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Card Edge Connector
Industrial, IT Datacom
When you’re pushing 32 GT/s across a PCIe 5.0 link, every picosecond matters. The connector is no longer just a mechanical interface—it’s a critical part of the channel. At these speeds, impedance discontinuities, crosstalk, and insertion loss don’t just degrade performance; they can break it entirely.
The CONSHARE PCIe 5.0 SMT connector is engineered specifically for designers who understand that signal integrity isn’t a spec sheet checkbox—it’s a system-level outcome. This isn’t a repurposed Gen 4 part with a Gen 5 label. It’s a purpose-built interface that respects the electrical realities of 32 GT/s NRZ signaling.
What makes it different? The absence of a latch and shield shell isn’t a cost-reduction compromise—it’s a deliberate design choice for specific use cases where clearance, airflow, and mechanical interference matter more than retention force. Let’s be clear: if you need positive locking for high-vibration environments, this isn’t your connector. But if you’re designing dense server boards, riser cards, or add-in cards where every millimeter of height and every cubic centimeter of airflow counts, this is the solution you’ve been looking for.
Most PCIe connectors come with latches—they’re standard, they’re familiar, and they provide mechanical security. But latches also add height, consume board real estate, and can interfere with adjacent components in densely populated layouts.
The CONSHARE no-latch design reduces the connector’s profile, allowing:
Lower overall height for chassis with strict Z-axis constraints
Better airflow across the motherboard—critical for high-power GPUs and AI accelerators
Easier card insertion and removal in test environments and lab setups
Cleaner board layout with fewer mechanical obstructions
The trade-off is intentional. This connector is designed for applications where the add-in card is secured by other means—brackets, chassis guides, or backplanes—making the latch redundant.
A shield shell is often added as a band-aid for poor signal integrity design. The CONSHARE connector achieves its electrical performance through:
Optimized contact geometry that maintains 85Ω differential impedance across the mating interface
Precise 1.00mm pitch with dual-row configuration that minimizes crosstalk between adjacent differential pairs
Controlled dielectric environment within the high-temperature thermoplastic housing
The result? A connector that meets PCIe 5.0 electrical requirements without the added cost, weight, and assembly complexity of a metal shield.
Gold plating thickness is one of those specifications that gets overlooked until something fails. At 15 microinches (0.38µm) over nickel underplating, the CONSHARE connector provides:
Corrosion resistance that withstands extended field deployment in less-than-ideal environments
Low and stable contact resistance throughout the product lifecycle
Durability for 50 mating cycles while maintaining electrical performance
This isn’t the thinnest plating you’ll find, and it’s not the thickest. It’s the sweet spot—enough gold to ensure long-term reliability without the cost premium of 30µ“ plating that many applications simply don’t need.
The connector supports 1.1A per contact for power pins, with contact resistance maintained below 30 milliohms initially and below 50 milliohms after environmental testing. Insulation resistance exceeds 1000 megohms, with a dielectric withstand voltage of 500V AC.
These aren’t just numbers on a datasheet. They mean:
Stable power delivery to high-current PCIe devices
Reliable signal transmission even after thousands of thermal cycles
No unexpected opens or high-resistance joints that can cause intermittent failures in the field
Parameter | Performance |
|---|---|
Mating Force | ≤1.15N per contact pair |
Unmating Force | ≥0.15N per contact pair |
Contact Retention | ≥3.43N |
Durability | 50 cycles |
Operating Temperature | -40°C to +105°C |
The low mating force reduces stress on the PCB during card insertion—particularly important for SMT termination where excessive force can crack solder joints. The retention force ensures contacts stay engaged even under moderate shock and vibration.
This connector is designed for reflow soldering at 260°C for 3–5 seconds, with a recommended stencil thickness of 0.15mm. The SMT footprint is compatible with standard automated assembly lines, and the connector body is made from high-temperature thermoplastic that withstands reflow without deformation.
In 1U and 2U server chassis, vertical clearance is at a premium. The no-latch, no-shield design reduces height, allowing for better airflow and more efficient cooling of high-TDP processors and memory modules. The 164-pin x16 configuration supports full bandwidth to GPUs, NICs, and storage controllers.
Machine learning workloads demand maximum bandwidth between accelerators and the CPU. The PCIe 5.0 x16 link provides 32 GT/s per lane, delivering up to 64 GB/s of bidirectional throughput. The connector’s low insertion force is particularly valuable in systems with multiple accelerators, where cumulative mating forces can become a PCB stress concern.
NVMe SSDs and storage controllers leveraging PCIe 5.0 require connectors that maintain signal integrity across the entire channel. The CONSHARE connector’s controlled impedance and low crosstalk make it suitable for storage systems where data integrity is non-negotiable.
The wide operating temperature range (-40°C to +105°C) makes this connector suitable for industrial computers, edge AI devices, and telecommunications equipment deployed in harsh environments.
The connector is supplied in tape and reel packaging optimized for automated pick-and-place assembly. Each reel includes:
10 empty pockets at the beginning and end of the tape
200mm leader tape extension
Tape secured with masking tape to prevent reel separation during shipping
For larger orders, reels are packed in cartons with protective corner guards, desiccant, and PE bags—ensuring components arrive in factory-fresh condition.
If you need... | This connector is... |
|---|---|
Positive mechanical latching | Not recommended |
Shielded EMI protection | Not recommended |
Lowest possible profile | Ideal |
Maximum airflow around the slot | Ideal |
Easy card insertion/removal | Ideal |
Cost-effective x16 connectivity | Ideal |
High-vibration environments | Evaluate carefully |
50+ mating cycles | Supported |
The decision comes down to one question: Is the latch doing anything for you that your chassis design isn’t already doing? If the answer is no, this connector saves you cost, space, and assembly complexity.
A: Yes. The connector is backward compatible with all previous PCIe generations in both interface and footprint. A Gen 4 card will work perfectly in this connector—it just won’t run at Gen 5 speeds.
A: 15µ“ (0.38µm) provides excellent corrosion resistance and stable contact resistance for most applications. 30µ“ offers additional durability for environments with frequent mating cycles or aggressive atmospheric conditions. For typical server and storage applications, 15µ“ is the cost-effective sweet spot.
A: Not if your system design accounts for it. The shield shell on a connector is one of many EMI mitigation strategies. Proper PCB layout, chassis grounding, and overall system shielding are far more effective than a connector shell alone. Many high-performance servers use unshielded PCIe connectors successfully.
A: The connector is designed for standard 1.57mm (0.062”) PCBs.
A: Yes. The housing uses low-halogen, high-temperature thermoplastic, and all plating materials comply with RoHS requirements.
A: CONSHARE maintains inventory for rapid sample delivery and supports quick production ramp for volume orders. Contact our sales team for current lead times.
