Product category:
PCB Connectors
News Release from: Molex UK | Subject: GbX
Edited by the Electronicstalk Editorial
Team on 12 October 2004
Backplane connectors are ready for
10Gbit/s
The latest GbX connector system from Molex can now deliver speeds from 6.0 to 10Gbit/s while providing high density with up to 27 real differential pairs per 10mm.
The latest GbX connector system from Molex can now deliver speeds from 6.0 to 10Gbit/s while providing high density with up to 27 real differential pairs per 10mm With its ability to route in two directions and proven, robust mechanical design, it lowers system costs by eliminating PCB layers and the need for extra, protective mechanical hardware
This article was originally published on Electronicstalk on 24 Sep 2004 at 8.00am (UK)
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Reference backplain aids high-speed system design
The GbX reference backplane demonstrator helps chip and system designers predict a component's full performance ability in an actual datacomms or telecomms system.
Reference backplane runs for a metre
The GbX FR408 reference backplane has achieved a milestone in system performance by demonstrating a 1.0m 10Gbit/s channel with Xilinx's Virtex-II Pro X FPGA over Isola's affordable FR408 material.
The connector system is well suited for low risk, high performance backplane interconnect designs that will need a future speed upgrade to 10Gbit/s, including internetworking equipment, such as servers, routers and mass storage devices.
Additionally, central office, cellular infrastructure and multiplatform service (DSL, cable data) systems can be enabled for 10Gbit/s in the future, while providing cost effective 6Gbit/s performance at platform launch.
This next generation backplane interconnection system enables 6Gbit/s channels in today's affordable board materials and chipsets, while also providing a system upgrade path to 10Gbit/s channels.
Further reading
Save space with shrinking USB connectors
The new series of mini-BTM USB connectors from Molex take up only about 1/8th of the space of standard USB-B connectors.
Power connectors meet SSI specifications
The new DPS/MPS power connectors from Molex meet the Server System Infrastructure (SSI) open specifications for backplanes.
Both speeds can be attained with sub-5% crosstalk and 100ohm differential performance.
Its robust construction consists of daughtercard assemblies unitised with a stainless-steel stiffener and an integrated guidance system that uses stainless-steel guide pins to provide stub-free mating.
Thick-walled, glass-filled resin construction on both the daughtercard and header provide proven, durable mating.
"The GbX connector system offers OEM engineers an immediate solution to future problems, so that their designs can avoid replacement due to jumps in speed from 3.125 to 5 or 6Gbit/s, and from 6 to 10Gbit/s", said Gary Humbert, New Product Development Manager, Backplane Products, Molex.
"Also the proven, robust construction of GbX allows a lower overall cost for mechanical packaging, which is just not the case for other connector products in the backplane market".
The GbX connector system is compatible with existing and future generations of XAUI (10 Gigabit Attachment Unit Interface), existing and future InfiniBand based systems, and targeted to respond to emerging OIF (Optical Internetworking Forum) directions.
Due to its ability to route out signal pairs not only in the slot-to-slot direction, but also in the card edge direction, the GbX connector system lowers total PCB layer count by allowing more trace escapes from the connector pinfield per PCB layer.
This results in material cost savings and design flexibility.
The GbX connector system is available in 5-pair and 4-pair configurations, with a 3-pair available in 2005.
The system also provides an integrated power solution capable of 200A per linear inch with multiple power blade configurations to provide three mating levels for hot swap capability.
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