Quick Tips Guide - OpenXR with iRacing using the Open XE ToolKit- How and why you should use it!

[@ЭдикНаЧердаке]

You're a legend! Short, cear and deadly effective. Thanks

[@OlderGamersPerspective]

Cool, glad to be of help :)

[@rickthomas9894]

So glad I discovered you! You do an excellent job explaining and providing examples for how to use the various tools and settings to get the best VR (Quest 3) experience. Reviewing all of your videos and have subscribed and, have joined the Discord. Great content, Thanks!

[@OlderGamersPerspective]

Hi Rick, thank you for the feedback, the subscription and joining the discord :) I am so glad you find the videos helpful and I look forward to chatting with you on Discord. Paul

[@PetrisonRocha]

If it wasn't for you, I'd never use this. I watched thousands of videos about iRacing and Quest 3 optimization and no one to teach about this thing, so easy. I had to set foveat rendering to quality/wide pattern, otherwise I thought the aliasing on peripheral vision to be distracting, but this was enough for a nice performance boost already. Coupling this with 0.9/0.9 FOV on ODT, I was able to jump from a system struggling to run only FXAA to now being able to comfortably run 4x MSAA. Subscribed.

[@OlderGamersPerspective]

Glad I could help! Sim racing should be more about fun than setting up the PC, but sadly, it's all part of it when you want to use VR. Have you checked out my discord page? discord.gg/BUAkQSVc Lots of people there to help if you hit an issue.

[@barreh69]

What kind of of headroom are you aiming for? Just wondering at what point I can start to think about increasing some graphics settings. Edit: great vids btw, I find them really helpful and have subbed

[@OlderGamersPerspective]

Hi, thank you for the feedback and I appreciated the subscription. Generally I tend to play on the safe side, some of my other subscribers say a I am bit to safe, but I do try and aim for somewhere around 30%, which I feel gives me some extra room in case I am on a crowded track. But it does depend on what your system is capable of, and which sim you are using. For iRacing aim for around 30%, but if it's at 20% you will probably still be able to race, but you might see some frame drops in challenging conditions, lots of smoke, rain, tracks where you can see a long way into the distance, for example. For other sims, such as AMS2 or ACC, you will have to drop that aim to a much lower aspirational level as those sims are more demanding, especially in VR.

[@barreh69]

@@OlderGamersPerspective thanks so much for the thorough response!

[@Veargan]

Thanks for the helpful information on settings comparisons! It was very useful.

[@OlderGamersPerspective]

Glad it was helpful! Enjoy your new graphical settings :)

[@Chader9]

Another great video! I linked this into my own VR setup doc for long term reference. I am running similar settings to a degree with more emphasis on the higher quality side, but hit the odd time with frame issues. So I plan to experiment a bit more with it in tandem with iRacing GFX settings to see if I can find a better mix. Thanks for the work here and elsewhere. :D

[@OlderGamersPerspective]

Excellent. Glad to be of help and thank you for the feedback. I'll be interested to hear your final results.

[@Chader9]

@@OlderGamersPerspective I have played with the advanced overlay, but seem to have a different set of data displayed. How did you get Headroom to show? That seems like a nice quick reference to have. Do you have a recommendation for what value to aim for with Headroom?

[@OlderGamersPerspective]

@@Chader9 it can be displayed in either Open XR, by accessing it from the Performance tab and turning overlay to either FPS or Advanced. If you want the meta one, you need to load up Oculus Debug tool and access it at the bottom from the Performance option. That any help to you?

[@Chader9]

@@OlderGamersPerspective Kinda. I already know how to access the separate overlays. The Oculus one is cool but far too large for regular use. The OpenXR one is great and I have played with the FPS & Advanced versions. I was thrilled when you showed how to alter it's position so I can run it all the time without distraction. I even turned on the clock time info as a nice bit of info too. What is different between our OpenXR Overlays is your video (5:00), I see that you have "GPU Headroom" right under "FPS". I have the same fields you also have below that, but not the Headroom one. I assumed there was a switch to show that somewhere, but have not been able to find it in the OpenXR settings. Was wondering if that was a switch you found somewhere I had not looked.

[@Chader9]

@@OlderGamersPerspective Upon some more targeted google searching, I think I found it. Sounds like Headroom will show automatically if there is a value in the "Target Frame Rate" setting. I know I ignored that previously and is likely why I don't see it. I will give that a shot soon but I think that is the trick.

[@IvanHerrmann]

Thank you, i Will test today

[@OlderGamersPerspective]

Good luck. Adjust the settings gradually to get a feel for what has an effect on performance, and let me know how you get on.

[@TPA_JW]

Amazing video. I am setting up my new Quest 3 and was considering using OpenXR. Now I am. Did you adjust any of the settings in the Oculus debug tool as well? If so, what did you adjust?

[@OlderGamersPerspective]

Hi, thank you for the feedback. I only have a few things adjusted in the ODT - mostly just the Encode rate, which I have set to 450. But you can find other stuff that is beneficial to sim racing in this video about the ODT - kzbin.info/www/bejne/kICccmZvmt6jmLMsi=daN4SDYgYAwtoTZh

[@linzkirk]

Very well explained. I was always afraid of more faff with the open XR toolkit but Im going to give this a go. I also run a 4070 with Q3 so I will start with your settings. Now its in open XR can I use race lab overlays in VR? as they don't work from oculus setting? Can I also use this for ACC, it awful in VR. Ive Subscribed

[@OlderGamersPerspective]

Hi, thank you for the feedback. Yes, I was in the same place as you, not really wanting to faff with something else just to go racing, but in the end the whole process was fairly painless and it does really improve iRacing, as I use it, which is from the standalone UI, not via Steam. For racing in the rain, in iRacing, it seems to be something that I really can't do without, although I still have to back off my refresh rate in the Meta app to 72Hz. And the OpenXR is set to Balanced. Then rain is usable for me. kzbin.info/www/bejne/fZ-rkpicdqytmassi=2UvJH7nr74S1zUsE The only downside for me with OPenXR is the tracks textures, on some tracks, aren't always as good as without, but it's a minor point when gaining performance. I have not yet had much luck with overlays in VR with iRacing, which is irritating as many other sims, such as AMS2 and ACC have them included by default, with no extra app to pay for. ACC has a TON of overlays that you can use via the Content Manager MOD. so, yeah, iRacing is behind the curve here. Some new overlays are supposed to come in the future (ish), but from the previews iRacing have show, they are underwhelming compared with what you can get with Race Labs, using a monitor. It does sometimes feel that as far as iRacing is concerned, VR Users are unloved children. For ACC, you are probably using Steam? To do that you need to some extra stuff installed. That again looks like a faff, but I have been assured it is also easy. So, video to come on that subject in the near future. This would then mean you could (theoretically) use OpenXR for all steam sims. We shall see... Thank you for the subscription. Much appreciated.

[@linzkirk]

@@OlderGamersPerspective Thank you for such a detailed reply. Would be great if I racing just had radar. At so ACC this vid might help its for LMU, but at 11:50 he shows how to get it to run with out steam, he told me it should be the same for AAC.

[@OlderGamersPerspective]

@@linzkirk Can you give me the whole link? This one didn't work for me. But yes, if you get OpenXR working for LMU, it should work for all sims on steam. Yes, radar would be really nice, and LMU has this now for VR. Have you tried LMU in VR? It's pretty cool, although not officially supported.

[@linzkirk]

@@OlderGamersPerspective kzbin.info/www/bejne/ml7KiIeBgKl3aa8. Sorry thought I had included it but I didn't

[@FruitLoop2020]

Could you do another video but open XR and AMS2? Would be great to get some good settings

[@OlderGamersPerspective]

I will do this soon, it's on the list, but getting nearer to the top with every video I make. So, should be along soon(ish).

[@marcholloway8436]

Thank you for this video helped me out alot

[@OlderGamersPerspective]

Thank you for commenting, and I am glad the video helped you out.

[@MichaelJones-uv2vd]

What is your rig set up. You picture looks amazing and I would like to compare what you are running with what I am running so I can have a level of expectation.

[@OlderGamersPerspective]

I have an i5 13600k with 64gig ddr4, nvme for windows 11 and another for games. Gpu is a 4070super. Bear in mind that the way your headset is connected to the computer will also effect image quality. As will the settings in the meta app and the oculus debug tool.

[@gustavoehler]

how do you see your keyboard with your Quest3 on and running Iracing? As a new owner, I Appreciate your videos very much!

[@OlderGamersPerspective]

Hi, thank you for the feedback. I'm afraid the short answer to your question is; you don't see the keyboard! I use the 'nose gap' technique of trying to peer down to figure out where the keyboard is, and also a bit of muscle memory. Takes some getting used to, and some trial and error, but at some point it becomes easier. Be nice to have a keyboard that showed my hands over it, but as hand tracking doesn't work when the PC app is connected to the headset, I am not sure we will ever have such a feature. At least not in a meta headset.

[@dpstrix3220]

For me the pc is saying sim not found and won’t launch great video must be something im doing wrong

[@OlderGamersPerspective]

Have you installed the OpenXR Toolkit?

[@jcolaco]

Great Video but what´s your hardware specs? Thanks

[@OlderGamersPerspective]

I have an i5 13600k with 64gig ddr4, nvme for windows 11 and another for games. Gpu is a 4070super.

[@davidlocke5016]

❤ very helpful thank you

[@OlderGamersPerspective]

Glad to be of help :)

[@FruitLoop2020]

I copied your settings on your previous video. Does work well. However I do sometimes get micro stutters. But not sure if that’s the settings or game

[@OlderGamersPerspective]

Nvidia card? There have been some reports that certain systems suffer from this, which seems to be a driver issue but only with specific setups.

[@FruitLoop2020]

@@OlderGamersPerspective yeah Nvidia 4070 TI super. Maybe I should check if there’s a software update?

[@OlderGamersPerspective]

Would be a good idea. Also consider doing a clean install of the graphics driver. I used nvcleanstall and that helped my performance a great deal. At the same time, other factors, like how your headset connects to the PC, will come into play as well. It's all a bigger picture thing I'm afraid, and a case of running down the likely suspects first to see if it's one of them. There is also a long running thread on the iRacing forums, in the VR section that deals with micro stutters with NVidia cards. Might be worth checking that out. Best of luck sorting it out.

[@d.l.1660]

I will have to try this when I wake tomorrow. My quest 3 looks grainy compared to how yours and other KZbinrs looks. It's driveable but dissapoiting.

[@FruitLoop2020]

@@d.l.1660 yesx so does mine. I know though that most KZbinrs upscale their videos before posting though. But still good settings

[@roolixgaming2718]

hi, thanks for the explanation but i can not add iracing to open xr tool kit and i don't know why. if you can help me please

[@OlderGamersPerspective]

Hi, are you using Open XR with Steam or the iRacing UI?

[@rafaelnascimento596]

I am from Brazil., i really lided it

[@OlderGamersPerspective]

Excellent. and a big hello to you in Brazil :)

[@MrRamoSzz]

Wonder have you ever had issues with HAM like when you join the served the screen is black and after you either rejoin the server or tun HAM off you get the picture back?

[@OlderGamersPerspective]

I have not seen this. Which graphics card are you using?

[@MrRamoSzz]

@@OlderGamersPerspective 3080Ti, but I have Reverb G2 that is OpenXR native head set. I have seen multiple threads about same issues with others.

[@OlderGamersPerspective]

@@MrRamoSzz I don't have much experience with the G2, there is a flight sim guy who does, probably best to check with him. Do you know his channel? I can't think of the name of the top of my head. Can look it up if you need it.

[@MrRamoSzz]

@@OlderGamersPerspective I think I know who you talk about, but I don't see point asking his as this seems to be iRacing specific issue that happens from time to time, also it is not crussial as you always have time to close the SIM and re-lunch or just deactivate HAM for a second and then turnit back on :D

[@OlderGamersPerspective]

@@MrRamoSzz That is a great tip and I will make sure to mention you and the tip in my next video about OpenXR. Could be some people don't know this and just abandon using OPenXR, which is a shame.

[@Ro-xn9ve]

When I open the openxr toolkit app iracing does not pop up at the bottom, how can I fix this? I already have iracing running and I’ve also tried to do it while in a iracing session , still it doesn’t pop up in the openxr tool kit. Please help

[@OlderGamersPerspective]

have you tried opening the OPenXR toolkit inside iracing using the keyboard shortcuts?

[@carlostezna3514]

should i continue even if the download site says that this is no longer being supported and that developer recommends not installing? i use VR for iracing, assetto corsa, ams2 and acc but i would like to possibly try it out in the future with other non driving games. will i still be able to?

[@OlderGamersPerspective]

It's entirely your decision, of course, but if you are having performance issues, the OpenXR toolkit will help, and it does work at the moment with iRacing at least. With Steam games you need to go through some more hurdles, and I haven't yet tried that, but for iRacing it works with the Meta app and the quest 2 or 3. Is that any help to you?

[@carlostezna3514]

@@OlderGamersPerspective yeah thanks for the reply.. so i can use it for some games and not for others? will steam still default to using oculus or whatever else i set it as? or should i desactive openxr like you showed in the video?

[@OlderGamersPerspective]

@@carlostezna3514 I use Steam games all the time, and when I hit the Play button in the library, it comes up with a menu asking if I want to use a Monitor, Oculus Link or Steam VR. Generally speaking I use Oculus Link. This doesn't seem to be affected by the presence of OpenXR toolkit, so I have never had to deactivate it. So far, I have only been able to use openxr toolkit with Oculus link games outside of steam. Anything inside steam doesn't seem to use it, although I have been shown a method to do so, but have yet to try it. Let me know how you get on.

[@carlostezna3514]

@@OlderGamersPerspective i’ve done it! now using openxr and my frame rates are great. thanks again for taking the time to layout all the settings. your videos are amazing!

[@OlderGamersPerspective]

@@carlostezna3514 Cool. glad it worked out :)

[@fatih_a]

I have a 4070ti but the HAM Option does not show me anything.. any idea?

[@OlderGamersPerspective]

can you open the OpenXR toolkit okay?

[@fatih_a]

@@OlderGamersPerspective yes! Everything there just no HAM or Cull setting

[@OlderGamersPerspective]

@@fatih_a if you have time, pop over to my discord channel - discord.gg/6wF2yETw and we can discuss with the other members in more depth.

[@ktmlc4640supermoto]

Had the same issue with the black screen after turn the HAM on. After turning the Fixed foveated renderin on Custom it work's now... maybe you give it a try...

[@knowledgeis5855]

Ditto I'll give this a go later

[@OlderGamersPerspective]

Excellent. It is worth trying, even if your system is not struggling, just to have that safeguard in case you are racing on a very busy track, or one with a lot of rain.

[@SylarXtream]

I have all this and it wont open in game. I dont know what im missing

[@OlderGamersPerspective]

Iracing won't open? Or the XR toolkit won't open?

[@SylarXtream]

@@OlderGamersPerspectiveXR toolkit wont open.

[@OlderGamersPerspective]

@@SylarXtream Have you used the XR toolkit companion app to create a short cut to open it?

[@OlderGamersPerspective]

See 1:48 of this video.

[@SylarXtream]

​@@OlderGamersPerspective yeah I've got all that. It's in game nothing happens.

[@dennisdier9904]

openxr and openxr tool kit are two different things. you are going to confuse alot of people with your title

[@OlderGamersPerspective]

Hi, thank you for the feedback. Whilst I haven't had anyone stating they have been confused by the title, I've taken onboard that this might have occurred, and updated the title of this video.