Gold plated connectors are better than others as they do not tarnish. If you compare gold and copper, gold is a worse conductor of electricity than copper. Over time copper oxidize but nothing happens to gold plated connectors. Gold plated connectors do have a marginal benefit that they last for a long time.

Gold plated connectors also cost more than others. You can get a gold plated network connector with 8 pins costing just $4.40. It is lightweight, stable and durable. Gold plating helps in better data transmitting and higher signal strength.

Electrolytic nickel connectors 

The electroless nickel plating that is used today has a lot of advantages compared to electrolytic nickel plating. Electroless nickel connectors do not need the application of an external electric current to help in the deposition. Electroless nickel uses a chemical reducing agent in the solution which helps to uniformly deposit the metal on the surface that is wetted by the electroless nickel.

Electrolytic nickel connectors require an external DC electric current the deposition is not uniform. Also elecroless nickel is an alloy of nickel and phosphorus which is amorphous. The presence of phosphorus provides the deposit with more resistance to corrosion, lower coefficient of friction and less magnetic properties. The deposit in case of electroless nickel is uniform in dead end holes, across diameters and across threads.

Why choose gold plated connectors?

Gold plated connectors are used in electronics. Gold plating is usually done to deposit a fine layer on copper which is electrically conductive. It is usually done in printed circuit boards and connectors. With direct plating of gold on copper the atoms of copper have the tendency to spread out through the gold layer causing tarnishing of the surface by forming an oxide or sulphide layer.

Before gold plating a layer of barrier metal like nickel is often deposited on the substrate of copper. The nickel layer provides the gold layer with mechanical backing enhancing its wear resistance. It also decreases the impact of pores that are present in the gold layer.

Summary

You can use gold plated connectors or Nickel connector plating that are durable and last for a long time for higher signal strength and better data transmission.