# VirtualLink

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Failed USB-C alternate mode proposal

**VirtualLink** was a proposed [USB-C Alternate Mode](/source/USB-C#Alternate_Modes) that was historically intended to allow the power, video, and data required to power [virtual reality headsets](/source/Virtual_reality_headset) to be delivered over a single USB-C cable instead of a set of three different cables as it was in older headsets.[1][2] The standard was supported by [Nvidia](/source/Nvidia), [AMD](/source/Advanced_Micro_Devices), [HTC Vive](/source/HTC_Vive), [Oculus VR](/source/Oculus_VR), [Valve](/source/Valve_Corporation), and [Microsoft](/source/Microsoft).[3] The VirtualLink Consortium was chaired by Rambo Jacoby representing Nvidia.[*[citation needed](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed)*]

## VirtualLink specifications

According to its specifications, the VirtualLink cable consisted of:

- [DisplayPort](/source/DisplayPort): - 4 × DisplayPort balanced pair data path - DisplayPort HPD (hot-plug detection pin) as a single wire. - DisplayPort AUX signal as a balanced pair

- [USB 3.1](/source/USB_3.0) signals - A USB TX balanced pair for USB 3.0 data - A USB RX balanced pair for USB 3.0 data

- I2C wire to control the USB Billboard interface, in case the cable is plugged into an unsupported interface.

- VBUS carrying power to HMD visor

- GND ground

The [USB-C](/source/USB-C) plug pinout specified:[*[citation needed](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed)*]

A12 A11 A10 A9 A8 A7 A6 A5 A4 A3 A2 A1 GND DP[0]+ DP[0]− VBUS CC1 USBTX+ USBTX− DP[AUX]+ VBUS DP[2]− DP[2]+ GND GND DP[1]+ DP[1]− VBUS DP[AUX]− USBRX− USBRX+ VCONN VBUS DP[3]− DP[3]+ GND B1 B2 B3 B4 B5 B6 B7 B8 B9 B10 B11 B12

Unlike most alt-modes this remapped A7, A6, B6, B7 to carry a USB 3.0 signal, instead of the usual passive USB 2.0 signal. This means that one would not be able to extend the cable using a standard USB-C 3.0 cable, which has these pins mapped only for unshielded USB 2.0 signals. Also this required the VirtualLink port to also detect the correct orientation of the USB-C plug to ensure that the USB 3.0 TX and RX lanes are correctly connected.

In VirtualLink mode, there were six high-speed lanes active in the USB-C connector and cable: four lanes transmit four [DisplayPort](/source/DisplayPort) HBR 3 video streams from the PC to the headset while two lanes implement a bidirectional USB 3.1 Gen 2 channel between the PC and the headset. Unlike the classic DisplayPort USB-C alternate mode, VirtualLink has no USB 2.0 channels active, instead providing a higher speed USB 3.1 Gen 2 (SuperSpeed+) over the same A6, A7, B7, B6 pins. VirtualLink also required the PC to provide 15 to 27 watts of power.[3][4] No information pertaining to VirtualLink alternate mode compatibility with [USB4](/source/USB4) (and so Thunderbolt 3 alternate mode) had been published.

To achieve six high-speed lanes over USB-C, VirtualLink required special cables that conformed to version 1.3 of the USB-C standard and used shielded differential pairs for both USB 2.0 pairs.[3][5]

The available bandwidth was estimated to be equivalent to DisplayPort 1.4 (32.4 Gbit/s, up to 4K @ 120 Hz with 8 bpc color) for video and 10 Gbit/s of USB 3.1 Gen 2 data.[3]

## Implementation in graphics cards and devices

As of March 2023 [Sony](/source/Sony) [PSVR2](/source/PSVR2) has a single 5m USB Type-C cable connection to [PS5](/source/PS5) which seems to be working with [Nvidia](/source/Nvidia) [GeForce 20 series](/source/GeForce_20_series) cards as well; because, unlike most ports, VirtualLink must also provide the required 12V via [USB Power Delivery](/source/USB-PD), an uncommon voltage, and they additionally support standard two-lane [DisplayPort alt-mode](/source/DisplayPort#DP_2.0_configuration_examples), but the PSVR2 headset does not use the actual four-lane VirtualLink alt-mode, pinout or special [shielded cable](/source/Shielded_cable).[6][7]

[Nvidia](/source/Nvidia) [GeForce 20 series](/source/GeForce_20_series) cards, initially released in 2018, implemented a single VirtualLink port in all RTX Founders Edition (FE) cards (2060, 2070, 2080, 2080 Ti).[8] This port was also made available on Quadro RTX cards.[9]

As of Nvidia's [GeForce 30 series](/source/GeForce_30_series) cards announcement, all of Nvidia's new Founders Edition GPUs, alongside the partner boards announced so far, lacked a VirtualLink port due to its discontinuation.[10] By contrast, the AMD [Radeon RX 6000 series](/source/Radeon_RX_6000_series), announced in October 2020, implemented a VirtualLink port for the first time.[11]

## Discontinuation & abandonment

As of August 2020, the VirtualLink standard had failed to propagate into the virtual reality headset market. The [Valve Index](/source/Valve_Index) had initially developed a VirtualLink accessory, it was canceled in part due to technical signaling and reliability issues but mostly due to lack of manufacturer adopting this port.[12] By September of that year, it had been abandoned by its consortium, and the website now redirects to its [Wikipedia](/source/Wikipedia) page.[13]

## References

1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** ["The next generation of VR headsets will connect over a single USB-C cable"](https://www.theverge.com/2018/7/17/17583362/virtuallink-vr-headsets-oculus-valve-microsoft-connect-usb-c-cable). The Verge. 17 July 2018.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** ["VirtualLink: Everything USB Type-C Is Supposed To Be"](https://www.forbes.com/sites/moorinsights/2018/08/17/virtuallink-everything-usb-type-c-is-supposed-to-be/). *Forbes*. 2018-08-17.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-anandtech-virtuallink20180817_3-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-anandtech-virtuallink20180817_3-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-anandtech-virtuallink20180817_3-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-anandtech-virtuallink20180817_3-3) Smith, Ryan (July 17, 2018). ["VirtualLink USB-C Alt Mode Announced: Standardized Connector for VR Headsets"](https://web.archive.org/web/20180717143221/https://www.anandtech.com/show/13088/virtuallink-announced-standardized-connector-for-vr-headsets). *AnandTech*. Archived from [the original](https://www.anandtech.com/show/13088/virtuallink-announced-standardized-connector-for-vr-headsets) on July 17, 2018. Retrieved 2018-08-21.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** ["Virtual reality giants unveil VirtualLink as a standardized cable that may simplify VR rigs"](https://www.pcworld.com/article/3290466/virtual-reality/virtual-reality-giants-unveil-virtuallink-as-a-standardized-cable-that-may-simplify-vr-rigs.html). *PCWorld*.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** ["VirtualLink Removes Tangles from VR Goggles"](https://www.eejournal.com/article/virtuallink-removes-tangles-from-vr-goggles/). *EEJournal*. 7 August 2018.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** ["INFO: Hardware required for PSVR2 :: iVRy Driver for SteamVR PSVR2"](https://steamcommunity.com/app/992490/discussions/17/3879344463500344882/). *steamcommunity.com*. Retrieved 2024-01-18.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-7)** iVRy_VR (2023-09-28). ["Author of the PSVR2 PC driver on Reddit"](https://www.reddit.com/r/PSVR/comments/16tmzmz/no_usbc_on_gpu/k2jtxac/). *r/PSVR*. Retrieved 2024-01-18.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-8)** Lang, Ben (20 August 2018). ["GeForce RTX Cards Announced with VirtualLink VR Connector"](https://www.roadtovr.com/nvidia-geforce-rtx-virtuallink-vr-connector/). Road to VR.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-9)** ["NVIDIA Unveils Quadro RTX, World's First Ray-Tracing GPU"](https://nvidianews.nvidia.com/news/nvidia-unveils-quadro-rtx-worlds-first-ray-tracing-gpu). NVIDIA.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-10)** Smith, Ryan. ["NVIDIA Announces the GeForce RTX 30 Series: Ampere For Gaming, Starting With RTX 3080 & RTX 3090"](https://web.archive.org/web/20200901181410/https://www.anandtech.com/show/16057/nvidia-announces-the-geforce-rtx-30-series-ampere-for-gaming-starting-with-rtx-3080-rtx-3090). *www.anandtech.com*. Archived from [the original](https://www.anandtech.com/show/16057/nvidia-announces-the-geforce-rtx-30-series-ampere-for-gaming-starting-with-rtx-3080-rtx-3090) on September 1, 2020. Retrieved 2020-09-03.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-11)** Lang, Ben (2020-10-28). ["AMD Announces Radeon RX 6000-series GPUs with USB-C "for a modern VR experience""](https://www.roadtovr.com/amd-radeon-rx-6900-xt-6800-xt-price-release-date-specs/). *Road to VR*. Retrieved 2020-11-09.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-12)** ["Valve Cancels VirtualLink Adapter Accessory for Index, Cites Technical Issues & Laptop Adoption"](https://www.roadtovr.com/valve-index-virtuallink-adapter-canceled/). RoadtoVR. 3 August 2019.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-13)** Lang, Ben (2020-09-03). ["The VirtualLink Single-cable VR Headset Connection Standard Has Been Abandoned"](https://www.roadtovr.com/virtuallink-connection-standard-abandoned/). *Road to VR*. Retrieved 2021-12-11.

## External links

- [VirtualLink Consortium website](https://web.archive.org/web/20200601115559/http://sites.google.com/view/virtuallink-consortium/home?authuser=1)

- [http://www.virtuallink.org/](http://www.virtuallink.org/)

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [VirtualLink](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VirtualLink) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VirtualLink?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.