Andrew Kim, Director of Engineering at Luxshare-Tech, and Nicola Bramante of Marvell unveil the industry’s first hybrid AEC/ACC cable for optimizing in-rack copper connectivity.

Active electrical cables (AECs) are designed for comparatively long (~4-9 meter) high-bandwidth connections within or between racks. The boost in reach over passive copper cables is accomplished by integrating optimized AEC DSPs into the terminal ends of a cable. Active Copper Cables (ACCs), by contrast, rely on equalizers and redrivers for extending reach. ACCs consume far less power than AECs but generally are deployed for in-rack connections running 2 meters or less.

Hybrid AEC/ACC cables combine technologies from both for a solution that delivers a longer, AEC-like reach and the low latency, low power, low cost and low complexity benefits of ACC designs.

The thin-gauge (30 AWG) hybrid cable demonstrated at OFC achieves a reach of 2.5 meters, or 25% farther than an equivalent 2-meter 30 AWG ACC-only solution while consuming less power than an AEC. The cable combines a 1.6T Marvell® Alaska A AEC DSP providing 200G/lane at the switch end and two 4 x 200G/lane ACC redrivers on different cable strands at the other, emulating a NIC end. It also includes proprietary technology from Luxshare for best-in-class signal integrity, crosstalk isolation and flexibility for stressful bend conditions.

Importantly, the AEC/ACC hybrid demonstration posted a bit error rate (BER) of 1e-9 at a simple mid-range equalization setting, underscoring that hybridization does not compromise data integrity or overall performance. The thin-gauge design also enhances thermal management and simplifies deployment.

Hybrid ACC/AEC cables represent an entirely new category of data center interconnects and the 2.5 meters prototype is just a start. Efforts to develop 3- and even 4-meter hybrid cables are underway. The Y-cable design employed for the prototype is also one of a larger number of potential configurations.

The hybrid Y-cable links two 4x200G NICs (ACC) to one 8x200G top-of-rack switch (AEC) for an optimized mid-length solution at a BER of 1e-9. Partners are already working on 3- and 4-meter designs.

To ensure hyperscalers and other data center service providers can reach their required network performance and design flexibility to address the ever-evolving AI technology requirements, Marvell will continue to collaborate with partners to cultivate a thriving and diverse ecosystem.

As the only provider delivering both ACC and AEC silicon solutions at 200G/lane, Marvell is uniquely positioned to cultivate an ecosystem for hybrid technologies. By offering ACC, AEC, and now hybrid AEC/ACC connectivity options, Marvell enables customers to choose the right solution for each link within the rack, delivering a true “one-stop shop” for 200G/lane interconnects for AI scale-up data center environments.

# # # 

This blog contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the federal securities laws that involve risks and uncertainties. Forward-looking statements include, without limitation, any statement that may predict, forecast, indicate or imply future events or achievements. Actual events or results may differ materially from those contemplated in this blog. Forward-looking statements are only predictions and are subject to risks, uncertainties and assumptions that are difficult to predict, including those described in the “Risk Factors” section of our Annual Reports on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and other documents filed by us from time to time with the SEC. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made. Readers are cautioned not to put undue reliance on forward-looking statements, and no person assumes any obligation to update or revise any such forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

Tags: AI infrastructure, Optical Interconnect, Optical DSPs, DSP, data center interconnect, AI