Today, Lenovo is launching two new gaming PCs that are being primarily advertised for their compact size and virtual reality compatibility. The pre-built, VR-ready PC ecosystem has been growing steadily since the advent of high-end consumer headsets began earlier this year. These two new additions from Lenovo, however, are among the first to emphasize a compact design within this vertical.
The two new models are known as the Lenovo IdeaCentre Y710 Cube and the all-in-one (AIO) Lenovo IdeaCentre Y910. Each packs the graphical and processing muscle that the more powerful VR headsets — such as the Oculus Rift or HTC Vive — require into a design small enough to be easily transported. The IdeaCentres units are being officially unveiled for the first time at Gamescom this week in Germany.
The small, cube-like Y710 may include a GeForce GTX 1080 GPU, 32GB of DDR4 RAM, and a 256GB SSD (or 2TB hard disk). Other options for things like an Xbox One controller, better Wi-Fi, a headset, and more exist as well.
The AIO Y910 on the other hand is a bit of a different beast. If you’re really into portable gaming — such as attending LAN parties and conventions like QuakeCon, this one might be even more your speed. The entire PC is jammed into the 27-inch 2,560 x 1,440 borderless monitor itself, eschewing the need for a cube or tower at all. This version also will include options for the same specs, listed above, as the Y710.
The on-the-go form factor of these computers was spearheaded by Lenovo after the company found that 47 percent of gamers prefer to play their games on the go rather than being restricted to a single location.
PCs powerful enough to run the most advanced consumer headsets are being built, for the most part, from the ground up by VR enthusiasts — most of which already have the savvy to undergo such a project. Pre-constructed models like these two from Lenovo, however, are important for removing friction from the adoption process in the immersive industry.
The VR-ready IdeaCentre Y710 Cube starts at $1,299 with a GTX 1070 included and the VR-ready AIO Y910 starts at $1,799, also with a GTX 1070 included. Achieving the full power of the specs mentioned previously in this article, such as a GTX 1080, will require a higher price.
Both computers are running Windows 10 and will be made available at the beginning of October.
h/t: VentureBeat and Engadget
