Intel 800Gbps cables aim at data centers and supercomputers

The speed that computers and data networks operate at is always on the increase. It's easy to think only of improvements in computer hardware and networking as being needed to usher in the fast networks of tomorrow. There are a myriad of other things that are required to usher in faster networks that many overlook.

One of those things are cables. Without a cable that is capable of dealing with the deluge of data a computer produces and able to send that data across networks and to other hardware a computer system is very limited. It really doesn't matter how much data a supercomputer can crunch if you can't get the data out. Intel has unveiled its new cables that will help push data centers and supercomputers to better performance.

The new Intel cables are able to support data speeds of 800 Gbps. The new cables are based on the Intel Silicon Photonics technology that can push 25Gbps across a single fiber. Each of the cables has up to four rows of 16 fibers giving up to 64 fibers total.

32 of those fibers are for sending data and 32 are for receiving data. The cable is capable of a combined 1.6Tbps since 800 Gbps can be sent and received at once. Intel partnered with Corning to develop the fibers used in the cable and the cables will soon be coming to market. The cables will be available with 8, 16, 32, or 64 fibers. Pricing is unannounced but these cables don't sound cheap.

SOURCE: ArsTechnica