Hardware Requirements
PSMoveServiceEx is not multi-threaded nor does it do any GPU processing. The processing thread that takes care of math, filters, and image processing happens in a single thread. This means if you want responsive tracking you will need a CPU with fast single cores speeds.
However, if you run other heavy applications - such as SteamVR or Virtual Reality Games - you probably want more CPU Cores otherwise those will bottleneck the PSMoveServiceEx processing thread and worsen the tracking quality or the other way around.
Warning
More cameras and a higher camera refresh rates will increase CPU usage greatly.
| Vendor | Processor |
|---|---|
| 🟥 AMD | Ryzen 5 3600 6-Core Processor |
| 🟥 AMD | Ryzen 7 5700X 8-Core Processor |
| 🟦 Intel | i7 9700 8-Core Processor |
| 🟦 Intel | i7 8700K 6-Core Processor |
| 🟦 Intel | i5 9400F 6-Core Processor |
Note
This section only applies to PlayStation Move controllers.
PlayStation Move controllers are mainly connected via Bluetooth. Normally there should be no problem connecting devices over Bluetooth, however, users still report that PlayStation Move controllers - especially PS4 PlayStation Move controllers - still have trouble connecting. It's recommended to connect PlayStation Move hardware to only supported devices which are listed and tested below.
| Type | Bluetooth Version |
|---|---|
| 🎮 PlayStation Move controller (PS3 Gen1 & Gen2) | Bluetooth 2.1 |
| 🎮 PlayStation Move controller (PS4) | Bluetooth 4.0 |
| Vendor | Version | Notes |
|---|---|---|
⭐ USB ASUS USB-BT500 |
Bluetooth 5.0 | Recommended. Install these drivers when encountering pairing issues. |
⭐ USB ASUS USB-BT400 |
Bluetooth 4.0 | Recommended. Install these drivers when encountering pairing issues. |
⭐ USB TP-Link UB500 Plus |
Bluetooth 5.3 | Recommended. Install these drivers when encountering pairing issues. Bigger antenna. |
⭐ USB TP-Link UB500 Nano |
Bluetooth 5.4 | Recommended. Install these drivers when encountering pairing issues. |
⭐ USB TP-Link UB400 Nano |
Bluetooth 4.0 | Recommended. Install these drivers when encountering pairing issues. |
✔️ USB Mpow BH456A |
Bluetooth 5.0 | |
✔️ USB Rocketek BT5B |
Bluetooth 5.0 | |
✔️ USB Trust 17772 |
Bluetooth 3.0 | |
✔️ PCI-E TP-Link Archer TX3000E |
Bluetooth 5.0 | Bluetooth and WiFi combo with antenna |
USB Trust 18187 |
Bluetooth 4.0 | Untested but should work the same as Trust 17772
|
❌ USB CSR 4.0 |
Bluetooth 4.0 | Pairing issues |
❌ On-Board Any |
Pairing issues and signal interferences due to computer case |
Note
Assuming no other device is connected to the Bluetooth radio.
| Controller Model | Maximum controller count |
|---|---|
| 🟦 Bluetooth 3.0 | |
| 🎮 PlayStation Move controller (PS3 Gen1 & Gen2) | 2 |
| 🎮 PlayStation Move controller (PS4) | Unknown. Probably does not work. |
| 🟦 Bluetooth 4.0 | |
| 🎮 PlayStation Move controller (PS3 Gen1 & Gen2) | 3 |
| 🎮 PlayStation Move controller (PS4) | 2 |
| 🟦 Bluetooth 5.0 | |
| 🎮 PlayStation Move controller (PS3 Gen1 & Gen2) | 6 |
| 🎮 PlayStation Move controller (PS4) | 4 |
Note
This section only applies to Cameras (PlayStation Eyes and generic Webcams).
Warning
The USB naming scheme on this section has been simplified.
Running multiple cameras at once requires huge amount of bandwidth. Make sure your PC at least has one or more USB 3.0 (5 Gbit) Host Controllers either On-Board or using PCI-Express USB cards. There is also a very big misconception that people think that more USB ports means more bandwidth. The bandwidth is limited by the USB host controller to which the ports are connected to. So adding more ports - like with USB Hubs - on the same USB host controller does not increase the bandwidth! The only way to increase USB bandwidth is to change your Mainboard or by adding a PCI-Express USB card.
Warning
If you want to expand your USB bandwidth with a PCI-Express USB card make sure you read carefully what host controllers they use! Only get a PCI-Express USB card with already tested chip vendors listed below!
| USB Chipset Vendors | Notes |
|---|---|
| 🔌 AMD | On systems with AMD CPUs. Compatible but may be unstable in some cases for example when the CPU has been overclocked. |
| 🔌 Intel | On systems with Intel CPUs. Very compatible and stable. For some reason USB bandwidth on Intel systems are substantially higher than any of the other tested USB vendors even if they have the same rated bandwidth. So there might be a chance of Thunderbolt being used. |
| 🔌 VLI | Limited hardware information. Can cause a lot of conflicts, issues and is one of the worst. VLI chipsets are usually used for hub controllers not for main host controllers. |
| 🔌 Renesas & NEC | Reliable, compatible, fast and most popular |
| 🔌 Fresco Logic | Fast but unstable. |
| 🔌 ASmedia | Popular, fast and lower power consumption but unstable with some devices. |
Unlike Webcams that use MJPG to compress their streams to reduce USB load, PlayStation Eyes have uncompressed raw streams that require huge amount of USB bandwidth to run. There have been attempts to try to reduce the USB load for PlayStation Eyes. For example, going from RGB to Bayer filter which reduced the USB load by half. However, even with that filter, without MJPG, you will most likely run into bandwidth issues connecting more than 3 PlayStation Eyes on one USB host controller. You can decrease the Camera Hz to reduce USB load at the cost of higher tracking latency. It is advised to not go below 30 Hz.
The amount of PlayStation Eyes you can run on tested USB host controllers on different resolutions and framerates.
| Resolution & Framerate | Maximum Device Count |
|---|---|
| 🖥️ USB 3.1 (10 Gbit) - AMD | |
| 640x480 @ 30Hz | 3 |
| 640x480 @ 60Hz | 2 |
| 320x240 @ 60Hz | 8 |
| 🖥️ USB / Thunderbolt (40 Gbit) - Intel | |
| 640x480 @ 30Hz | 8 |
| 640x480 @ 60Hz | 8 |
| 320x240 @ 60Hz | 8 |
| 🖥️ USB 3.0 (5 Gbit) - VLI | |
| 640x480 @ 30Hz | 3 |
| 640x480 @ 60Hz | 1 |
| 320x240 @ 60Hz | 8 |
| 🖥️ USB 3.0 (5 Gbit) - Renesas / NIC | |
| 640x480 @ 30Hz | 3 |
| 640x480 @ 60Hz | 2 |
| 320x240 @ 60Hz | 8 |
| 🖥️ USB 3.0 (5 Gbit) - Fresco | |
| 640x480 @ 30Hz | 6 (Untested) |
| 640x480 @ 60Hz | 6 (Untested) |
| 320x240 @ 60Hz | 8 |
| 🖥️ USB 3.1 (10 Gbit) - ASmedia (ASM3142) | |
| 640x480 @ 30Hz | 4 |
| 640x480 @ 60Hz | 2 |
| 320x240 @ 60Hz | 8 |
| 🖥️ USB 3.2 (20 Gbit) - ASmedia (ASM3242 / ASM3241) | |
| 640x480 @ 30Hz | Untested but should outperform any of the above. |
| 640x480 @ 60Hz | Untested but should outperform any of the above. |
| 320x240 @ 60Hz | Untested but should outperform any of the above. |
| 🖥️ USB 4.0 (40 Gbit) - ASmedia (ASM4242) | |
| 640x480 @ 30Hz | Untested but should outperform any of the above. |
| 640x480 @ 60Hz | Untested but should outperform any of the above. |
| 320x240 @ 60Hz | Untested but should outperform any of the above. |
| 🖥️ USB 3.2 / USB 4 (40 Gbit) - Thunderbolt | |
| 640x480 @ 30Hz | Untested but should outperform any of the above. |
| 640x480 @ 60Hz | Untested but should outperform any of the above. |
| 320x240 @ 60Hz | Untested but should outperform any of the above. |
Note
You can see trackers that share the same USB host controller in PSMoveServiceEx Config Tool > Tracker Settings.
