In one embodiment, an HDMI connector includes a plurality of conductive paths. The plurality of conductive paths correspond to four channels, i.e., three differential data channels and one differential clock channel. Each channel includes three conductive paths, which correspond to a differential pair and a dedicated ground. Each conductive path has a contact on one end and a pin on the opposite end. The pins of the plurality of conductive paths are arranged to attach to corresponding surface mounting pads in at least two columns of contact points. For each channel, the pad for the dedicated ground is larger than the pads for the differential pair, thereby providing shielding between the differential pairs of different channels.