Application Watch: USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 cable assemblies for gaming on the way

Gaming devices have evolved over the years, with recent releases capable of sharper images, more vivid colors, faster response time, quick charging and longer operating life span.

One of the more promising recent evolutions comes through USB 3.2 Gen 2x2, with its dual-lane capability to deliver an aggregate bandwidth of 20Gbps. Although yet to be added to off-the-shelf PCs and laptops, this newest specification is already available in high-end motherboards, PCIe expansion cards and external SSDs as upgrade options targeting the gaming market. In 2021, compliant cable assemblies, which have USB-C connectors only, are expected to join this ecosystem.

Anticipating demand from upscale smartphones, laptops and gaming devices, USB cable assembly manufacturers in China are now emphasizing this latest and fastest specification, also known as SuperSpeed USB 20Gbps, in their R&D. They hope to be ready with such units when greater uptake on the host and device sides happens.

However, in production, their current objective is to increase USB 3.2 Gen 2 cables with the smaller Type-C connector as output is still split among Type-A, Type-B and Type-C designs. This earlier USB standard, compatible with many gaming devices including recently introduced consoles, supports up to 10Gbps, and has maximum 5A rated current, 100W rated power and 10,000 cycles.

China's gaming device market has been growing steadily over the past few years, but experienced higher demand since the outbreak of COVID-19 as millions of people turned to other forms of entertainment. This trend is expected to last several more years and bring total sales to $2.15 billion in 2024 from $997 million in 2019, according to Niko Partners.

Based on this projection, companies interviewed by Global Sources Electronic Components said demand for USB cable assemblies, particularly those with a Type-C plug on one end, will rise as well.

Guangzhou Wusen Electronic Technology Co. Ltd is already planning to increase its output by 10 percent in the months ahead, anticipating demand locally and abroad. Its USB-to-USB-C products for gaming account for 15 percent of shipments.

There are hundreds of manufacturers of these interconnects in China. Domestic suppliers make up more than 70 percent of this pool, and most have a small or medium-size production scale. All also offer HDMI, DisplayPort and networking cable assemblies.

Of the total China-made shipments in the USB category, between 5 and 20 percent are for gaming devices, and the rest mainly for smartphones and other consumer electronics.

Chinese suppliers export 30 to 80 percent of volume produced. The key destinations include Europe, North America and the Asia-Pacific region.

Production hubs in China are found in Guangdong, Jiangsu and Zhejiang provinces, which collectively gather over 80 percent of the manufacturers. The major city locations include Shenzhen, Dongguan, Zhongshan, Guangzhou, Huizhou, Suzhou, Changzhou and Ningbo.

Typical gaming cables

Mainstream USB cable assemblies for gaming from Chinese manufacturers are based on the USB 3.2 Gen 1 and USB 3.2 Gen 2 standards. These have a USB-C connector on one end, which may be in straight or L-shaped design. Cable lengths are usually 1, 1.2, 1.5 and 2m, which can be made shorter or longer on request. Various colors are available, the most common of which are black, red, silver and gray.

Contacts are made of copper and plated with gold and shells of aluminum or zinc alloy. Conductors are also typically copper. Nylon braiding is commonly employed to protect the cable not only from electrostatic and electromagnetic interference, but also from abrasions and cuts.

Cable assemblies have 3 or 5A charge current, 20V rated voltage and 60 to 100W rated power, and can withstand more than 5,000 charge and discharge cycles.

Domestically available metal and other materials are used unless customers specify other sources. Some companies manufacture their own connectors.

Materials costs rose slightly in 2020, but only a few suppliers increased their prices by 5 percent. In the coming months, the situation is expected to stabilize. However, this time, some companies may lower their quotes to boost competitive advantage.

USB-C cable assembly with 90-degree plug

Guangzhou Wusen Electronic Technology Co. Ltd's USB cable assembly with a 90-degree Type-C plug, the BO-X152C USB-C, has 5V, 2.4A output. Its cable jacket is made of TPE. The model meets CE,FCC and RoHS standards.

The supplier requires a minimum order of 3,000 units. Delivery takes seven days.

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5Gbps USB-C cable assembly

Model C to C-305 USB-C cable assembly from Shenzhen Aidelong Intelligent Communication Co. Ltd has 20V voltage, 5A current and 100W power. Supported transmission speed is 5Gbps.

An order of at least 1,000 units is delivered within five days.

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USB cable, has Type-A, Type-C, Micro-USB plugs

In 4 and 6ft variants, this USB cable assembly from Veetone Technology Co. Ltd, the 8013GS-006, has a USB Type-A connector on one end, and USB-C and Micro-USB connectors on the other. The RoHS-compliant model uses pure-copper conductors and a braided nylon jacket.

The 1,000-unit minimum order has a 25-day lead time.

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USB-C cable assembly with 56kohm resistor

This USB Type-A-to-USB-C cable assembly from Zhuhai Hantai Electronics Co. Ltd, the HT-06-061 BK 6Ft, has a 56kohm resistor. The 3A unit uses an aluminum foil braid shielding, PVC jacket, and aluminum and PVC injection-molded shell.

The minimum order is 3,000 units. Delivery is within 25 days.

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