How much should I spend on this VR-ready PC build?

[PennyLane]

I want to buy a VR-ready gaming PC for the HTC Vive but I don't want to be overcharged. How much should I be willing to spend on an already-built PC with these parts?

NVIDIA 980 Ti
16 GB RAM
Intel i7
4.0 processor

And will this build give me a *noticeably* better VR gaming experience than the one below?

NVIDIA 970
16 GB RAM
Intel i7
4.0 processor

 

[octibeam]

Nice

 

[Geekwad]

The 980ti system would be a noticeably smoother experience with much higher detail settings than the 970 can allow for, but would caution you on the value-to-performance figures of the 980ti (or the 970 for that matter) at this time.

With the GTX 1070 releasing imminently, its performance promises to meet or exceed the 980ti in every way (especially for VR), and it costs closer to $400....making it a much better value.

If you are not needing to make this purchase immediately, or are finding a unique deal on these systems, it may be best to wait for a 1070 equipped system (or even 1080 if your overall budget is in that range).

EDIT: If you are looking for adequate entry-level VR, you could also consider the soon-to-be available RX 480 equipped systems as well. Value to performance with that card promises to be extremely good (though I'd wait for reviews and benches to make a final decision if it's right for you or not).