Gold USB cables

  • Thread starter Thread starter Sonars_UK
  • Start date Start date
S

Sonars_UK

Hi,

I've just ordered a new multifunction printer from Amazon.

It appears that other people that ordered the printer also ordered a gold
plated USB lead. Can someone explain what the benefits are (and are the
noticeable) over a standard USB lead?

Thanks in advance,

Sonars UK
 
Sonars_UK said:
Hi,

I've just ordered a new multifunction printer from Amazon.

It appears that other people that ordered the printer also ordered a gold
plated USB lead. Can someone explain what the benefits are (and are the
noticeable) over a standard USB lead?

Thanks in advance,

Sonars UK
Click to expand...
They are dearer, and supposed to be better contact quality.
 
beenthere said:
They are dearer, and supposed to be better contact quality.
Click to expand...

Gold is also highly corrosion resistant, which is why it's so common as
a contact in the electronics industry.
 
Sonars_UK said:
Hi,

I've just ordered a new multifunction printer from Amazon.

It appears that other people that ordered the printer also ordered a gold
plated USB lead. Can someone explain what the benefits are (and are the
noticeable) over a standard USB lead?
Click to expand...

Usually, *any* USB cable bought with a printer is a rip-off. They are
listed at ~$20, (not gold), and you can find a perfectly good USB cable
for less than two dollars.

Virg Wall, P.E.
 
"Sonars_UK" said:
Hi,

I've just ordered a new multifunction printer from Amazon.

It appears that other people that ordered the printer also ordered a gold
plated USB lead. Can someone explain what the benefits are (and are the
noticeable) over a standard USB lead?

Thanks in advance,

Sonars UK
Click to expand...

Gold is corrosion resistant. At least, until the corrosion elements
attack the metal(s) underneath the gold.

The gold must be applied thick enough, to be useful. 50u is
used in the communications industry. For computers, it is 10u
or less. The gold only lasts until it is scraped off from
repeated insertions/removals. Then the underlying metals are
exposed.

In terms of "mixing metals", it is best to mix like with like.
Computer motherboards or add-in PCI cards, will have tin or
nickel contacts. You want to use plain ordinary cables with
those, for best results. The reason is, the tin or nickel contacts
rely on friction for best results. Mixing a gold cable with
a tin contact, reduces the friction, so there is less cleaning
action and "bite" on insertion. Gold on gold doesn't rely on
"bite", because the gold cannot be oxidized.

So I'm not seeing a lot of reasons for a gold plated cable,
considering the kinds of connectors that are used on computers.

With the right search terms, you can find web pages offering
advice on what happens when you mix metals:

http://www.advantagememory.com/Home_Page/support_link/faq/why_do_gold_and_tin_contacts_mak.htm

Paul
 
Sonars_UK said:
Hi,

I've just ordered a new multifunction printer from Amazon.

It appears that other people that ordered the printer also ordered a gold
plated USB lead. Can someone explain what the benefits are (and are the
noticeable) over a standard USB lead?
Click to expand...

The same as gold plated taps in the bathroom. They don't improve the
quality of the water, they just look posher.
 
Bazzer Smith said:
The same as gold plated taps in the bathroom. They don't improve the
quality of the water, they just look posher.
Click to expand...
what about deposits in hard water areas ?
 
The same as gold plated taps in the bathroom. They don't improve the
quality of the water, they just look posher.
Click to expand...


If the contacts were gold plated, that is how they all are.
If it were the outer metal jacket, that is worse than
non-gold plated because there are then dissimilar metals in
contact. Fortunately being a ground only and subject to
repeated insertions and removals it probably wouldn't matter
but in the end the stores have to find some way to justify
the obscene prices they charge for cables.
 
The same as gold plated taps in the bathroom. They don't improve the
quality of the water, they just look posher.
Click to expand...

Actually, contrary to 'gold USB cables', gold plating of bathroom
taps seems to make sense.

A guy overhere (Prince de Lignac) used to have a lot of gold
plated stuff on his yacht and claimed that it saved him at least
one extra crew member.
Because copper needs polishing and gold does not.
 
Back
Top