Zotac announces VR GO backpack gaming PC

Gaming in virtual reality has become incredibly popular over the past year. However, the experience can be cumbersome due to the amount of cables required to connect the headsets and controllers to a PC. Zotac has recently announced an interesting solution to this problem: strapping your gaming PC to your back.

The VR GO backpack PC will be equipped with an Intel core i7 quad-core processor and an Nvidia GTX 1070 MXM module, ensuring that it's VR-ready. The device will also have room for two DDR4 SO-DIMM RAM slots, an M.2 SSD for storage, a 2.5-inch SATA HDD or SSD, and an 802.11ac Wi-Fi card. Powering the unit will be a large hot-swappable battery, although Zotac hasn’t given an estimated battery size or run time.

Even with the smaller chassis, Zotac has fit ample I/O and connectivity into the PC. On one side of the chassis, there are:

• Three USB 3.1 Type-A ports

• Two HDMI ports

• Two DisplayPorts

• SD card reader

• Dedicated 3.5 mm audio line out

• Dedicated 3.5 mm audio line in

• Two Gigabit ethernet ports

Zotac has also thoughtfully placed two additional USB 3.1 Type-A ports, and HDMI port, and a power connection on what would be the top side when the unit is worn like a backpack. These ports are specifically placed for users to connect VR headsets like the HTC Vive and Oculus Rift. Zotac has also designed a specialized air cooling solution that will bring in enough fresh air to cool the high-end processor and GPU and dump system heat away from the user.

We’ve seen similar backpack PCs from companies like MSI, but Zotac’s device looks to be an evolution of the idea. In addition to wearing the PC as a backpack, users can set the device flat on its side like a traditional desktop. Zotac showed off a prototype backpack PC at Computex earlier this year, and the VR Go looks like the finished commercial version of that prototype.

Pricing and availability are unknown at this time, but the device is expected to be shown at CES in early 2017.

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