乎）是。
Oculus Link Hands-On Review: Better Than Beta
The very best VR experiences are still to be found on computers with powerful GPUs and CPUs, which usually means tethering yourself to the machine with a cable.
The Oculus Quest offers an affordable all-in-one VR solution. With a full mobile computer built into it and its own app store, you just buy the headset and some apps and can play some pretty high-end VR games and experiences.
Unfortunately, the Quest is still nowhere near desktop computer performance, and so its VR apps are a somewhat downgraded version of the full experience. The good news is that Quest received a software update known as Oculus Link beta, which effectively turns it into an Oculus Rift. We took our Quest on, er, a quest to see how well this solution works compared to a real Oculus Rift.
What Headsets Can Use Oculus Link Beta?
Before we go any further, it needs to be said that the Oculus Quest is the only standalone VR headset from Oculus that can also work as a Rift. Sadly, the affordable Oculus Go doesn’t offer this feature.
The fact of the matter is that the Go simply lacks the high-end spatial tracking needed to pull off what PC VR applications need. So, for now, only the first-generation Oculus Quest works with the Oculus Link beta functionality.
Which Cable Should I Use?
In order to use Oculus Link beta, you need a cable to connect your headset to your computer. At the outset, the only cables that were certified to work were USB 3.0 or better cables.
These could either have a USB C to USB C connection, or USB A to USB C, depending on the type of ports your computer has. Recently however, the company has indicated that USB 2.0 cables will also work. Which includes the long USB 2.0 charging cable included in the box.
Oculus recommends at least a 3m cable to get a good experience. They are planning on offering an official Oculus Link cable that uses a 5m fiber optic cable. The Oculus app includes a cable tester that will indicate whether the cable you currently have plugged in is fast enough or not, making it easy to know if issues you may have are with the cable itself or something else.
Our recommendation is to first try any potentially compatible cables you already have, assuming they are long enough. Just be sure to update your Quest and the Oculus software on your computer to the latest version first.
If you don’t have a cable (and don’t want to spend over $79 getting the official one) then look for any high-quality 3m USB cable from a reputable brand. We used an Anker USB 3 cable with a Type A to Type C connector.
Please remember that the cable is not the only factor in play here, your USB controller or header cables could also be incompatible. Try using USB ports on the motherboard itself rather than extended ones on your case’s front panel.
What Works With Oculus Link Beta
In terms of Software compatibility there doesn’t seem to be anything that doesn’t work with Oculus Link beta that does work with a regular Rift. Unsurprisingly everything we tried in the Oculus Rift store worked perfectly. In fact, compared to the original consumer Rift model we’ve been using, it’s a superior experience thanks to the advanced tracking, optics and screens in the Quest.
The same goes for SteamVR. We booted up the superlative Half Life Alyx and it ran without a hitch. There was no lag, no issues with the Oculus Touch controllers or anything else that would detract from the gameplay experience.
We used the aforementioned Anker USB 3 cable from one of the front USB 3 panels on our test computer and it passed with flying colors.
The Testbed
Speaking of our computer setup, this humble machine uses an Intel 4690K clocked at a fixed 4Ghz, 16GB of DDR1600 RAM and a 6GB RTX 2060. This particular GPU is not one of the models that has a built in VR-specific USB C port, but we’d imagine that’s the best option if available.
If you’ve never considered your PC when buying your Quest, you’ll be pleased to know that minimum specifications aren’t as heavy as you might think. An i3 6100, 8GB of RAM and GTX 1050Ti or their equivalents will get you in the door. You’ll find that plenty of mid-range computers these days meet the basic requirements. So if you already have a Quest it won’t hurt to try with whatever computer you do have.
It’s important to note that, at the time of writing, Oculus Link does not support any AMD GPUs. Oculus are working to support as much hardware as possible, but for the Oculus Link beta in its current state, there’s still plenty of work that needs to be done with AMD’s drivers before they can let it out to the public.
Setting Up Oculus Link
Assuming that your Quest’s own out-of-the-box setup is complete, getting Oculus Link up and running was a breeze. All we had to do was install the Oculus app on our computer and log in with the same account used with our Quest. Then, assuming that your Quest is up to date, simply plug the one end of the cable into the computer and the other into the Quest.
Then simply say yes to any Oculus Quest prompts on the computer or the headset itself. Once the Quest Link is established, you just have to launch an Oculus or SteamVR game just as you would with a Rift.
The Oculus Link Experience
As we’ve already mentioned, gameplay performance, fidelity and tracking all worked flawlessly for us. Oculus have done a great job of making the Quest/Rift transition seamless. You can drop out from Link mode back to the Quest’s own hardware at any time with the press of a button.
Likewise, the Quests’ amazing inside-out tracking system worked just the same whether in Link or Quest mode. All the games in the Oculus, Steam and Epic Games Store with VR modes worked for us.
Wireless Possibilities
One of the greatest strengths of the Quest is its wire-free nature, but sadly it lacks the oomph that a good VR-capable PC has. Link lets you experience the high-end versions of many Quest apps as well as apps that are exclusive to the Rift. However, you have to give up the wireless freedom. If you buy a headset like the Valve Index with a wireless option, you can have PC VR without the wires. As long as you’re within range.
The Quest doesn’t have an official version of this, but the community has created a low-latency solution to get PC VR on a Quest wirelessly. We haven’t tried it and don’t recommend that most people do, but it does show that Oculus could, in theory, develop a future update or add-on that would really turn the Quest into the “do everything” VR headset it already (nearly) is.
