The new bottom section features a different style of hook and fastener strap, which are compatible with the Vive Pro’s rigid strap. You must remove the original plate, which is held with three screws, and replace it with the Vive Pro-compatible part. y. Performance was strong on two Intel-powered systems we tried, but after a software update, we also experienced problems connecting to the Vive Pro from these computers. In other words, if you use a Ryzen-powered computer or connect to a Vive Pro rather than a regular Vive, you may want to wait for updates. The Vive Pro upgrade kit also includes a foam piece that should be used to replace the triangular section found on the Vive Pro's rear. Implementing the cushion adds support to the overhead strap and gives you a place to secure the wireless adapter. It also provides a barrier between your head and the receiver, which can get hot during extended use. HTC’s instructions, which you can find here, suggest installing the WiGig card first. The expansion card features a PCIe x1 interface, which should make it compatible with any PCIe slot in your motherboard as long as it supports PCIe Gen3. But while I can tolerate looking like a prat, I’m less impressed with the impracticality of the design. I like to use over-ear headphones with the Vive, but with the wireless adapter jutting out, it becomes virtually impossible to put on some headphones without feeling like you’re playing Jenga on top of your head. As such, you’re essentially restricted to wired in-ear buds for audio.

Per the manual from Asus the only slot that's PCIe 3.0 on that board is the top x16 slot. The rest are PCIe 2.0. Thankfully, the the adapter doesn’t weigh much at 129g. It’s easy to forget that it’s sitting on your head. And thanks to the straps that secure it to the headset, there’s no need to worry about it flying off after a few vigorous head shakes. That said, it isn’t a complicated process, and Vive’s online instructions are as clear as anything you’d find in an IKEA manual. You simply slot the WiGig card into a PCIe slot on your motherboard and then plug your wireless box into that. I’m not going to lie, the Vive Wireless Adapter looks a little odd. With the adapter installed and the headset strapped to your face, you end up looking like some sort of alien Teletubby. That said, looking daft while wearing a VR headset is by no means a new thing.The Vive Wireless Adapter requires an app to function. The Vive Wireless utility enables you to pair your transmitter with a receiver, while the software monitors the signal strength of the transmission. The software installation also includes the drivers that enable the WiGig and DisplayLink hardware in the wireless adapter.

If you already have a Vive or a Vive Pro headset, the Wireless Adapter offers a huge step up for immersive experiences. It’s hard to fault in terms of performance. Or it could be the fact that short of the PCIe x16 slot on their board all the other slots are PCIe 2.0. The article did state: Vive claims that the Wireless Adapter’s battery life is up to two and a half hours, and we matched that figure almost exactly during testing. It sounds short on paper, but that’s impressive length considering it’s streaming video to the headset. Plus, few would really want to spend that much time in a virtual world without a break. Although the TPCast Wireless Adapter does claim a significantly superior 5-hour battery life for comparison.

VIVE Wireless Adapter

It’s also frustrating that it won’t work with laptops. Given that more and more gaming laptops are being released with VR compatibility, it’s a bit of a head-scratcher that Vive hasn’t looked for an alternative solution to include both markets – especially since the third-party TPCast HTC Vive Wireless VR Adapter successfully uses a bundled router for wireless transmissions instead. This begs the question, based on the shenanigans that Intel has pulled lately as to "Did Intel play dirty in the firmware to ensure issues with AMD processors?" I can't say that they did, but it can make you wonder. They may not have, or may have... its circumstantial at least until someone examines the firmware closely. Well, It sounds like an idea... a good one at that... The PCIe 2.0 vs 3.0 limitation may very well be the culprit in this case. Doesn't Zen+ and the 4xx chipsets bump up the count on PCIe 3.0 slots? (i.e. 2700 or 2700x) The Vive Wireless Adapter performed flawlessly. I spent hours playing the likes of The Lab, Super Hot VR and Fruit Ninja, and never once experienced so much as a hiccup. The Vive Wireless Adapter isn’t a plug-and-play accessory. As is the case with the Vive headset itself, initial setup demands a fair bit of fiddling and it’s pretty fussy with regards to the hardware with which it will work.