To calculate the Speed Rating, the measured -3 dB point is rounded up to the nearest half-GHz level. The up-rounding corrects for a portion of the test board’s trace loss. The resulting loss value is then doubled to determine the approximate maximum data rate in Gigabits per second (Gbps).

For example, a connector with a -3 dB point of 7.8 GHz would have a Speed Rating of 8 GHz/ 16 Gbps. A connector with a -3 dB point of 7.2 GHz would have a Speed Rating of 7.5 GHz/ 15 Gbps.

The Samtec Speed Rating is best considered as a figure of merit for comparing relative performance between connectors. The Speed Rating becomes less meaningful in systems using multi-level signaling or where crosstalk or impedance mismatch are more critical parameters. For assistance in determining a connector’s suitability for specific high speed applications, please contact our Signal Integrity Group.

We are currently obtaining Speed Ratings for many of our high speed connectors using a new test procedure. During this transition period, some characterization reports based on different test methods and rating approaches will still be available. Please read the reports carefully to note these differences, and be aware that comparing data between old and new reports might not lead to valid "apple to apple" comparisons. Click here for more information on Samtec’s High Speed Connector Test Procedures.