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A sim-racing enthusiast has built an open-source VR headset for a reported parts cost of a little over $150, but it is a hands-on project—not a ready-to-use headset at that price. The design pairs two small displays with adjustable interpupillary distance (IPD), an Arduino-based sensor setup and a 3D-printed body. Its documented tracking is 3DoF, and its reported refresh rate falls to 60 Hz at full resolution.
What is the $150 sim-racing headset?
It is a do-it-yourself headset made by YouTube creator CNCDan, rather than a retail product. PC Gamer reported on October 9, 2025, that the parts cost a little over $150, excluding the creator’s personal 3D-printing equipment. That is a reported project cost from 2025—not a current quote, a guaranteed all-in budget or an independently audited bill of materials. PC Gamer’s report identifies the build as a low-cost way to make a headset tailored to sim racing, with the tradeoff that the builder must assemble and configure it.
The reported configuration uses two 2.9-inch LCD panels with a combined resolution of 2,880 × 1,440, Fresnel lenses, an IMU board and an Arduino Pro Micro. TechSpot describes the optics as Google Cardboard-derived lenses with a reported 4.5 mm focal distance, plus a custom circuit board, Relativty software and SteamVR compatibility. TechSpot’s report says the displays can be adjusted independently for IPD. Notebookcheck also describes interchangeable faceplates and a 3D-printed body. Notebookcheck’s report covers those features and the headset’s tracking limits.
What the reported specs mean in practice
IPD adjustment
IPD is the distance between the centers of the pupils. Independent adjustment of the displays lets the builder align the optics to different users’ eye spacing; it does not establish that every wearer will find the fit comfortable or the image clear. The reports describe adjustable IPD, but do not provide a measured adjustment range.
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3DoF tracking, not room-scale movement
The Relativty documentation describes its headset as 3DoF, meaning it tracks rotational head movement—looking up and down, turning left and right, and tilting—rather than the headset’s position as the wearer moves through a room. The project repository says there is no built-in controller support. Do not treat this design as a 6DoF, standalone or controller-equipped headset. Relativty’s project documentation describes the DIY system and its hardware and printable parts; it is a separate project’s guide, so it should not be taken as proof that every detail of CNCDan’s build is identical.
Resolution and refresh-rate tradeoff
PC Gamer reported that the displays’ 90 Hz capability drops to 60 Hz at full resolution through SteamVR, and that CNCDan found the result choppy. This describes the reported configuration, not an independent benchmark across different PCs or games. A display’s advertised or possible refresh rate is not the same as the rate a particular setup sustains at its chosen resolution.
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What building one involves
This is a fabrication and compatibility project as much as a headset design. Relativty’s build guide assumes familiarity with electronics and programming, and documents a typical set of hardware categories rather than a current, guaranteed shopping list. Its recommended-build section is marked as of May 2023, so use it as build guidance, not as a current parts quote.
- Displays and driver board: The guide calls for a small PC display and its driver board. It advises buying them together when possible to reduce compatibility risk.
- Optics: Compatible VR lenses are needed; dimensions and placement must suit the displays and printed housing.
- Motion-sensing electronics: The guide identifies an ATmega32U4 microcontroller, such as an Arduino Pro Micro, and a supported IMU. CNCDan’s reported build also uses an Arduino Pro Micro.
- Printed and wearable parts: The headset needs a printable housing, strap and facial interface. The repository provides mechanical files, but builders still need access to a printer or a printing service.
- Software setup: The reported configuration uses Relativty software with SteamVR. Expect setup and troubleshooting rather than a consumer-style first-run experience.
An Arduino Pro Micro-compatible ATmega32U4 board is one identifiable component, not a complete kit. Check the board against the project materials before buying; the exact compatibility of a generic listing is not established by the reports.
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Who should consider the build?
It may appeal to sim racers who enjoy electronics and fabrication, want to experiment with an open-source design, and are willing to trade convenience for a headset shaped around a particular use. The reported build makes selective hardware choices possible, but the available reports do not establish comparative value against current retail headsets or other DIY designs.
It is a poor fit for someone who wants a dependable headset that works out of the box, needs hand controllers, or expects positional room-scale tracking. Before choosing any headset for sim racing, compare total cost—including printer access and replaced or failed parts—alongside display resolution at the refresh rate actually used, tracking, controller support, software setup, and the currency of the documentation and community help.
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- 【More Comfortable Wearing】VR headset comes with a fully adjustable head strap, eyesight protection system, and a soft nose piece to reduce pressure and ensure a comfortable experience. Easy to set up and use, place the phone horizontally with reference to the center line, adjust pupil distance and object distance.
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What the $150 figure does—and does not—cover
The widely reported figure is CNCDan’s 2025 parts cost, described by PC Gamer as a little over $150 and excluding personal 3D-printing equipment. It is useful as evidence that a low-cost DIY build was reported, not as a budget to rely on today. The sources do not establish a current total for someone starting from scratch, including printer access, shipping, replacement parts or changes made during assembly. The Relativty guide’s parts recommendations are also not a quote for this particular build.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- No cable tug. In a standard VR cable management system, multiple retractors are mounted in the center of your play space. The farther you move from the center, the more cable tug you begin to experience as the tension in the retractors increases. With VR WIRE II, a single dynamic retractor follows you across your play area, and is engaged through a rotating pulley wheel, which completely eliminates cable tug.
- Effortless 360° turns. In a static system, as you move farther away from the center where the retractors are mounted, the angle of the cable makes it more difficult to turn around, especially with low ceilings. Because the dynamic retractor stays above your head as you move across your play space, it allows for 360° turns even in the most remote corners of your play space.
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- Reduce potential cable damage from twisting. With a standard cable management system, the last retractor is attached directly to the cable, about a foot from the VR headset. Repeated turns in one direction put stress on this short section of the cable, which over time can lead to damage. With VR WIRE II, the cable moves freely through the pulley wheels, which helps distribute the effect of twisting over a longer length of the VR cable. Although it doesn't completely solve the problem, this extra freedom of movement helps reduce the potential damage to your VR cable from twisting.
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