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Oculus rift in mac pro late 2013

G

ghislain

macrumors member
Original poster
Apr 22, 2009
98
12
For those who are interested, at their own risk...I have of a mac pro late 2013 with D700 GPUs. I recently bought an Oculus rift, despite the fact that Oculus install tool reported that D700 GPU did not match oculus specifications for proper functioning.

To use Oculus under bootcamp (windows 10 anniversary edition) I download first the latest AMD Crimpson drivers (Crimson Edition 16.8.2 Hotfix) and installed them using the method described here (http://www.remkoweijnen.nl/blog/2015/09/21/update-amd-display-driver-under-bootcamp/). Note I skipped steps 4 to 6 by using this trick (http://www.howtogeek.com/167723/how...8.1-so-that-you-can-install-unsigned-drivers/)which allows to install unsigned drivers. After restarting windows with driver signature enforcement disabled, I ran Crimson Edition 16.8.2 setup and that was it. These drivers recognized AMD D700 and installed new Crimpson drivers without any problem.

I then ran Oculus installer which still complained that GPUs were below required specifications but installed Oculus software without a glitch when the rift was connected to the HDMI port of the mac (as recommended by Oculus) and the monitor was connected to a thunderbolt port through HDMI/theunderbolt adapter. However, when Oculus was running, I noticed that the oculus screen became black erratically for a few seconds, which was very annoying.

Fortunately, this issue was fixed when the rift was connected instead to a second thunderbolt port through HDMI/thunderbolt adapter. So far, I have no clue about the fact that the HDMI port of the mac was apparently unable to fully support the Oculus. Whatever the reason was, Oculus is running like a charm and I currently use it to play FSX through Flyinsidefsx software.

FSX experience with Oculus is amazing and I must say that FSX runs fluently with decent FPS and with the same high settings as those used when directly playing on the mac. To conclude, I am very pleased with oculus and I suspect that there is a good chance that it might also works on a nmp with D500 GPUs...with however no guaranty of success....
 
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Thank you for the information and the steps you took! Very useful for people wanting to use Oculus on their nMP.

If I may make a quick suggestion though -- best to break down a wall of text into paragraphs for future, to make it much easier to read. :)
 
Flint Ironstag said:
Are you getting the sustained 90FPS needed for a smooth experience?
Click to expand...
So far, I only use rift with FSX and I have not mesured FPS which seem not to be displayed on the rift. However, and as I said in my post, FSX runs very smoothly with high setting with France VFR sceneries...
 
ghislain said:
So far, I only use rift with FSX and I have not mesured FPS which seem not to be displayed on the rift. However, and as I said in my post, FSX runs very smoothly with high setting with France VFR sceneries...
Click to expand...
Update: In fact, FPS are displayed and indeed reach sustained 90FPS when running fsx but only around 60 with P3D, with however better FPS for P3D itself...
 
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I've said this before: The "Mac's can't run VR" statement made by Oculus founder Palmer Luckey is false.

The Oculus "able to run" requirements are not based on performance, but a preset list of GPU's.
Because the D700 GPU is not in this list, the runtime says that your hardware is unsupported. It has nothing to do with actual performance.

I'm developing VR for Mac myself and it is really frustrating to see the platform ignored for the reason of being "incompatible" in terms of performance, when the true reason is actually just because the platform is smaller ($$$).

I mean it's always funny to read posts about how Mac's can't run VR, when you have such a big push from Google and Samsung for VR on Android phones.

I believe VR will come to MacOS this year. Probably not from Oculus, but HTC/Valve, which already has vested interest in bringing support for Linux because of SteamOS.

I recommend you to check out http://www.vrdesktop.com/ if you're interested in VR on MacOS.
 
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Cindori said:
I've said this before: The "Mac's can't run VR" statement made by Oculus founder Palmer Luckey is false.

The Oculus "able to run" requirements are not based on performance, but a preset list of GPU's.
Because the D700 GPU is not in this list, the runtime says that your hardware is unsupported. It has nothing to do with actual performance.

I'm developing VR for Mac myself and it is really frustrating to see the platform ignored for the reason of being "incompatible" in terms of performance, when the true reason is actually just because the platform is smaller ($$$).

I mean it's always funny to read posts about how Mac's can't run VR, when you have such a big push from Google and Samsung for VR on Android phones.

I believe VR will come to MacOS this year. Probably not from Oculus, but HTC/Valve, which already has vested interest in bringing support for Linux because of SteamOS.

I recommend you to check out http://www.vrdesktop.com/ if you're interested in VR on MacOS.
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I completely agree. Hope you will succeed
 
Cindori - first thanks for all your contributions to the Mac community. I am interested in the state of VR on Mac, but I didn't see any VR content on your site. Do you have something planned?
 
Flint Ironstag said:
Cindori - first thanks for all your contributions to the Mac community. I am interested in the state of VR on Mac, but I didn't see any VR content on your site. Do you have something planned?
Click to expand...

The state of VR on the Mac is that neither Oculus or Vive support the OS. They need to release a driver and runtime for their devices. As it is currently, the headsets will only output a black screen.

I am in the final stages of creating an immersive VR environment for macOS. I've been developing it for over a year now, and created some pretty cool features that has the opportunity to really enhance the Mac experience. So far, it runs like butter on the Oculus DK2, which is currently the only headset that you can use on macOS. I hope to release it when support for macOS are added to these devices. Until then, I recommend you sign up for the newsletter in the link above. I might do a closed beta for DK2 users next month.
 
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I had forgotten about the DK2. Just checked prices on eBay... might be tempted! Since they've suspended Mac support, are there still some older apps or demos available to check out?
 
There are many, but they are getting increasingly hard to find. Most developers are moving on to Windows+CV1/Vive only while others are backporting their apps to Mac+DK2. Anything that is still out there and compatible with runtime version 0.5.0 or earlier might have a Mac version floating around. Titans of Space, Dreadhalls and Windlands are a few popular DK2 Mac compatible demos. If course you're always able to enjoy more through Bootcamp.
 
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I thought I can give it a try but this method killed my Win10. Setup started fine and I heard the *new device connected*-sound. The screen wenn black and I couldn't do anything. Waited for few minutes but nothing happened. Whenever I boot Windows I see the blue win10 logo - then only black screen

=(
 
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PhiLLoW said:
I thought I can give it a try but this method killed my Win10. Setup started fine and I heard the *new device connected*-sound. The screen wenn black and I couldn't do anything. Waited for few minutes but nothing happened. Whenever I boot Windows I see the blue win10 logo - then only black screen

=(
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Very strange and I feel very sorry for you....Which Win 10 edition do you have? mine is anniversary edition 64 bit. Have you updated AMD drivers to the latest Crimson drivers? Anyway, I hope you have a Winclone image to restore your Bootcamp partition. Otherwise you can use the Win DVD install disk to repair the Windows bootloader. If everything return to normal and if you want to try again to install Rift, I would recommand to uninstall it completely first and then re-install it from scratch. To do so, first download the Rift' setup tool which will automatically install the rift'software and then proceed with configuration of headset, sensor etc...Good luck...
 
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I tried an Occulus Rift demo at PAX last weekend. It was about a 6 minute demo but despite its short duration I got motion sickness. I think there was a tiny bit of lag between the motion detection and the tracking on screen, which was enough for me to get sick.

Even before I got sick, it didn't seem to amount to much. Very gimmicky. Heavy crap mounted to my head with cables. Stuff pressed against my face. Lenses were weird. Not sure what people with glasses deal with it.

While I can see a ton of potential for VR, I don't think this current lineup is it. Maybe in another 5 years.
 
Received yesterday an Oculus Rift. Took quite some time to adjust the lenses. Works flawlessly with GTX Titan X/Mac Pro 4,1.

No motion sickness (also with rollercoasters simulation), but after three hours of VR my cheekbones hurt a little due to pressure against my face.
 
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So the Oculus Touch will be my next purchase... :D Using an Xbox controller at the moment.


By the way here you can download the free VRMark Basic Edition: https://www.futuremark.com/benchmarks/vrmark

In the test 'Orange Room' with Mac Pro 4,1/GTX Titan X I get 140 fps.

http://www.pcworld.com/article/3138...e-free-new-vrmark-benchmark-can-tell-you.html

Quote: You can run the Orange Room just like a standard benchmark, where everything happens on a PC monitor. Flip to Experience Mode, however, and you can don your VR headset to explore everything the Orange Room has to offer.
 
Synchro3 said:
So the Oculus Touch will be my next purchase... :D Using an Xbox controller at the moment.


By the way here you can download the free VRMark Basic Edition: https://www.futuremark.com/benchmarks/vrmark

In the test 'Orange Room' with Mac Pro 4,1/GTX Titan X I get 140 fps.

http://www.pcworld.com/article/3138...e-free-new-vrmark-benchmark-can-tell-you.html

Quote: You can run the Orange Room just like a standard benchmark, where everything happens on a PC monitor. Flip to Experience Mode, however, and you can don your VR headset to explore everything the Orange Room has to offer.
Click to expand...

Should try Bigscreen VR from the Steam store. It's free and amazing.
 
Synchro3 said:
Hey, this app is indeed amazing! :) I wished the Oculus would have the double pixel resolution. No more need for a monitor.
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Haha yeah. In one room I saw two German guys playing Rock Paper Scissors with their virtual hands (they had Oculus Touch).

In another room a Japanese guy's head was three seats away from his screen. He told me it's because he was lying down on real life :)

I like the bedroom scene because then I can lay down on my couch and create a massive cinema screen.

I only have one VR game (Dirt Rally) so these apps are great. You should also watch all the free animated shorts from the Rift store. It's just like being in a Pixar movie. Invasion! especially.
 
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SoyCapitanSoyCapitan said:
Haha yeah. In one room I saw two German guys playing Rock Paper Scissors with their virtual hands (they had Oculus Touch).

In another room a Japanese guy's head was three seats away from his screen. He told me it's because he was lying down on real life :)

I like the bedroom scene because then I can lay down on my couch and create a massive cinema screen.

I only have one VR game (Dirt Rally) so these apps are great. You should also watch all the free animated shorts from the Rift store. It's just like being in a Pixar movie. Invasion! especially.
Click to expand...

In some Bigscreen VR settings you can adjust the Screen with the Oculus Controller.

Yeah, already watched some movies, or better I was 'in' the movies. :) The Oculus Dreamdeck is also awesome.

Unbenannt.PNG
 
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