VRHow / Headsets / Valve Index

Valve Index: the wired PC VR headset, kit and requirements

Short answer: Valve Index is a tethered PC VR headset that uses external SteamVR base stations for room tracking. Its official hardware spec is dual 1440 × 1600 LCDs, 80/90/120/144 Hz modes, DisplayPort 1.2 and USB 3.0 connections, and compatibility with Valve Index or compatible Vive controllers and base stations. Last checked October 11, 2026.

Looking for the historical background? Explore our documented history of the Valve Index, covering its launch milestones, ecosystem development, and industry legacy.

What the Valve Index is

Index is not a standalone headset and does not run VR apps by itself. The headset connects to a PC through its tether, while SteamVR supplies the PC runtime and game library. Valve describes it as hardware-agnostic: Steam content bought for HTC Vive, Vive Pro, Oculus Rift or Windows Mixed Reality can work with Index, and Valve says SteamVR titles are playable on SteamVR-compatible headsets. That compatibility describes the platform, not a guarantee that every individual game has the same controls or feature support.

Tracking is external rather than camera-only. Valve's support documentation says Index needs at least one base station, with two recommended, and works with original Vive base stations as well as SteamVR 2.0 stations. The headset itself has SteamVR 2.0 sensors. In practical terms, a setup needs a clear wired path to the computer plus powered base stations positioned so they can track the play area; the headset cannot be used as a wireless or standalone device based on the requirements Valve publishes.

Verified headset specifications

Item	Valve-published detail
Type	Wired PC VR headset; requires a PC and SteamVR tracking hardware
Displays	Dual 1440 × 1600 LCDs, full RGB per pixel
Refresh modes	80, 90, 120 and 144 Hz
Optics and adjustment	Double-element, canted lenses; physical IPD adjustment from 58–70 mm; adjustable eye relief
Connections	5 m tether; DisplayPort 1.2; USB 3.0; 12 V power
Audio and cameras	Built-in off-ear speakers, 3.5 mm headphone output, dual microphones and stereo RGB cameras
Tracking	SteamVR 2.0 sensors; compatible with SteamVR 1.0 and 2.0 base stations

Valve's page describes the field of view as an optimized typical-user result—20 degrees more than HTC Vive—rather than publishing one universal horizontal or diagonal number. This page therefore does not convert that statement into a precise FOV specification.

Kit choices and what each part does

The original complete kit was the simplest all-new setup: the headset, two Index Controllers and two base stations. The headset-and-controllers package omits the tracking stations, so it only makes sense if compatible stations are already available. The headset-only package omits both controllers and stations. Valve's Steam listing separately identifies Index Controllers, Index Base Stations, replacement parts and the headset; the headset product page also lists the in-box headset cable, DisplayPort/USB connection cable, power supply, face gasket, cradle adapter and cleaning cloth.

Compatibility can make a partial kit useful. Valve says the headset accepts Index Controllers, HTC Vive Wands and HTC Vive Pro Wands, and compatible Vive, Vive Pro or Index base stations. SteamVR tracking compatibility does not mean the parts are interchangeable with every other VR system, so check the exact controller and station model before buying used hardware.

PC requirements and port caveats

Valve's minimum	Valve's recommended guidance
Windows 10, SteamOS or Linux; dual-core CPU with Hyper-Threading; 8 GB RAM; GeForce GTX 970 or AMD RX 480; broadband internet; DisplayPort 1.2 and USB 2.0+	Quad-core CPU or better; GeForce GTX 1070 or better; USB 3.0+ for the headset's pass-through cameras

The DisplayPort requirement is important: Steam Support says HDMI is not supported, DisplayPort-to-HDMI adapters do not work, and a laptop using integrated graphics may not work. Valve's current support page also says the headset needs DisplayPort 1.2+ for its display and USB 3.0+ for cameras. These are published compatibility gates, not a promise of a particular frame rate in every title. Use the site's requirements guides to compare an individual game's official requirements with your PC.

Launch price and 2026 listing status

The headset's Steam product page gives a release date of June 28, 2019. A contemporaneous PC Perspective report recorded the launch configuration as a $999 complete bundle with headset, controllers and base stations, alongside $749 for headset plus controllers, $499 for the headset, $279 for controllers and $149 for a base station. Those are historical launch prices, not inflation-adjusted or guaranteed current prices.

On the Steam store checked for this page, the full $999 kit, $749 headset-plus-controllers package and $279 controller listing were marked Out of Stock. The headset-only listing showed $499 with an estimated 6–10 business-day delivery, while the base-station listing was marked out of stock. Store inventory and delivery estimates can change, and a listing is not a guarantee that an order can be fulfilled in every region. Valve's current page is the authority to check before treating Index as available.

Limitations and owner checklist

Index requires a suitable PC, a DisplayPort connection and SteamVR tracking hardware; it is not a standalone headset.
The published minimum GPU is GTX 970/RX 480, while Valve's recommended GPU is GTX 1070 or better. Those labels are Valve's requirements, not a performance ranking.
Valve's official pages verify the hardware and compatibility listed here, but they do not guarantee long-term stock, replacement-part availability, game support, or repair coverage in 2026.
Before buying a partial or used kit, verify that it includes the needed tether, power supply, controllers and base stations, and check the condition of wear items separately.

This is a source-led specification and compatibility page, not a hands-on review. See the headsets directory for other PC and standalone options.