VIA Labs (VLI) has announced that its new VL605 USB-C® to HDMI 2.1 Protocol Converter is now in mass production and available for immediate shipping. This product has achieved USB-IF certification for USB Power Delivery 3.1 with support for Extended Power Range (EPR) and HDMI 2.1 FRL certification and is now listed on the USB-IF Integrator’s List under TID: 10462.
The VL605 Protocol Converter is a single-chip solution designed to support modern display features while maintaining a highly integrated, low-power design. It is optimized for USB-C video dongles and multifunction docks, integrating a two-port USB PD 3.1 controller that supports pass-through charging at up to 240W when Extended Power Range (EPR) is enabled. The converter can handle a DisplayPort input to HDMI 2.1 conversion at resolutions up to 8K@60Hz or 4K@240Hz, all while simultaneously charging the connected host. The VL605 also supports High Dynamic Range (HDR) and is compatible with Adaptive Sync from DisplayPort and AMD’s FreeSync technology, converting these seamlessly into HDMI 2.1’s Variable Refresh Rate (VRR).
The growing support for HDMI 2.1 in mainstream home game consoles and computer hosts has led to the emergence of displays with HDMI 2.1 enhancements. These enhancements include higher resolution and refresh rates, VRR, and HDR support, offering up to 48Gbps of bandwidth—a significant improvement over HDMI 2.0’s 18Gbps. This increased bandwidth allows HDMI 2.1 to handle higher 4K refresh rates such as 120Hz, 144Hz, and even up to 240Hz with Display Stream Compression (DSC). The VRR feature is particularly beneficial for gaming, as it dynamically adjusts the refresh rate based on game conditions, improving smoothness and minimizing screen tearing and input lag.
The integrated DisplayPort receiver in the VL605 supports HBR3 data rates of up to 32.4Gbps in 4-lane mode. The HDMI source supports both Fixed Rate Link (FRL) and Transition-Minimized Differential Signaling (TMDS) modes with peak bandwidths of 48Gbps and 18Gbps, respectively. Additionally, the converter supports RGB and YCbCr color formats and surround sound audio with up to 8 channels of LPCM at 192kHz, along with various other compressed audio formats. The built-in DSC decoder and support for Autonomous Mode and Source-Controlled Mode as outlined in the latest DisplayPort 2.1 specification provide enhanced control capabilities for signal sources. The VL605 also includes a built-in security engine supporting ECDSA verification, allowing for secure firmware updates and protection against malicious firmware code attacks.
Wayne Chang, Director of PM at VIA Labs, highlighted the VL605’s adaptability, noting that when combined with VLI’s diverse USB Hub controllers, the VL605 can create a multitude of USB-C multifunction dock applications with USB PD charge-through functions at different USB speeds. This makes it a versatile solution for a wide range of products. The future demand for the VL605’s capabilities looks promising, especially as the latest mobile chips from Apple, Qualcomm, and MediaTek feature hardware ray tracing capabilities that allow AAA games to be adapted for mobile platforms. The VL605’s dual USB PD ports and HDMI 2.1 output capabilities enable a mobile phone to serve as both a handheld gaming device and a gaming console at home, charging the phone while projecting to a large 4K/8K TV screen for an enhanced gaming experience.
The VL605 USB-C to HDMI 2.1 Protocol Converter is available now and shipping in quantity. For more information about the VIA Labs VL605, visit their official website.
Long time technology industry fan here in Taiwan.
