This live demonstration from DesignCon 2022 shows six of Samtec’s 112 Gbps PAM4 connector systems. It includes board-to-board connector sets, as well as two Samtec Flyover® cable systems. One is a mid-board to cable backplane configuration, and the other is mid-board to front panel. These cable systems are emulating real-world data center system architectures.
Each board has four Alphawave AlphaCORE Multi-Standard SerDes. For each connector set, the Alphawave SerDes is transmitting 112 Gbps PAM4 PRBS data, and we’re receiving and analyzing the signal performance on the other board.
These six connector systems are on two boards. The two boards are communicating bidirectionally at 112 Gbps PAM4. All of the cable assemblies use Samtec Eye Speed® ultra-low skew twinax. The tight coupling between signal conductors in this co-extruded cable, made by Samtec, improves signal integrity performance, bandwidth, and reach.
Before I go through the systems and the signal performance results, keep in mind that this is 112 Gbps PAM4 data. The results we’re seeing are spectacular.
We have two mid-board to cable backplane configurations. The first is a Samtec NovaRay® cable system connecting to an ExaMAX® high-speed backplane. The signal path is 2.6 meters, and the full channel insertion loss is 28 dB at 28 GHz. The BER is e-8.
The second is a low-profile Samtec Si-FLY™ cable system with another ExaMAX high-speed backplane. The signal path is 2.2 meters. The full channel insertion loss is 26 dB at 28 GHz. The BER is e-7.
Si-FLY has an extremely low 3.4 mm profile, so it can be placed next to the IC package, or under heat sinks or other cooling hardware.
We have two 112 Gbps PAM4 mezzanine connector sets. The first is a NovaRay high-density array, board-to-board set. The other is an AcceleRate HP® high-performance connector set. The BER of both 112 G connector sets is e-9.
And next, we have two 112 G mid-board to front panel configurations. The first is a NovaRay cable system connecting to a Samtec FQSFP-DD cable assembly. The signal path is 1.5 meters; it has a full channel IL of 29 dB at 28 GHz, and a BER of e-7.
The second is a Si-FLY low-profile cable system, with a Samtec NovaRay I/O panel mount cable system. The signal path is 2.5 meters, with a full channel IL of 30 dB at 28 GHz. Once again, we see excellent BER of e-7.
Notice the performance of the two-meter NovaRay I/O is essentially the same as the one-meter QSFP-DD.
All of this demonstrates Samtec’s comprehensive portfolio of 112 G connector solutions.
Seeing these kinds of results at 112 G also attests to the expertise of the Samtec Signal Integrity Group. Our team can address the challenges of next-gen system design with their industry-leading expertise in high-performance interconnect systems.
If you want to learn more about Samtec 112 G products, go to Samtec.com/112.
If you want to learn more about this demonstration, contact us at SIG@samtec.com.
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