How to build a VR-ready PC for less than $800

If you've tried the Oculus Rift and HTC Vive virtual reality headsets, you know that their high-end VR is in another class above mobile VR experiences like the Samsung Gear VR and Google Cardboard. Problem: the headsets are expensive ($599 for Oculus, $799 for the Vive and its controllers) and the powerful PCs you need to run them even more so, since they're typically well north of $1,000.

But there's a path to good VR that's not as hard on your wallet: You can build your own VR-ready PC, and it'll cost you a lot less than ready-made ones like the model being bundled with the Rift.