Why do gold and tin contacts make a difference? Isn gold better?
• To quote Compaq: “IMPORTANT NOTE: SIMM connectors can be either gold or tin plated. Contact reliability can be affected if the different metal types are mixed, for example, placing a tin-plated SIMM into a gold-plated memory socket. This metal mixing can cause accelerated corrosion, which results in bad connections and can ultimately cause system failure.” • The dissimilar metals in contact with each other creates a perfect environment for accelerated corrosion. Corrosion creates electrical current and changes the capacitance value along the circuit. • Many people insist mixing will have no effect, but the manner and quality of the gold or tin application can amplify what might have otherwise been a minute affect. • Gold is a better conductor of electricity and is more resistant to corrosion. Gold is also easier to apply in a thin uniform layer. • Tin is much less expensive, but is very difficult to apply in a thin uniform layer. • Intel recommends NOT mixing dissimilar metals. • Acc
