Direct-attached cable technology improves signal integrity, lowers insertion loss and reduces signal latency

Molex has announced the release of its NearStack PCIe Connector System and Cable Assemblies for next-gen servers. Developed in collaboration with members of the Open Compute Project (OCP), NearStack PCIe replaces traditional paddle-card cable solutions to optimise signal integrity and improve system performance.

A standout feature of NearStack PCIe is its direct-to-contact twinax termination, which eliminates the need for paddle cards within the cable assembly. Unlike competing cable jumpers, which are terminated by hand-soldering cables onto a PCB paddle card, NearStack uses a fully automated wire termination process. This high-precision process improves manufacturing efficiencies, repeatability and signal integrity.

The Open Compute Project is a consortium of industry leaders dedicated to combining the best available technologies into standardised hardware development with high-speed and high-bandwidth capabilities. 

NearStack PCIe was defined and adopted as a standard by the Small Form Factor (SFF) committee as SFF-TA-1026, and OCP recommends the technology as TA-1026 for server reference designs. NearStack PCIe also has been included in the OCP Modular – Extensible I/O (M-XIO) specification and the Modular – Full Width HPM Form Factor (M-FLW) as part of the next-generation OCP Data Center – Modular Hardware Systems (DC-MHS) family. As part of an open SFF standard, the technology is available to second-source vendors under a reasonable and non-discriminatory (RAND) license. NearStack PCIe already has been second-sourced through these licenses, with additional licenses offered to multiple vendors. This strategy ensures inter-vendor operability between Molex and other vendors while creating a robust supply chain.

Molex has optimised the cable assemblies for efficient use of space as well as safe and easy attachment. Smart, rugged mechanical features, along with the optional ‘angle-exit’ cable design, let technicians easily plug the jumpers into crowded boards. In addition to alleviating space constraints, NearStack PCIe offers a low mated profile for improved airflow management and minimises interference with neighbouring components. 

NearStack PCIe further simplifies integration through support for hybrid cables, with a NearStack PCIe connector on one end and legacy connector on the other. These connectors provide a streamlined upgrade path for existing equipment, which enables customers to take advantage of the new technology immediately without redesigning or replacing current hardware.