Hacker News Reader

Parent Full thread

DanBC

Here's a basic brand and a respected brand both using gold plating.

Amazon basics: https://www.amazon.co.uk/AmazonBasics-Male-B-Male-Cable-Feet...

Anker: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Anker-2-Pack-Nylon-Braided-Tangle-F...

View on HN

First time I see this, thanks!

Unnecessary if you ask me... It's more like jewellery rather than a cable :-)

Zinc / aluminium is probably a better combination for USB, as it's more durable.

Other metals like the ones you named have an oxidation problem over time. Gold does not have that problem and contacts will wear thru thier plating by mechanical usage . Gold does not oxidize in the normal earth atmosphere. That's why you can see ancient gold in for instance : Egyptian relics that still shine - no oxidation.. It's nearly a perfect electrical conductor. There are better ( for the pedantic chemists here) But gold plated connectors are used by industry for reliability

I doubt we will be using USB 3.0 cables 5000 years later. Lol!

Perhaps for non technical reasons.

Reply on news.ycombinator.com