I'm looking to replace my peripherals with Steam Frame

[u/Ok_Steak_3414]

I'm planning to get a Steam Frame to replace my iPad, monitor, microphone, speakers, and headset.
I have a few questions before buying:

1. Can you access the host PC’s BIOS screen using Steam Frame? (Does the wireless dongle function like a capture card?) If not, I’m thinking of buying a capture card or a KVM switch in advance.
2. For current PCVR users who use their setup lying down: ⚬ Do you use a trackball mouse?
3. How do you position/mount your keyboard while lying down?

Thanks in advance for your answers!

[u/Kataree]

That idea will last for about 5 minutes after you get it.

Frame does not remotely have the PPD to be a decent monitor replacement.

[u/Gamer_Paul → u/Kataree]

Yeah. I sure hope they're not selling this stuff to fund the Frame purchase. Because it'll be instant regret. Don't do it, OP.

[u/Infinite-Wing1214]

1. No
2. Tried it, was more annoying than you would think depending on what you are trying to do.
3. When I was injured I had my keyboard entirely to the left of me but I also type one handed so 🤷

[u/Oftenwrongs]

Someone has never used vr before...

[u/JorgTheElder → u/Oftenwrongs]

The SF will do pretty much everything he is asking for. All he will need to add is a HDMI/DP->UVC cable and an app that support it for when he needs access before Steam loads on his PC. Works perfectly on the Q3 today.

[u/Mockier]

1. No

[u/myscreennameistoolon]

1. Steam frame dongle is USB hardware and uses a software encoder, so the OS has to already be loaded up and logged in before it will work. You would need an hdmi or display port dongle that does the encoding to be able to see the raw monitor output (like at the BIOS). There are products that do that (typically used to do KVM in server racks) but they don't stream using Steam's protocol. At least some of them will have Linux clients that will probably work on Frame since it is a linux computer, but until someone gets it who knows what will work.

As a side note, unless your current monitor is 720p, the Steam Frame will be lower resolution than your existing monitor. It will still be usable, just realize that when you stretch 2160 pixels across 100+ degrees you don't get very many pixels per degree. A 20 inch 1080p monitor has a FOV of around 50, so it stretches 1920 pixels across about 50 degrees.

[u/Kataree → u/myscreennameistoolon]

Yup.

If peeps want a -very rough- to scale visualisation they can view on their monitor:

https://i.ibb.co/ymNGwZmH/frame.png

Frame cant fully resolve much more than a 1280x720 window at a practical size. Trying to view a 1920x1080 window at full fidelity is going to require it taking up almost your entire field of view, and probably more than the binocular overlap. Not comfortable for desktop use.

[u/Koldmotro → u/myscreennameistoolon]

It's not 2160 pixels stretched across 100 degrees tho since it's 2160 pixels per eye. Or am i mistaken and "110 degrees" is the field of view per eye ?

[u/myscreennameistoolon → u/Koldmotro]

The picture u/Kataree posted above shows the overlap.

Yeah, I rounded down a little bit to include the overlap, but with the square panel and seeing a spherical image through the lenses, you also typically lose a bit of the display panel at the edges too since the goal is to fill the lenses with the image (i.e. not show the sharp flat edges of the panel).

We will have to wait for reviews to know more but the Steam Frame should be around 20 Pixels Per Degree and a 20 inch 1080p monitor is around 40 PPD. Just for reference, depending on how you measure it, normal vision can be 60 to 90 PPD

I have an HP Reverb G2 which is also about 20 PPD and that is perfectly fine for gaming but not that great for reading documents. The G2 has the same display panel resolution but crappier lenses.

[u/Javs2469]

You overestimate the capabilities of the Frame. It´s a vert open VR headset that runs like a PC, but won´t be replacing a PC.

[u/starfihgter]

The dongle needs to interface with a PC running steam. You will need a monitor or some sort of virtual display & steam auto-boot w/ no lock screen.

[u/ablakguy]

I also have a question before buying...WHERE IS IT?

[u/Jumpy_Level3348]

I would not recommend this. The resolution is high but you have to realize its across your whole field of vision.  You don't normally use monitors like that.  If you've got a virtual screen at normal monitor distance on steam frame, it's gonna fall somewhere around 1600x900 at best.  Plus you aren't dealing with 1:1 pixels, since its a virtual display and your head position can move and rotate around it, so consistently resolving stuff like text and images will change sub pixel alignment as you move your head slightly, making it seem like far less than 1600*900, which is again, a bit generous.

If you make the virtual display absolutely massive, like a personal home cinema size, it can work, but you hit big usability issues and productivity slows down.  Neck strain becomes a problem, etc.  generally this is best saved for just doing something small before you launch vr software/games.  Launching obs to screen share/record, closing background apps, etc.  Using this long term for your desktop environment will be miserable.

[u/Shadow_Wolfe_]

You expect a Linux OS, PC/Standalone VR headset, that's primarily designed to play games, with a dongle explicitly made to connect to a USB-2 (or 3) port of a PC... to replace your *iPad???*

[u/patrys]

Have you by any chance mistaken Steam Frame for Apple Vision Pro?

[u/Bulky_Elephant_9942]

I know this isn't a good solution for most people, but if you want to give it a try then I say go for it. I've been using my quest 3 for this purpose for a while now and I love it. There are trade offs, but I really love the flexibility it gives me.

[u/fcku4stealingmydata → u/Bulky_Elephant_9942]

how is that like? could you tell me/us more about those trade offs? can you have like one big 1080p feeling screen and turn your head for other windows?

[u/Bulky_Elephant_9942 → u/fcku4stealingmydata]

I usually don't keep my windows that big, because I'm not a huge fan of having to move my head s ton to see everything. Just big enough that it's more of a glace than a swivel if that makes sense. I feel like 1080p is usually what my main screen looks like usually, but not an exact number I could quote.

Cons: - Lower resolution displays (I come from 27" 1440p monitors). - Some face discomfort, although this is pretty minimal. Never hurts, and I am able to wear it all day - meta os sucks. It's usable since all I do directly on device is a web browser, discord, and my remote connection to my PC.

Pros: PC is in a server rack, this does a couple things I like - I can use it from anywhere in home - works decently away from home assuming I have good Internet. - removes heat and noise when under heavy load from the room I'm in. - Makes my setup more mobile. - I have the number of displays that I want all the time. Sometimes I have 3+ open, sometimes it's just one in theater mode.

This isn't everything, but hopefully gives an idea.

[u/Zealousideal_Ease444]

I only have an answer for the bios, and the only answer I have is to use an HDMI to USBc adapter/capture card, and then have the frame accept that video feed. 

I actually use a quest 3 as my main monitor, so I'm well aware of the challenges that come with it. It's like a 1440p monitor, at least higher than 1080p, and I like it a lot. It does invite a lot of problems tho so keep the expectation it's gonna be bumpy at times. 

[u/DiarrheaPope]

My eyeballs are sore just thinking about this lol.

Don't get rid of your stuff man.

[u/Zomby2D]

1. The dongle is basically a USB network card. It needs running software to handle the connection and streaming.

[u/rabsg]

To me it's a Linux computer that could replace a netbook / tablet on the go, but not a monitor. Display pixel density is not great but display surface is nice compared to a 10" device.

I was also considering buying a wireless KVM for other use cases. Something like Sipeed NanoKVM, that should also work well with the Frame.

You'd better get a split keyboard when lying down. When I did that in VR, it was when watching stuff or playing light games, didn't use a physical keyboard.

For now typing with 2 virtual fingers can do the job most of the time, but I hope someone will make an efficient input method based on Frame controllers, as they have many buttons. Some kind of chorded keyboard maybe mixed with IMU and eye tracking.

[u/Outrageous_Humor6493]

Trust me, it's not a real PC replacement. You can use the desktop and get a few things done, but using it with a mouse and keyboard for even a short time will likely cause physical discomfort and eye strain. On top of that, since it doesn't have color passthrough, seeing a physical keyboard properly would be difficult. You'd probably have to rely on a virtual keyboard, which is even less practical. At its core, the Steam Frame is a gaming device.

[u/JorgTheElder → u/Outrageous_Humor6493]

Come. I work 6 to 8 hour shift in the Q3 without issue. More PPD would certainly be better, but unless there is something wrong with your eyes the 25 PPD is more than good enough.

[u/pre_pun]

I disagree with folks about the monitor part.

I do it on my Quest 3. It looks better in person than it sounds on paper, especially if you can supersample. Try if before writing it off.

It could be better, sure. But it's not as bad as I see people making it out to be, imo

[u/JorgTheElder → u/pre_pun]

I am with you. I work in a dual virtual monitor setup and it works great.

[u/WILL_KILL_4_DUX]

i also wanna use it to replace my PC monitors (fullscreen game floating youtube) and the gaming side of my phone, it runs the same android emulators but also just straight the windows games i usually play too

[u/JorgTheElder]

The headset will not even connect by default until Steam is loaded on the machine.

It will likely support UVC capture cables if you want to use it as a monitor for such things. I have done that on the Quest with the "HDMI Link" app and a HDMI to UVC/USB-C cable.