Marvell Technology expanded its connectivity portfolio with new copper-focused designs to boost signals while also touting cost advantages.

Traditional passive direct attach cables (DAC) are essentially just copper cables capable of connecting devices via pluggable transceivers on each end. Marvell's active copper cables (ACC) feature a small signal equalizer chip to extend reach while maintaining minimal latency.

Marvell contends that systems powering AI workloads require thinner copper-based interconnects within server racks – something it contends that traditional DAC offerings aren’t suitable for.

Instead, the vendor touts that its new ACC offerings are more cost-effective and power-efficient than digital alternatives for scale-up systems, with the units capable of supporting 800G and 1.6T copper interconnects.

“We are excited to work with our ecosystem of cable OEM partners and system vendors to provide end customers with high-performance, in-rack connectivity solutions to handle their most advanced AI workloads,” Xi Wang, SVP and GM of Marvell’s connectivity business unit, explained.

Marvell’s cable launch at OCP’s Global Summit this week followed the firm's partnership with Ferric to address challenges related to processor power. The pair integrated miniaturized voltage regulators directly into Marvell’s custom silicon, providing improved efficiency and higher power densities.