CopprLink: New standard for external PCIe connection could significantly accelerate eGPUs

[Redaktion]

CopprLink is a standard intended to enable a high-speed external connection, not just for GPUs. This option should be useful for mini-PCs, laptops, and gaming handhelds, and particularly interesting for professional users.

https://www.notebookcheck.net/CopprLink-New-standard-for-external-PCIe-connection-could-significantly-accelerate-eGPUs.833720.0.html

[TLS]

CopprLink isn't for consumer applications.

[Viny]

CopprLink isn't for consumer applications.

Neither was Oculink.

[Justin]

I'm all for innovation in this space, but even Oculink hasn't been warmly welcomed by the big vendors, when I see a dell, hp, lenovo, Asus or MSI device that supports Oculink or copprlink then these connectors become mainstream, otherwise they will end up as expensive and very niche products

[NikoB]

In fact, copper connections are extremely unreliable - the slightest interference due to low-quality wires or dirt and high frequencies drop here. At the same time, the cable length is extremely limited.

Optical connectors are much more reliable, moreover, they are galvanically isolated from the PC power system and eliminate accidental electrical breakdown of the circuits.
An optical link can pass through much higher frequencies and multiple modulation, the bandwidth there is potentially 100 times higher. At the same time, the cable length is an order of magnitude greater, at a minimum, which can provide almost complete silence under high load on a dgpu or other powerful equipment connected via an optical channel, by moving the noisy equipment to another room or a special utility room at home (or at work).

All desktop video cards must be connected via optics - only power via copper.

In addition, a powerful optical communication channel can be simultaneously used to dock all peripherals on the desktop using different ports (already electrical). This potentially allows you to remove the system unit altogether from the desktop to the utility room of the house. There are only monitors on the desk, peripherals and complete silence while working... isn't that what we all strive for?

Why does the industry continue to kick the dead carcass of electrical connections, instead of switching to high-speed optical links, which also exclude electrical breakdown due to the excellent galvanic isolation of power circuits? I do not see any technical or cost problem in 2024 for a mass transition to long-range optical communication channels for high-speed external equipment.

[A]

I'm all for innovation in this space, but even Oculink hasn't been warmly welcomed by the big vendors, when I see a dell, hp, lenovo, Asus or MSI device that supports Oculink or copprlink then these connectors become mainstream, otherwise they will end up as expensive and very niche products

You are thinking of consumer applications. These are for servers where they are more popular, just oculink was moved to the consumer market cause of the need for a license free thunderbolt to bring down cost. It is also probably the reason why thunderbolt 3 became part of USB4 to block entry from competition

[George]

CopprLink isn't for consumer applications.

Well err... no.

As long as we have the 'Big Three' (or more) dictating how computers and their parts are interconnected consumers (and the commercial space) will be subject to their whim's. (along with their patents covering the connections)

While not needed there, the desktop space is the 1st logical choice for a optical addin card that bundles 8-16 lanes of PCIe into a decently long optical connection that could terminate at a box housing from a single to a number of high performance devices along with a power supply.

Laptop OEM's have offered 'high performance docking' solutions in the past. However the offerings were generally rather more comical then useful as the cost/performance ratio along with the very limited use cases for them were more of a joke then an actual 'trend setting' product offering.

USB4/TB with eGPU or eSSD currently has a rather limited market.

[Glyphic]

Why does the industry continue to kick the dead carcass of electrical connections, instead of switching to high-speed optical links, which also exclude electrical breakdown due to the excellent galvanic isolation of power circuits? I do not see any technical or cost problem in 2024 for a mass transition to long-range optical communication channels for high-speed external equipment.

Have a look at the optical Thunderbolt 3 cables that are currently available on the market and you'll probably get your answer.

[MasEnha]

In fact, copper connections are extremely unreliable - the slightest interference due to low-quality wires or dirt and high frequencies drop here. At the same time, the cable length is extremely limited.

Optical connectors are much more reliable, moreover, they are galvanically isolated from the PC power system and eliminate accidental electrical breakdown of the circuits.
An optical link can pass through much higher frequencies and multiple modulation, the bandwidth there is potentially 100 times higher. At the same time, the cable length is an order of magnitude greater, at a minimum, which can provide almost complete silence under high load on a dgpu or other powerful equipment connected via an optical channel, by moving the noisy equipment to another room or a special utility room at home (or at work).

All desktop video cards must be connected via optics - only power via copper.

In addition, a powerful optical communication channel can be simultaneously used to dock all peripherals on the desktop using different ports (already electrical). This potentially allows you to remove the system unit altogether from the desktop to the utility room of the house. There are only monitors on the desk, peripherals and complete silence while working... isn't that what we all strive for?

Why does the industry continue to kick the dead carcass of electrical connections, instead of switching to high-speed optical links, which also exclude electrical breakdown due to the excellent galvanic isolation of power circuits? I do not see any technical or cost problem in 2024 for a mass transition to long-range optical communication channels for high-speed external equipment.

I have the same perception few years back, however, probably we're not yet there at least by standards; in another case, perhaps due to each of the module needs to have and do ADC/DAC conversion in which may not be cheap (to handle few MT/s), or simply we're not yet there.