This innovative system is meant to address the increasing concern of data congestion inside computer racks. Point2 has collaborated with systems engineers from the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology. Collectively, they revealed novel circuitry that was covered four times in the IEEE Journal of Solid-State Circuits.
This development comes at a time when the need for increased speed and efficiency in data transfer is skyrocketing. Organizations such as Nvidia are preparing to scale upward to hundreds or thousands of GPUs per system by 2027. Point2’s solution, the e-Tube cable, offers a much more robust option to help your growing fleet fulfill this exciting new demand.
Advanced Technology Utilizing Outdated CMOS
Most importantly, Point2’s engineers have taken a technology usually not regarded as state-of-the-art since 2010 – 28-nanometer CMOS tech. Despite the technology’s age, the development team has managed to create a system that competes effectively with current optical technologies.
The e-Tube cable consists of eight ultra-thin polymer optical fibers, each one capable of carrying a staggering 448 gigabits per second. Anchoring this new cable is an incredible transmission capacity of 1.6 terabits per second. It reflects Point2’s commitment to forcing limits of performance, even using legacy semiconductor technology.
Significant Advantages Over Copper Cables
Point2’s patented e-Tube cable offers multiple benefits compared to traditional copper cables. It uses only half the space of a 32-gauge copper wire with up to 20 times the distance. This exceptional range allows it to operate at a distance of 10 to 20 meters with no signal degradation. This is a challenge that traditional copper cables have a much tougher time overcoming.
As Don Barnetson pointed out, “You start with passive copper, and you do everything you can to run in passive copper as long as you can.” This statement highlights the industry’s perennial issues dating back to faulty copper technology and inability to adapt. About Point2 Point2 is poised to revolutionize the industry with a true solution that extends well past copper’s capabilities. It further cuts latency, reaching levels as low as one-thousandth of what legacy systems can provide.
One of the most exciting aspects of the e-Tube system is its low-loss feature. Point2’s second-generation cable has maximum system losses of 0.3 decibels per meter. This is a huge achievement compared to standard copper cables that carry 224 Gb/s.
Future Plans and Market Implications
Point2 Technology plans to begin manufacturing chips that support the 1.6-terabit-per-second cable later this year, further establishing itself as a leader in data transmission innovations. The company’s founder and partner, Dave Welch, expressed optimism about the potential of the e-Tube cable, questioning the necessity of being confined to optical wavelengths: “If I didn’t have to be at [an optical wavelength], where should I be?”
Welch addressed customer preferences for fiber optics while acknowledging their concerns regarding photonics: “Customers love fiber. What they hate is the photonics.” He focused on how electronics’ inherent reliability even surpasses optical alternatives. Point2’s e-Tube cable becomes the trusted and proven option for your future data transmission requirements.
Firms like Nvidia are preparing for an eightfold increase in their systems’ GPU capacity. In this situation, Point2’s e-Tube technology might be just what’s needed to provide these cities with the increased data throughput and efficiency that they require.
