Quest 2 Head Tracking stutter only in SteamVR

[FutureMightyena]

So. I've had this issue basically ever since I got my quest 2, where no matter what game it is or no matter what I do, *any* game I run using SteamVR has this really weird, stuttery or jittery tracking when I move my head. Controllers are fine, the actual frame rate is fine, everything (including characters I move around in-game) are perfectly smooth, but ANY time I move my head I get real bad stutter. It's like it's taking and showing me old frames or something, it's weird.

And this is only with SteamVR, running games with the Oculus runtime (and quest link) keeps them buttery smooth. SteamVR over quest link (and thus through the oculus runtime) stutters too. Steam Link stutters, and I've tried betas and the normal version, and even streaming over ALVR I still have this issue. Haven't tried Virtual Desktop yet (don't got 20 bucks to buy it lol) but if that uses SteamVR, I can't imagine I won't have the same issue.

I've seen countless threads here, on reddit, and on Steam's own discussions and no one's seem to found a solution that works recently. I'd LOVE to play more of my library that doesn't support the oculus runtime but this issue takes so much out of it.

I've tried messing with process priority for every process related to SteamVR, I've tried lowering resolutions all the way down to as low as it'll go, I've tried messing with vsync, refresh rates on my headset, I've tried messing around with the games settings themselves, restarting a combination of my PC, headset, router, apps open on my PC, closed down whatever isn't necessary, everything those threads have said I should try, nothing works. I'm on Windows 10 (Version 10.0.19045 Build 19045), on a laptop with a ryzen 5 5600h and a gtx 1650. My hardware isn't the *best* I know, but the games I've tried playing and the settings I have them on don't max out either my CPU or GPU and they're definitely not overheating so I'm at a standstill. Anyone got any leads towards fixing this?

[Fantominus1]

I seem to have the same issue. Running titles using Steam VR seems to result in the same kind of stutter as you describe.
For example, on my side, starting up Blade & Sorcery by using the Steam boot option results in heavy stutter when starting the tutorial. The text box can easily be seen moving up / down / left / right, but the rest of the tracking seems fine.
If I instead select the Oculus boot option I do not get this issue, the game runs normally.

I have no issues when using Oculus VR in Airlink or when I boot a Steam game using the Oculus VR option / boot parameter.

This issue is NOT fixed by setting Meta Quest link as default Open XR as I think opening a game using the Steam stuff overrides this behaviour.


My hypothesis: Steam VR uses OpenVR which might be the cause of the stuttering. Oculus uses OpenXR which doesn't stutter.

Material:

1. CPU: Ryzen 7 7700X
2. GPU: RX 6700XT
3. Ram: 32go DDR5 - 6000 MT/S
4. Meta Quest 3S.

• Steams link: Stutter.
• Air link: No stutter.
• Virtual Desktop - Steam VR runtime: Stutter.
• Virtual Desktop - Oculus VR runtime: No Stutter. (Custom boot argument or selecting the Oculus VR option when booting a steam game)

[FutureMightyena]

Actually REALLY good to know it's not just my low end hardware causing the problem. Thanks for the extra info!

Would you be willing to run SteamVR through quest link when you get the chance and see if the stutters still happen? I've tried that again just recently, both with a cable and just over wifi. Maybe this was something v71 fixed somehow? I had the steam runtime as the default, and the stutters seemed WAY less prevalent in game (using Moss to test) and in the dashboard they were basically non existent. I'm gonna post to SteamVR's discussions too and see if there's anything or anybody there that can help too.