VR is about to get a whole lot more affordable. No, the Oculus Rift itself isn't getting a (much-needed) price cut, but cheaper computers capable of powering the Oculus are now on their way. So much so you'll be able to pick up an Oculus Ready PC for just $499. Bargain.

Virtual reality is going to work this time. For realz. Yes, we know you've heard this all before, but too many people have too much money invested in VR this time around for it to fail. Plus the technology is also much, much better than it has ever been before.

The Oculus Rift is testament to that. Here is a VR headset which looks and feels incredible. And which is capable of powering some truly astounding virtual reality experiences. The only problem is it doesn't come cheap, with the Oculus Rift currently priced at $599.

However, the computers capable of powering the Oculus Rift have been even more expensive than that. Until now…

The New Minimum Specs for the Oculus Rift

At today's Oculus Connect 3 event, Oculus CEO Brendan Iribe announced a new, lower minimum hardware spec for computers running the Oculus Rift. Those new minimum specs include an Nvidia 960 graphics card, an Intel i3-6100 or AMD FX4350 processor, 8GB of RAM, and Windows 8.

An Oculus Ready PC powered by AMD and built by Cyberpower is now available for $499. And Oculus is certifying four more similar Oculus Ready PCs from ASUS, Alienware, Lenovo, and Aorus. Iribe hopes there will be hundreds of Oculus Ready PCs available within a few years.

What's making these lower minimum specs possible is a technology Oculus calls Asynchronous Spacewarp. This lets computers run games at 45fps while delivering them to the Rift at 90fps. The Asynchronous Spacewarp technology essentially fills in the gaps with synthetic frames.

Are You Interested in Virtual Reality Yet?

So, the price of the hardware is coming down, and the price of VR headsets is sure to follow. This begs the question, are you actually interested in virtual reality at this point in time? Tech companies including Facebook, Google, Sony, HTC, and Samsung are all heavily invested in VR at this point, but unless consumers come along for the ride, VR is doomed to fail yet again.

We want to hear your thoughts on all things VR. From the price of joining in the fun, to the experiences awaiting you on the other side. So please let us know in the comments below!

Image Credit: Sergey Galyonkin via Flickr