Best Laptops for Valve Index

Best Laptops for Valve Index

In terms of the gaming world, virtual reality has become a renowned part nowadays. We most often search for a gaming laptop that can produce a great experience in virtual reality (VR). Valve Corporation had released its own VR headset, called Valve Index, on the 28th of June 2019. I have mentioned the best compatible VR ready laptop for Valve Index, HTC Vive Pro and Sony PlayStation VR in the article, the reasons, and the recommendation. 

When searching for the best laptop for Valve Index, there are a few specs to consider. I composed a list of the best laptops for your VR headset to minimalize your effort.

In the beginning, it depends on the budget you are willing to spend on a new VR gaming machine. Secondly, the recommended system requirements can be a good point for the meeting.  

3 Best Compatible Laptop To Run Valve Index

VALVE Index System Requirements By Steam Support
Minimum Requirements
OS: Windows 10 64-bit
CPU: Dual Core with Hyper-Threading
GPU: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 970, AMD RX480
RAM: 8 GB
Ports: Available DisplayPort (or Mini DisplayPort) Version 1.2 and USB (2.0+) Port Required
Recommended Requirements
OS: Windows 10 64-bit
CPU: Quad-Core +
GPU: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1070 or better
RAM: 8 GB+
Ports: Available USB (3.0+) Port Required for Headset Pass-Through Camera & USB Port Support
Best Laptops for Valve Index

Short Guide About Best laptop For Valve Index

Because minimum requirements depend on what developers define as playable games at the lowest graphic settings, at the same time, the recommended requirements are needed to run a game on average or in the highest graphical settings with a decent frame rate for the best gaming experience.

Advantage of Higher Framerate

Higher frame rate content provides a much smoother experience than the traditional fps. It can show more details in the scenes. It is beneficial for gaming, especially in Virtual Reality Gaming, as it can significantly reduce lag. Sports coverage also benefits significantly from a higher frame rate.

Valve Index Technical Specifications

Display: Dual 1440 x 1600 LCDs, full RGB per pixel, ultra-low persistence global backlight illumination (0.330ms at 144Hz) 

Benefits of Higher Resolution Laptops

Higher resolution usually makes the game more immersive and adds beauty. Higher resolution usually lowers your game’s fps, but if your game doesn’t enjoy FPS above 60 (e.g., Anno 1800), the resolution is suitable if your PC can handle it.

  • Framerate: 80/90/120/144Hz
  • Tracking: Steam VR 2.0 sensors, compatible with Steam VR 1.0 and 2.0 base stations
  • Audio: Built-in: 37.5mm off-ear Balanced Mode Radiators (BMR), Frequency Response: 40Hz – 24 KHz, Impedance: 6 Ohm, SPL: 98.96 dBSPL at 1cm.
  • Aux Headphone Out 3.5mm
  • Microphone: Dual Microphone Array, Frequency response: 20Hz – 24kHz, Sensitivity: -25dBFS/Pa @ 1kHz
  • Cameras: Stereo 960 x 960 pixel, global shutter, RGB (Bayer)
  • Optics: Double element, canted lens design
  • Field of View (FOV): Optimized eye relief adjustment allows a typical user experience 20º more than the HTC Vive.
  • Inter-pupillary Distance (IPD): 58mm – 70mm range physical adjustment
  • Ergonomic Adjustments: Head size, eye relief (FOV), IPD, speaker positions. Rear cradle adapter included.
  • Connections: 5m tether, 1m breakaway trident connector. USB 3.0, Display Port 1.2, 12V power
Best Laptops for Valve Index

Best Laptops for Valve Index

We all understand that virtual reality is a process by with we can gather some realistic experience through electronic devices. Nowadays, Virtual reality is an exciting topic, isn’t it? All the companies are trying to deliver handy expertise to their customers. Some giant laptop companies like Acer, Asus, MSI, Lenovo, and others recently launched some special VR-ready gaming laptop for Valve Index.

I have already mentioned some criteria for your better understanding, and now I’m here to meet you up with some new fascinating devices.


Acer Predator Helios 300

Spec. View: 

  • Intel i7-1180H Processor 
  • GeForce RTX 3060 Graphics 
  • 16GB DDR4 RAM
  • 15.6″, 144Hz, Full HD, IPS display
  • 512GB NVMe SSD Storage
  • Killer Wi-fi 6
  • RGB Keyboard

Acer Predator Helios 300 Laptop can be number one in the gaming category. Through my research, I know that this device was most used for gaming in 2021. You can also guess it through the user’s review.

 This device is not the latest, but it performs the best in value for money. The specifications are not top-notch, but it is reliable to provide outstanding Virtual Reality and Valve Index performance. You can offer yourself most of the latest games.

This device comes with the latest 11th Gen Intel Core i7, which provides the smoothest performance. You can run all of your desired games here. Acer Predator Helios 300 is specially designed for you to offer yourself the highest performance.

The latest NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 is available here to enrich your graphic unit. You don’t have to worry about your smooth visual performance because you can run most games in the highest graphical settings.

The 15.6″ Full HD IPS LED-backlit display with a 16:9 aspect ratio offers a decent 144Hz refresh rate and 3ms Overdrive response time for the users who demand the highest visual experiences.

16 Gigabytes of DDR4 RAM and 512 Gigabytes of Solid State Drive (SSD) flourish you with an ultra-smooth experience. The RGB Keyboard looks fantastic as well.

PROS:

  • 144Hz extra fluid display
  • Great performance 
  • Good build quality 
  • Aggressive pricing 

CONS:

  • Battery life

 Razer Blade 15

Spec. View: 

  •  Intel i7-1180H 8-Core Processor 
  • GeForce RTX 3070 Graphics 
  • 16GB DDR4 RAM
  • 15.6″, 165Hz, QHD, IPS display
  • 1TB NVMe SSD Storage
  • Chroma RGB Keyboard
  • Vapor Chamber Cooling

Razer Blade 15 Advanced can be an ideal choice to purchase a laptop for valve index. You don’t find any significant updates from the previous generation, but it also performs quite decent like the previous one. Razer Blade is comparatively a new band, but it delivers some exclusive products in the market frequently.

Think about the high refresh rate; we often hear about 90/120/144Hz. But Razer Blade 15 Advance offers you a 165Hz high refresh rate display. You can find 240Hz and 360Hz on other variants. 

NVIDIA GeForce RTX 30 Series Graphics are available for Stunning Visuals. This Graphic unit is specially built on NVIDIA’s award-winning 2nd-gen RTX architecture. These GPUs provide the most realistic graphics and cutting-edge AI features for the most powerful graphics in a gaming laptop.

You will find Intel 11th Gen 8-Core CPU for smooth Gaming Performance. It can run the heaviest AAA titles and creation tasks without breaking a sweat and activate Intel Turbo Boost Technology for a jolt of speed that brings the i7 processor up to 5.1GHz.

A great feature is named Vapor Chamber Cooling for Maximized Thermal Performance. The laptop dissipates heat quietly and efficiently through the evaporation and condensation of internal fluid, keeping it functioning smoothly and coolly even under intense loads.

Lastly, it can be a great deal for you to experience Valve Index.

PROS:

  • Attractive Aluminum chassis
  • Thunderbolt 3
  • Extra Large Trackpad
  • Nice Build quality
  • 165Hz Display
  • Great battery Life

CONS:

  • Comparatively costly

MSI Stealth 15M Gaming Laptop

Spec. View:

  • 3.3GHz Intel Core i7-11375H processor (up to 5.16GHz, four cores)
  • 32GB DDR4 3200MHz
  • Nvidia GeForce RTX 3060 GPU with 6GB GDDR6 VRAM (1,357MHz boost clock speed, 65W maximum power)
  • 1TB NVMe SSD
  • 15.6-inch FHD 1920 x 1080 IPS display, 144Hz refresh rate
  • Three-cell, 52Wh battery
  • 150W power brick
  • Single-zone RGB keyboard
  • Wi-Fi 6

MSI is a renowned laptop company providing high-class laptops to customers. They have been ruling the laptop world for many years with excellent service quality and high-spec devices. This MSI Stealth 15M is another blessing to the gaming laptop world. 

The build quality is outstanding, and it soothes your eyes as well. The Carbon Grey Color produces a decent shiny look. The 15.6″ 144hz display delivers true-to-life images with a high refresh rate so you can see every frame of the game.

This device may not expose your gaming habit because it doesn’t look bulky, heavy, and thick like the other ones. It’s thin, light-weight and suitable looking. The metal design looks fascinating, and, aside from the RGB backlit keyboard, there isn’t much — aside from its loud fans. If you’re wearing headphones or earphones, you may not feel, but the others beside you will. 

A thin laptop with powerful partitions can produce higher temperatures, especially during gaming. Here you’ll find an aluminum chassis that helps to diffuse some of that heat, but it still can become uncomfortably warm to touch at times, despite its fans’ best (and loudest) efforts.

Overall, this device has the juice to provide you with a great experience in gaming with Valve Index.

PROS:

  • Attractive Aluminum chassis
  • Thunderbolt 4
  • Nice Build quality 
  • 144Hz Display
  • Good battery

CONS:

  • Comparatively costly
  • Fans sound much

ASUS ROG Strix G15

Spec. View:

  • NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 
  • 32GB DDR4 RAM with ROG Boost up to 1660MHz at 115W (130W with Dynamic Boost 2.0)
  • Latest AMD Ryzen 9-5900HX Processor (16M Cache, up to 4.6 GHz)
  • 300Hz 15.6″ Full HD 1920×1080 IPS-Type Display
  • 32GB DDR4 3200MHz RAM 
  • 1TB PCIe SSD
  • ROG Intelligent Cooling thermal system. 

The Asus ROG Strix G15 (2021) is a mid-range gaming laptop that doesn’t look exceptionally gorgeous. It’s relatively bulky and comes with a usual selection of RGB lights and a gamer-style logo adorning it.

It was the first laptop in 2021 to come with Nvidia’s GeForce RTX 3000-series graphics, the mobile version of the company’s celebrated desktop GPU. This laptop is such a device that can challenge the best Intel-Nvidia machines we’ve seen recently and at a surprisingly reasonable price. 

This device comes with NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 8GB GDDR6 with ROG Boost up to 1660MHz and the latest AMD Ryzen 9-5900HX Processor (16M Cache, up to 4.6 GHz). You’ll find a dynamic 300Hz 15.6″ Full HD 1920×1080 IPS Display in the Display section. 

ROG’s Intelligent Cooling philosophy combines the right features and system settings to confirm the best experience. Performance is fueled with cutting-edge enhancements like liquid metal compounds on the Control Processing Unit(CPU) and a well-ventilated exterior that keeps noise levels lower than the previous generation.

Hook up next-gen devices at Gen 2 speeds via the USB 3.2 Type-C with DisplayPort 1.4 and USB Power Delivery. Three Type-A USB 3.2 Gen 1 ports are ready for your favorite gaming gear, while HDMI 2.0b lets you connect a 4K monitor or TV at up to 60Hz. So, you won’t find any issues playing games with Valve Index. 

PROS :

  • Plenty of power for AAA gaming
  • Ergonomically sound
  • Superb 300Hz screen
  • Powerful processor & graphic unit

CONS:

  • USB speeds limited to 5Gbits/sec
  • It lacks an integrated webcam

CUK GF75 Thin by MSI

Spec. View:

  • Intel Core i7-10750H Six-Core Processor 
  • 64GB DDR4 2933MHz RAM
  • 1TB NVMe Solid State Drive + 2TB 5400rpm Hard Disk Drive
  • Steel Series per-Key RGB with Anti-Ghost Key+ Silver Lining Keyboard
  • NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 6GB GDDR6 
  • Display: 17.3″ Thin Bezel Full HD IPS-Level 144Hz(1920 x 1080)

Another blessing from the MSI Company, CUK GF75 Thin, comes almost with the highest configuration. 

Take a view at this MSI GF75 Gaming Laptop review to understand if the laptop is a preferable option. The laptop’s build quality and performance are carefully analyzed. But most importantly, this review highlights the laptop’s performance at gaming.

The significant parts of MSI GF75 are built with solid metal aluminum. Therefore, it feels solid and sturdy. The laptop’s red-backlit keyboard is well-spaced and comfortable for typing. The keys provide the right amount of feedback with a great feel.

With a twice RAM slot, the MSI GF75 Gaming Laptop supports up to 64 GB DDR4 RAM. With the 64 GB RAM, the laptop has no issue with multitasking. 

The MSI GF75 Gaming Laptop is packed with an NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 Graphics card. This laptop also has a dedicated Virtual RAM of 4 GB GDDR6.

The battery performance is not excellent; I can rate it six out of ten. The battery lasted for around 3.5 hours, with web browsing at its highest screen brightness. Moreover, it lasts for about 2 to 3 hours during gaming sessions. However, I will advise that you keep the laptop plugged in while gaming.

Overall, this device performs well without the battery issue to provide you with an outstanding performance with valve index.

PROS:

  • Thin bezels
  • Well-spaced keyboard
  • Less noisy than most gaming laptops
  • Lightweight for a 17.3-inch laptop

CONS:

  • No Thunderbolt 3 port
  • No SD card reader
  • Weak battery

FAQs

Can I run valve index on a laptop?

The Index Headset has three plugs: Plug the headset DisplayPort cord into your graphics card port (if you own a laptop, you may need an adapter). Plug the headset USB cord into a USB 3.0 port on your computer. Using the headset power adapter, plug your headset into a power outlet.

Is a Valve Index worth it in 2022?

The prices might be a little high, but there has a lot of value and quality for the money. Indeed, this is more costly than the Vive Cosmos and the Oculus Rift S, but it also seems to deliver even more immersion, so if you’ve got the budget, it looks like the Valve Index is worth it.

Do I need DisplayPort for Valve Index?

The Valve Index Headset requires that your system has the following ports available:
1 x DisplayPort 1.2+ for headset display. 
1 x USB 3.0+ for headset cameras.

Conclusion 

As mentioned, these laptops don’t have power like a desktop but are slightly weaker. Also, the cooling systems are not as efficient as in desktop PCs as they must be smaller to fit into a small space like the laptop body. It may result in some thermal throttling of GPU and CPU under heavy load, and you may see some slight jittering from time to time.

GTX 1660 Ti laptop is a bare minimum. To run things gorgeous, go for RTX 2070 SUPER. But if you want to achieve the best VR experience possible with no unpleasant effects whatsoever, the RTX 2800 SUPER laptop will do the job to run Valve Index in the best way possible.

Have fun, and take care! Keep tracking.


Next New Posts –


Gear Fiction

Hello Friends! We, Rituparna Guha & Firan Mondal, are happy to present a lot of Gear Fiction articles. A lot of different varieties of gears have been covered here to take a decision for final selection. We hope you will enjoy our efforts and get benefits! Stay Blessed & Cheers!

Leave a Reply

Recent Posts