PCIe 4.0 x4 Male to x1 Female Extension Cable

The PCIe 4.0 x4 Male to x1 Female Extension Cable is a high-speed passive adapter solution designed for expanding connectivity options in next-generation computing systems, test platforms, and space-constrained environments. This cable adapts a larger PCIe 4.0 x4 slot interface to a smaller PCIe x1 slot interface, allowing the use of x1 add-in cards in x4 slots while supporting PCIe 4.0 specifications with a data transfer rate of 16.0 GT/s per lane. The assembly consists of a male x4 edge connector on one end and a female x1 receptacle on the other, engineered with precision 85-ohm impedance-matched wiring and multi-layer EMI shielding to ensure signal integrity at high speeds. This solution is ideal for hardware developers, data center engineers, and system integrators requiring flexible PCIe topology in high-performance applications.

Features

• PCIe 4.0 Compliance: Supports PCIe 4.0 specifications with a data transfer rate of 16.0 GT/s per lane, providing a bandwidth of approximately 2 GB/s for the x1 interface while maintaining backward compatibility with PCIe 3.0/2.0/1.0 devices.
• Form Factor Adaptation: Enables physical and electrical compatibility between PCIe x4 and x1 interfaces, allowing x1 devices to be installed in x4 slots with optimized space utilization.
• Enhanced Signal Integrity: Utilizes low-loss twin axial cable technology with multi-layer shielding (foil and braid) to minimize insertion loss, crosstalk, and electromagnetic interference (EMI), ensuring stable performance even at high data rates.
• Passive Design: Requires no external power or active components, relying on high-precision copper conductors and controlled impedance materials for reliable signal transmission.
• Durable Construction: Incorporates gold-plated contacts (e.g., min. 0.76µm thickness) and reinforced connector housings to withstand repeated mating cycles in development and test environments.
• Flexible Cable Design: Features a thin, flexible cable assembly (e.g., 1.4mm thickness as seen in similar designs) that allows for efficient routing in constrained spaces.

Specifications

• Product Model: PCIe 4.0 x4 Male to x1 Female Extension Cable
• Connector A: PCIe 4.0 x4, Male, Edge Connector
• Connector B: PCIe 4.0 x1, Female, Receptacle
• Connector Gender: Male to Female
• Cable Type: Passive Copper Extension Assembly
• Pinout Configuration: Standard PCIe-compliant with x4 to x1 lane mapping
• Cable Length: Standard options: 0.25m, 0.5m (Custom lengths up to 1.0m available; beyond may require validation for signal integrity)
• Data Rate Support: Up to 16.0 GT/s (PCIe 4.0)
• Supported Protocols: PCI Express 4.0/3.0/2.0/1.0
• Impedance: 85 ohms differential (compliant with PCIe 4.0 standards)
• Shielding: Foil and braid shielding for EMI protection
• Operating Temperature: 0°C to +70°C (commercial grade); -40°C to +85°C (industrial options)
• Durability: Minimum 500 insertion cycles
• Safety Standards: RoHS compliant

Applications

• High-Performance Computing: Deploying in servers and workstations where PCIe 4.0 extensions are required for add-on cards (e.g., NICs, specialized accelerators), with the x4 to x1 adaptation enabling flexible card placement.
• Test and Development Benches: Facilitating hardware validation and signal integrity testing of PCIe 4.0 x1 devices in systems with x4 slots available, crucial for prototype development.
• Data Center Flexibility: Providing connection adaptability in high-density servers and storage systems where specific slot configurations may be limited.
• Gaming and Workstation Customization: Enabling flexible component placement in custom PC builds where motherboard x1 slots are obstructed, with the PCIe 4.0 compliance ensuring stable performance for high-speed devices.
• Embedded Systems: Supporting custom PCIe implementations in industrial and embedded computing applications requiring specific form factor adaptations.