Methods and systems to support input output (IO) communications may include an IO connector having a housing with surfaces defining a paddle card region, and a set of compressible contacts extending vertically through the housing into the paddle card region. In addition, an IO interconnect can include a cable portion and at least one end portion coupled to the cable portion. The end portion may include a paddle card having a circuit board with a set of contacts disposed on a bottom surface of the circuit board. The end portion can also include an asymmetric metal shell having a configuration that encloses at least a portion of the paddle card and exposes the set of contacts.