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NVIDIA Mellanox LinkX Direct Attach Copper (DAC) Cables
Table of Contents
NVIDIA Mellanox LinkX DAC Copper Cables — 25G to 200G#
NVIDIA LinkX® Direct Attach Copper (DAC) cables are copper-based interconnects that offer the lowest cost and lowest latency path for high-speed network connections up to 5 meters. Suited for top-of-rack (ToR) switch-to-server cabling in enterprise datacenters and storage clusters.
DAC Product Catalog#
Below is the list of original Mellanox DAC passive copper cables in our inventory, categorized by speed and structure.
NVIDIA Mellanox 25G SFP28 Passive DAC Cable
NVIDIA Mellanox 100G QSFP28 Passive DAC Cable
NVIDIA 200G QSFP56 Passive DAC Cable
NVIDIA Mellanox 100G QSFP28 to 4x SFP28 Breakout DAC Cable
1. 25G, 40G & 56G DAC Cables#
| Part Number | Speed | Connector | Length | Wire Gauge | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MCP2M00-A002 | 25G | SFP28 to SFP28 | 2.0m | 30AWG | 25GbE Passive Copper, Black |
| MCP2M00-A003E30L | 25G | SFP28 to SFP28 | 3.0m | 30AWG | 25GbE Passive Copper, CA-L |
| MCP1700-B002 | 40G | QSFP to QSFP | 2.0m | 30AWG | 40GbE Passive Copper, Black |
| MCP1700-B003 | 40G | QSFP to QSFP | 3.0m | 30AWG | 40GbE Passive Copper, Pulltab |
| MC2207128-003 | 56G | QSFP to QSFP | 3.0m | 30AWG | 56G IB Passive Copper Cable |
2. 100G & 200G Straight DAC Cables#
| Part Number | Speed | Protocol | Connector | Length | Wire Gauge | Target Environment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MCP1600-E002E30 | 100G | InfiniBand | QSFP28 to QSFP28 | 2.0m | 30AWG | EDR InfiniBand |
| MCP1600-E003E26 | 100G | InfiniBand | QSFP28 to QSFP28 | 3.0m | 26AWG | EDR InfiniBand |
| MCP1600-C01A | 100G | Mixed/VPI | QSFP28 to QSFP28 | 1.5m | 30AWG | EDR IB & 100GbE |
| MCP1600-C002 | 100G | Mixed/VPI | QSFP28 to QSFP28 | 2.0m | 30AWG | EDR IB & 100GbE |
| MCP1600-C02A | 100G | Mixed/VPI | QSFP28 to QSFP28 | 2.5m | 30AWG | EDR IB & 100GbE |
| MCP1600-C003E30L | 100G | Ethernet | QSFP28 to QSFP28 | 3.0m | 30AWG | 100GbE Network |
| MCP1600-C005E26 | 100G | Ethernet | QSFP28 to QSFP28 | 5.0m | 26AWG | 100GbE Network |
| MCP1650-H001E30 | 200G | Mixed/VPI | QSFP56 to QSFP56 | 1.0m | 30AWG | HDR IB & 200GbE |
| MCP1650-H002E26 | 200G | Mixed/VPI | QSFP56 to QSFP56 | 2.0m | 26AWG | HDR IB & 200GbE |
3. Breakout DAC Cables (Splitter Cables)#
| Part Number | Base Speed | Split Configuration | Connector Type | Length | Target Environment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MCP7H00-G002R | 100G | 1x 100G → 2x 50G | QSFP28 to 2x QSFP28 | 2.0m | Ethernet, Colored, 30AWG |
| MCP7H00-G02B2R | 100G | 1x 100G → 2x 50G | QSFP28 to 2x QSFP28 | 2.25m | Ethernet, Colored, 26AWG |
| MCP7F00-A02AR | 100G | 1x 100G → 4x 25G | QSFP28 to 4x SFP28 | 2.5m | Ethernet split to 25G |
| MCP7F00-A003R | 100G | 1x 100G → 4x 25G | QSFP28 to 4x SFP28 | 3.0m | Ethernet split to 25G |
| MCP7H50-H01AR30 | 200G | 1x 200G → 2x 100G | QSFP56 to 2x QSFP56 | 1.5m | 200GbE to 2x100G, 30AWG |
| MCP7H50-H002R26 | 200G | 1x 200G → 2x 100G | QSFP56 to 2x QSFP56 | 2.0m | 200GbE to 2x100G, 26AWG |
Technical Features: Passive vs Active DAC#
Direct Attach Copper cables come in two configurations:
1. Passive DAC (LinkX Standard)#
Passive copper cables have no active electronics inside the connector shells.
- Latency: Zero latency (determined only by speed of light through copper).
- Power Consumption: 0 Watts (does not draw power from switch or host ports).
- Distance: Typically capped at 3–5 meters due to signal attenuation.
- Reliability: Highest MTBF (Mean Time Between Failures) because there are no electronic components to fail.
2. Active DAC (ACC)#
Active copper cables incorporate analog equalizer chips inside the connector to boost the signal.
- Latency: Negligible (sub-nanosecond).
- Power Consumption: Approx. 0.1–0.5 Watts per end.
- Distance: Extends copper reach up to 7–10 meters.
Cable Thickness: 30AWG vs 26AWG#
When looking at part numbers, you will notice wire gauges listed (e.g., 30AWG vs 26AWG):
- 30AWG: Thinner, highly flexible cable. Ideal for intra-rack routing where space is tight. However, higher attenuation limits this wire size to shorter lengths (typically up to 2m or 3m).
- 26AWG: Thicker, stiffer cable. Used for longer runs (3m to 5m) to maintain signal integrity over distance. Requires careful planning for bend radii in server cabinets.