MSI's Backpack PC gives you high-powered VR on the go
The Taiwanese gaming company has designed a 5kg (roughly 12lbs) backpack for more mobile virtual reality adventures.
MSI's Backpack PC will let you VR anywhere.
MSI believes you should be able to immerse yourself in VR anywhere you are, and here at Computex in Taipei, the company's latest Backpack PC makes this ideology a reality.
Like the name suggests, the 5kg-ish (around 12lbs) Backpack PC is something you carry around like a normal backpack -- but instead of a bag, you're lugging around a computer. For the virtual reality part of the experience, MSI is using HTC's Vive, though the company says the system is also compatible with other VR devices, such as the Oculus Rift.
The Backpack PC has a battery life of around one and a half hours if you're using it for GPU-intensive VR games. If the processor load is light enough, the device should be able to last for five hours without a charge.
MSI says it plans to make the retail version under 5kg. It will likely also launch with the latest Nvidia GTX 1080. The demo unit, which also made an appearance at Intel's press event, used a GTX 980.
Expect the MSI Backpack PC to release in the later half of this year, with prices yet to be announced. I'm personally not quite sold on the concept, having to use VR while carrying a 5kg load around isn't my cup of tea, and I suspect I may not be the only one.
Be sure to check the rest of CNET's Computex coverage here.
Key specs
- 6th generation Intel Core i7 processor
- Nvidia graphic card
- 16GB RAM
- SSD
- Launching second half of the year