Zhaolong'sTwinax Cable: The Preferred High-Speed Connection Solution for the AI Era

The Heat of Copper Connectivity Amid the AI Boom

With the rapid development of artificial intelligence (AI) technology, the global demand for computing power has witnessed explosive growth. The AI boom is reshaping the ecosystem of data centers, driving them toward an era of ultra-high speeds of 400G, 800G, and even 1.6T.

As a key connecting cable for DAC, ACC, and AEC, Twinax cable has become a "transmission powerhouse" supporting the 28G, 56G, 112G, and even 224G eras, thanks to its excellent signal transmission performance. So, what exactly is Twinax cable? Why can it stand out in AI-driven high-speed interconnection scenarios? This article will delve into the structure, performance advantages of Twinax cable, its key role in AI data centers, and introduce how Zhaolong Interconnect provides efficient and cost-effective interconnection solutions for the industry through independently developed HSC series bare wires.

What is Twinax Cable?

Twinax cable is a type of copper cable specifically designed for high-speed differential signal transmission. Its name derives from "twin axial," referring to its unique structure of using two parallel conductors to transmit differential signals. Compared with traditional coaxial cables, Twinax cable significantly improves signal integrity, transmission speed, and bandwidth through its dual-core design. Known for low latency, high bandwidth, and excellent anti-interference capabilities, this cable is particularly suitable for short-distance high-speed interconnection scenarios in data centers.

Zhaolong Twinax Cable

A typical Twinax cable consists of the following four parts:

• Conductor: The main body for signal transmission, usually made of highly conductive materials such as silver-plated copper or pure copper. Silver-plated copper, valued for its excellent conductivity and oxidation resistance, is widely adopted in high-end applications—these properties significantly enhance signal transmission efficiency, making it a preferred choice for demanding scenarios.

• Insulator: The insulating material directly affects signal attenuation and transmission speed. Twinax cables typically use materials with low dielectric constants, such as fluorinated ethylene propylene (FEP) or polyethylene (PE). In particular, FEP foamed materials, with their extremely low dielectric constant, can effectively reduce signal loss.

• Shield: Usually made of copper or aluminum, the shield wraps around the insulator to suppress external electromagnetic interference and control impedance. A precise shielding design ensures signal stability, which is crucial especially in high-frequency transmission.

• Jacket: The outermost layer of the cable, which needs to have high-temperature resistance and good bending performance to adapt to the complex cabling environment of data centers. Common jacket materials include polyester (PET), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), or low-smoke zero-halogen (LSZH) materials.

Zhaolong Twinax Cable Series: HSC-40I 27AWG

Key Signal Integrity (SI) Performance of Twinax Cable

With its unique design and manufacturing process, Twinax cable excels in the following key SI performances, making it the first choice for high-speed copper cables:

• Impedance matching and low loss:

• Through optimized conductor design and low dielectric constant insulating materials, Twinax cable significantly reduces signal attenuation. In addition, precise control of conductor spacing and shield structure ensures stable impedance (such as 85Ω or 100Ω), effectively reducing insertion loss and return loss. This low-loss characteristic enables it to support high-speed transmission of 112G and even 224G PAM4.

• Low crosstalk:

• Twinax cable adopts a precise differential pair design and multi-layer shielding structure, effectively isolating interference between adjacent channels and ensuring signal integrity. This low crosstalk characteristic is particularly important in high-density cabling environments, supporting complex high-speed interconnection needs in AI clusters and supercomputing systems.

• Ultra-low intra-pair skew:

• Through co-extrusion technology and symmetric structure design, Twinax cable controls the intra-pair skew of differential pairs at the picosecond level (usually less than 10ps/m), ensuring precise signal synchronization.

Independently Developed HSC Series Bare Wires by Zhaolong Interconnect

As a provider of high-speed interconnection solutions, Zhaolong Interconnect offers high-performance and low-cost interconnection solutions for AI data centers and supercomputing systems through independently developed Twinax bare wire technology. The company's HSC (High-Speed Cable) series bare wire products cover applications from 28G to 112G, and even cutting-edge 224G, meeting the rate requirements from 10G to 1.6T.

From left to right are Zhaolong's Twinax Cables:

HSC-56P 30AWG / HSC-40I 27AWG / HSC-56a 30AWG

The company's bare wire products have the following advantages:

Full series coverage: The company's HSC series bare wires provide a variety of gauge options from 32AWG to 26AWG, supporting differential pair configurations of 2 pairs, 4 pairs, 8 pairs, and 16 pairs, covering a wide range of application scenarios from low-speed (28G) to ultra-high-speed (224G).

Zhaolong Twinax Cable (HSC Series) Specifications and Applications Chart

• Independently developed technology: The company adopts advanced FEP physical foaming technology to significantly reduce the dielectric constant of insulating materials, thereby reducing signal attenuation. At the same time, through optimized conductor materials (such as high-purity silver-plated copper) and precise shield structure design, transmission performance and signal integrity are improved.

• High cost performance: Compared with fiber optic solutions, the company's Twinax cable has significant cost advantages. Its lightweight and foldable characteristics support high-density cabling, which can optimize the space utilization of data centers. In addition, the power consumption of copper cable solutions is much lower than that of fiber optic modules, making them more energy-efficient and environmentally friendly, in line with the trend of building green data centers.

Zhaolong's HSC series bare wires, with their advantages of high performance and reliability, have been widely used in scenarios such as AI clusters, HPC systems, and enterprise-level data centers, helping customers maintain technological leadership in the era of high-speed interconnection.

Contact Us to Create the Future

In the wave of the digital economy driven by AI and 5G, Twinax cable, as the "invisible vein" of data centers and communication networks, supports the ultra-high-speed operation of the digital world. The rise of domestic technology has ushered in a new chapter of "independent controllability" in this field.

Want to know how Zhaolong's HSC series bare wires can empower your data center? Welcome to contact us for more technical details and customized solutions, and jointly create the future of high-speed interconnection!