Many connectors, whether for cables or peripherals, have a thin gold film that covers them. The gold plated connectors are usually the HDMI port and some USB of different peripherals like mice or keyboards. But is it worth paying more for a gold-plated connector?
The question is quite simple, the answer is not so simple. We must here bear in mind that not all gold-plated connectors are the same. First of all, we must know how many carats it is and how many layers are superimposed, two parameters that are rarely given. In addition, we must take into account the use that we will give it.
Not all gold plated connectors are created equal
One of the main characteristics of gold is that it has a much lower rate of oxidation and corrosion than other materials . Applying a layer of gold on an aluminum connector, what it does is reduce the possibility of oxidation of the connector.
This point is quite simple, but it is not so simple. You know the karat of the coat used and the number of coats applied is very important.
We must explain that karats measure the purity of a precious metal or stone. In our case, what the carats tell us is the ratio of gold to the total mass of a piece, multiplied by 24. The scale is as follows:
| Purity (in carats) | Gold ratio to other materials |
|---|---|
| 24 karat | It has 99.99% gold, therefore it is considered pure gold and is usually reserved for high-end jewelry. |
| 22 carat | 91.6% gold in the composition |
| 20 carat | 83.3% gold in the composition |
| 18 carat | 75% gold in the composition |
| 12 carat | 50% gold in the composition |
| 10 carat | 41.6% gold in the composition |
| 1 carat | 4.16% gold in the composition |
We already see a little that a connector with a 22-carat gold plating is not the same as an 18-carat one, for example.
Do gold-plated HDMI and USB connectors offer more quality?
Some manufacturers point out that gold-plated connectors offer better electrical conductivity than those that do not. Gold, in theory, has less loss in the transmission of a signal or voltage.
The truth is that the gold-plated connector was more important when the signals are analog . When we work in analog, we work with different voltages. This means that in the event of voltage losses, the reading of the data may be incorrect. But this does not happen in digital signals, whose information is based on “0” and “1” (in binary)
For HDMI cables or USB ports on keyboards and mice, there is no reason to say this is true. All of them are based on digital signals , so it does not affect the final result . If the HDMI cable is not gold plated, the picture quality will be the same. The same happens with keyboards and mice whose USB connector is not gold plated, the information sent will be the same.
Also, whether or not a connector is gold plated doesn’t matter at all. Among the connectors we find copper cables covered by plastic derivatives. So at an effective level, it does not matter if the connector is gold plated, the information is transmitted through copper cables.
Is it useful for something that is plated in gold the connector of a cable?
There are situations in which, indeed, it can be interesting for a connector to have a gold coating. Basically, if the device is outside, exposed to the elements . For this reason, the connectors of professional audio and video equipment that are assembled at town parties are usually gold plated.
The humidity of the environment or the possible rain could very quickly deteriorate the connectors made of aluminum or similar. As we have mentioned, the degradation or oxidation of gold is very low.
But, it’s not just that it’s plated that matters , but how many layers it’s plated with . We must bear in mind that the process of inserting and removing a connector degrades it. Over time, it will lose that coverage from both putting it on and taking it off. Thus, the amount of gold layers it has greatly influences the resistance.
Conclusion, is it worth paying more?
No, it’s not worth it overall. That an HDMI cable or the USB of a mouse are gold plated, does not give us much . It is true that the connector will take much longer to oxidize, but the reality is that before we will change the video connector or peripheral.
It is more important to ensure that the cable is of good quality and well protected than the gold plating of the connector. In addition, the number of layers of the bath and the carats are not usually indicated. Therefore, other things must be taken into account and forget about this irrelevant factor.