New COM-HPC Connectors Increase Density and Speed

The embedded world 2021 DIGITAL exhibition and conference recently concluded. A hot topic was the introduction of the PICMG^® (PCI Industrial Computer Manufacturers Group) COM-HPC® standard.

COM-HPC^®

The COM-HPC standard is intended to coexist with the existing COM Express^® standard. COM-HPC supports two different module types – one for high performance computing and one for embedded computing. COM-HPC improves on what is achievable in COM Express today. It uses a new high-speed connector able to support existing and future interfaces such as PCI Express® 4.0/5.0 (32 GT/s) and up to 100 Gb Ethernet. This specification targets medium-to-high performance server class processors.

COM-HPC® supports larger board sizes to accommodate more memory; it provides access up to 1 TB RAM, and system flexibility for various compute engines like GPGPUs, FPGAs and DSPs.

COM-HPC Connectors

COM-HPC provides system and interface flexibility by adopting a pair of 400 pin connectors (800 pins total) based on Samtec’s AcceleRate® HP High-Performance Arrays.

Samtec-aligned COM-HPC male carrier plugs vary to allow for either a 5 mm or 10 mm stack height. For 5 mm stack heights, the module receptacle is ASP-209946-01 and the carrier plug is ASP-214802-01. For 10 mm stack heights, the module receptacle is ASP-209946-01 and the carrier plug is ASP-209948-01.

COM-HPC connectors feature an open-pin-field array, which maximizes grounding and routing flexibility by allowing system architects to route high-performance differential-pairs, single-ended referential signals, and power, via the same interconnect. 

With a small 0.635 mm pitch, the COM-HPC connectors feature an ultra-micro footprint compared to COM Express solutions.

COM-HPC connectors use a 2.2 / 2.4 / 2.2 mm row pitch.  The spacing allows PCB designers more room to route differential signals.  Crosstalk is improved with the increased space and the ability to add more ground vias around the differential signals.

TONS OF INFO …

Here’s a link to an article that will probably tell you more than you’ll ever want to know about this connector set.

You can also visit our website at www.samtec.com/COMHPC, or e-mail our technical experts at COMHPC@samtec.com.

And as if that’s not enough, check-out COM-HPC is (Almost) Ready For Prime Time.