Molex Launches PCIe Cable Connection System for Open Compute Project Servers

• NearStack PCIe Connector System and Cable Assemblies uses new direct-attached cable technology to improve signal integrity, lower insertion loss and reduce signal latency
• Developed in collaboration with members of the Open Compute Project, NearStack PCIe is a key component for next-generation servers
• Product line available now; on display at Open Compute Project Summit 2022

LISLE, Ill., Oct. 12, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Molex, a leading global electronics leader and connectivity innovator, 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 optimize 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.

"Thanks to its superior construction, NearStack PCIe is ideal for next-generation PCIe Gen-5 and Gen-6 system implementation," said Bill Wilson, new product development manager, Molex Enterprise Solutions. "The product is capable of 32-Gbps NRZ data rates, enabling server OEMs to achieve unprecedented performance."

The Open Compute Project is a consortium of industry leaders dedicated to combining the best available technologies into standardized 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 optimized 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 minimizes interference with neighboring 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.

• Visit Molex (Booth #B1) at OCP 2022 on October 18-20 in San Jose, Calif., to see the new cable connector assembly on display and learn more about this new, innovative industry-leading solution.
• See three demos: A new data-center modular system that paves the way for the next-gen OCP rack standard, Molex's advanced thermal solution designed to meet future pluggable I/O requirements and a Single-Phase Liquid Immersion Cooling system.
• Attend Expo Hall session on October 19 to learn more about SFF TA-1026 and the central role NearStack PCIe plays in the forthcoming OCP DC-MHS standard.

Molex is a global electronics leader committed to making the world a better, more-connected place. With a presence in more than 40 countries, Molex enables transformative technology innovation in the automotive, data center, industrial automation, healthcare, 5G, cloud and consumer device industries. Through trusted customer and industry relationships, unrivaled engineering expertise, and product quality and reliability, Molex realizes the infinite potential of Creating Connections for Life. For more information, visit www.molex.com.

SOURCE Molex