HP Reverb G2 USB Cable "Passive" vs "Active"

[WIS-Redcoat]

Talking with HP rep yesterday regarding the new cable, he mentioned that the pre-order and early headsets used a "passive" USB and the newer ones use an "active" USB.  I tried to google this but found nothing about HP changing anything. 

 

Does anyone know anything about this and what exactly that means?

Edited August 13, 2021 by WIS-Redcoat

[kissTheSky]

I think it might be the on/off button that they’ve incorporated into the cable itself but I’m just speculating. 

[RAAF492SQNOz_Steve]

7 hours ago, WIS-Redcoat said:

Talking with HP rep yesterday regarding the new cable, he mentioned that the pre-order and early headsets used a "passive" USB and the newer ones use an "active" USB.  I tried to google this but found nothing about HP changing anything. 

 

Does anyone know anything about this and what exactly that means?

In this case it means that they are now amplifying or boosting the signal. So not only have they added an On/Off button they have also included a signal amplifier in the circuitry.  I have just received the "active" version of the cable and it fixed my intermittent G2 audio dropout in VR, for the MSI X570 motherboard fitted to my PC.  

 

If your PC was not suffering connection issues with the Reverb G2 then the only benefit of the "active" cable will be the inclusion of the On/Off switch.

[Hoss]

What's the difference between passive and active cables......

Consider any device that requires extra power to operate (eg: from a wall socket or extra USB cable) to be ‘active’, and products which operate on their own as ‘passive’. Other vendors or manufacturers may make a different distinction, but for simplicity, if it needs a power cable plugged into it, then it’s usually active.

One grey area in this definition are cables which use power from the source device to run internal electronic chip-sets or circuit boards. These products typically use HDMI or USB, as those sockets have the most versatile 5v rail built-in.

 

Turning on your PC and having it constantly reboot or hang during start-up can be pretty harrowing even for professional builders. In some cases dating back to the early 2010s, dodgy Display Port cables were found to be the culprit. This led to many DIY PC enthusiasts abandoning Display Port in favor of HDMI which didn't suffer from the same problem, but also didn't have features like G-Sync or Free sync.

Correctly wired Display Port cables will fix/solve your problem....For Display Port cables manufactured to the VESA specification, Pin 20 is NOT connected (nor even wired) for Display Port to Display Port and Mini-Display Port cables (excluding Thunderbolt). Having it connected was what made the dodgy cables cause boot loops. In many instances, upgrading to a modern, properly-built HBR2 cable will also provide benefits in faster speeds so you can leverage higher resolutions and refresh rates on new hardware.

You get what you pay for...............  and knowledge is power..... wish I remembered that before I whipped out the wallet and bought something I thought I needed, and thinking will it be worth the wife riding me like an old sway backed mule afterwards... LOL

 

Cheers

Hoss

[SvAF/F16_Goblin]

From what I have gathered in HP Reddit pages the new cable has USB Hub electronics incorporated to remedy the previous errors and sensitivity on different USB ports.

[Hoss]

I know two of my squadmates are using the Reverb II, and are using the USB C to USB adapter that comes with the HMD.  That's why as I look for a high end video card "ON SALE".. LOL, that already has a USB "C" port in it.  Both of the guys I fly with say they are having no problems at all with their Reverb II.  But,,,,,,,,, I'll still get a video card with a USB C output port. 

 

What's in the box:

HP VR Headset, 6m headset cable for desktop and mobile PC’s, 2 motion controllers, 1 DisplayPort to mini-DisplayPort™ adapter, USB-C to A adaptor, 1 Power Adapter. Setup document. And the new replacement cable will run you around $89.00 for the 6 meter cable, it plugs into the HMD and the other end has a USB B & C connectors. 

[kissTheSky]

3 hours ago, 352nd_Hoss said:

I know two of my squadmates are using the Reverb II, and are using the USB C to USB adapter that comes with the HMD.  That's why as I look for a high end video card "ON SALE".. LOL, that already has a USB "C" port in it.  Both of the guys I fly with say they are having no problems at all with their Reverb II.  But,,,,,,,,, I'll still get a video card with a USB C output port. 

 

What's in the box:

HP VR Headset, 6m headset cable for desktop and mobile PC’s, 2 motion controllers, 1 DisplayPort to mini-DisplayPort™ adapter, USB-C to A adaptor, 1 Power Adapter. Setup document. And the new replacement cable will run you around $89.00 for the 6 meter cable, it plugs into the HMD and the other end has a USB B & C connectors. 

Do you need a graphics card with usb-c? Mine works perfectly well with the usb c plugged in to the motherboard and display port plugged into the GPU…

[RAAF492SQNOz_Steve]

4 hours ago, 352nd_Hoss said:

I know two of my squadmates are using the Reverb II, and are using the USB C to USB adapter that comes with the HMD.  That's why as I look for a high end video card "ON SALE".. LOL, that already has a USB "C" port in it.  Both of the guys I fly with say they are having no problems at all with their Reverb II.  But,,,,,,,,, I'll still get a video card with a USB C output port. 

 

What's in the box:

HP VR Headset, 6m headset cable for desktop and mobile PC’s, 2 motion controllers, 1 DisplayPort to mini-DisplayPort™ adapter, USB-C to A adaptor, 1 Power Adapter. Setup document. And the new replacement cable will run you around $89.00 for the 6 meter cable, it plugs into the HMD and the other end has a USB B & C connectors. 

Prior to replacing my G2 cable I had to use the USB adapter as I could not get audio on my PC case front mounted USB-C port.

 

With the active version of the G2 cable fitted I can now use the front USB-C port i.e. do not need the USB C - A adapter anymore.

 

Personally, I would not spend extra for a High end GPU just because it had a dedicated USB-C port. Would only consider it if the GPU offered significant overclock potential not available on a "standard" GPU with the same chipset.