Slim cable assemblies save PCB space and support PCIe 6.0/CXL 3.1

Samtec, Inc. has announced production quantities of AcceleRate Slim Direct-Attach Cable Assemblies, the industry's slimmest cable system. Measuring 7.6mm wide, this interconnect system saves valuable PCB space, is rated at 64Gbps PAM4 (32Gbps NRZ) speeds, and is PCIe 6.0/CXL 3.1 capable.

The cable assembly features the company's proprietary 34AWG, 100-Ohm Eye Speed ultra-low skew twinax cable, which allows its slim footprint. The ultra-low skew twinax cable routes signals off the board and is a key performance enabler as signal reach and integrity become increasingly important in high-speed applications. Each design is unique, so the company works with system architects early in the process to develop solutions for cable management and thermal load distribution.

These interconnects use direct-attach technology to connect with the contacts, producing improved signal integrity while eradicating the necessity for (and variability of) a transition card. For increased stability on the PCB, the mating board-level slim socket connector (ARF6) and cable assembly (ARC6) system includes rugged metal latching and shielding and through-hole weld tabs.

AcceleRate Slim Cable Assemblies are available in eight, 16, and 24 differential pair options. The 16 differential pair option supports PCIe x4 plus sidebands, and the 24 differential pair option supports PCIe x8 plus sidebands. A 'Reversed Polarity' pinout option reduces far-end crosstalk (FEXT).