I-PEX and Spectra7 to Demonstrate 800G Active Copper Internal Cables for Next Generation 25.6T Data Center Switches at OCP – I-PEX will Offer Products with Spectra7’s Latest Low Power Analog GaugeChanger^TM Chips

I-PEX Inc. (Headquarters: Kyoto City, Kyoto Prefecture, Representative Director: Takaharu Tsuchiyama, Tokyo Stock Exchange Prime Market Code: 6640, hereinafter I-PEX), a leading high-speed connector and cable assembly supplier, today announced that Spectra7 Microsystems Inc. (Headquarters: San Jose, California, U.S.A., Chief Executive Officer: Ronald J. Pasek, hereinafter Spectra7), a leading provider of high-performance analog semiconductor products for broadband connectivity markets, will provide GC1122 GaugeChanger™ chips for the CABLINE^®-CA IIEQ PLUS 112G active copper cable (ACC) that will be offered to hyperscalers and OEM/ODMs for 112G PAM4 applications. I-PEX will be demonstrating this new product at the OCP Global Summit to be held in the San Jose Convention Center, Calif., October 15-17, 2024.

“We are extremely pleased to be working with I-PEX on this new ACC application using our innovative GaugeChanger™ technology," said Spectra7’s CMO John Mitchell. “This is an application of our technology in addition to external data center interconnects that are projected to be a $3B market by 20271. I-PEX is a well-known, technology leading manufacturer of electronic connectors, supplying solutions across a global customer base for use in the hyperscale, OEM and ODM interconnect markets."

CABLINE^®-CA IIEQ PLUS 112G is an active copper cable solution that supports four lanes of 112 Gbps PAM4 data. With a height of only 2.0 mm and a width of 30.95 mm, the compact design minimizes the required PCB footprint, and allows it to be mounted close to the ASIC, underneath the heat sink. Large, bulky cables in servers and switches can greatly impede airflow, which is crucial for cooling the equipment. The CABLINE^®-CA IIEQ PLUS 112G can use cables as small as 46 AWG that perform as well as 36 AWG. The improved airflow within the equipment leads to better heat dissipation and enhanced cooling. The thinner cables also offer the advantage of increased flexibility, which facilitates easier wiring inside the equipment.

The demonstration at OCP will show that an I-PEX CABLINE^® 46 AWG micro-coaxial cable assembly with the GC1122 will perform as well as a passive 36 AWG micro-coaxial cable assembly for an internal system interconnect.

GaugeChanger™ is a unique analog redriver technology that allows copper to extend to much longer lengths without the cost and power penalty of optics or DSP-based retimed copper solutions. Typical power savings of 700% to 1000% are achieved compared to these competing technologies. It works equally well at 25 Gbps NRZ, 50 Gbps PAM4 and 100 Gbps PAM4, enabling new connector standards of 100, 200, 400, and 800 Gbps.

“Spectra7 continues to lead the way in shaping the future of the data center interconnect industry. We are proud to collaborate with them in enabling next-generation high-speed solutions,” said Ro Richard, Sr. Signal Integrity Field Applications Engineer at I-PEX. “We believe our customers will find significant value in the active version of our flagship CABLINE^® product family.”

I-PEX anticipates delivering cable samples to their customers for qualification in the first half of 2025.

Spectra7 Microsystems Inc. is a high-performance analog semiconductor company delivering unprecedented bandwidth, speed and resolution to enable disruptive industrial design for leading electronics manufacturers in virtual reality, augmented reality, mixed reality, data centers and other connectivity markets. Spectra7 is based in San Jose, California with a design center in Cork, Ireland and a technical support location in Dongguan, China. For more information, please visit https://www.spectra7.com/.

I-PEX is a leading manufacturer of the world’s most advanced connectors, sensors, and complex molded parts, utilizing the ultra-precision manufacturing process we’ve perfected over the past 50 years. As an expert in innovative product development and engineering solutions, we are dedicated to exceeding our customers' expectations worldwide through global teamwork, striving to be their first choice.