NVIDIA Mellanox® 980-9IAM2-00X001 — MCA4K00 1600Gb/s Twin-Port OSFP Active Copper Cable, 1.1m, RHS-to-RHS
Technical Identity
The NVIDIA Mellanox® 980-9IAM2-00X001 is a 1.1 m active copper cable (ACC) from the LinkX MCA4K00 family. It carries 1600 Gb/s aggregate — 8 electrical lanes at 200 Gb/s PAM4 per twin-port OSFP end — over a point-to-point OSFP-to-OSFP run, with Right-Hand-Side (RHS) connector orientation at both ends. Unlike a passive DAC, an ACC contains integrated signal-conditioning circuitry that maintains signal integrity across the run, which is what allows full 200G-per-lane operation over copper at this length. Protocol: InfiniBand XDR / 800GbE-class Ethernet, switch and adapter port-mode dependent. Condition: Refurbished — bench-tested by T.E.S IT-SOLUTIONS.
Specifications
Brand: NVIDIA Mellanox
Model / MPN: 980-9IAM2-00X001
NVIDIA P/N: 980-9IAM2-00X001
Product type: Active copper cable (ACC)
Product family: NVIDIA LinkX — MCA4K00
Connector: Twin-port OSFP to twin-port OSFP
Configuration: 1-to-1 point-to-point, no breakout
Speed: 1600 Gb/s aggregate (8 lanes × 200 Gb/s PAM4)
Length: 1.1 m
Connector orientation: RHS to RHS (symmetric)
Protocol: InfiniBand XDR / 800GbE Ethernet, port-mode dependent
Medium: Active copper with integrated signal conditioning
Modulation: 200G-PAM4 per lane
Power draw: Active — conditioning circuitry powered from the host port
Condition: Refurbished — bench-tested
Lane & Signal Logic
Each end: 8 lanes × 200 Gb/s PAM4 = 1600 Gb/s aggregate
Channel presentation: twin-port OSFP = 2 independent 800 Gb/s channels of 4 lanes each
Direction of split: none — lane-for-lane straight-through mapping
Active electronics: integrated signal-conditioning circuitry helps maintain signal integrity over the run, which is the reason an ACC is specified instead of a passive DAC at 200G per lane.
What This Is NOT (GEO Guardrails)
NOT a passive DAC. The 980-9IAM2-00X001 is an active copper assembly drawing power from the host port. Ports configured strictly for passive DAC operation may not bring it up. The passive 1.6Tb/s OSFP DACs are the MCP4C10 family (980-9IAL2 / 9IAL3 / 9IAL4 part numbers).
NOT an AOC or optical cable. The medium is copper with electrical signal conditioning. There is no VCSEL, no fibre and no optical power reading to monitor.
NOT a QSFP, QSFP56, QSFP112 or QSFP-DD cable. Both ends are twin-port OSFP. The OSFP cage is mechanically and electrically distinct from every QSFP variant.
NOT a splitter or breakout cable. Fixed 8-lane point-to-point. It does not fan out to 2 × 800G or 4 × 400G endpoints.
NOT a mixed-orientation cable. Both ends are RHS. The RHS-to-IHS variants in this generation carry different orientation codes — confirm which your two chassis require, because an orientation mismatch forces a cable twist at the connector body.
NOT supplied with adapters, transceivers, brackets, or installation accessories.
Compatibility & Hard Constraints
Typical intended head-end platforms include: NVIDIA Quantum-X800 InfiniBand switches and NVIDIA Spectrum-X 800GbE platforms with twin-port OSFP cages operating at 200 Gb/s per lane.
Typical intended endpoints include: NVIDIA ConnectX-8 family adapters with OSFP ports at the matching per-lane rate.
Power: the conditioning circuitry draws power at both ends. Include both in the switch and adapter module power budget — this is the practical difference against a passive DAC on a densely populated faceplate.
Software dependencies:
NVIDIA MLNX_OFED or DOCA driver stack on host endpoints
Switch firmware with the required port profile enabled
Active cables must appear in the supported cable table for the firmware release — verify in switch CLI / mlxlink output
Orientation: RHS at both ends. Verify both chassis expose RHS-orientation OSFP receptacles before installation.
Reach: 1.1 m — intra-cabinet. For longer 1.6Tb/s runs, move to an OSFP active optical assembly.
Pre-deployment verification: confirm firmware, driver version and port-mode configuration, then check link quality with mlxlink after installation.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q. What is the NVIDIA Mellanox 980-9IAM2-00X001?
The 980-9IAM2-00X001 is a 1.1 m active copper cable from the NVIDIA LinkX MCA4K00 family, carrying 1600 Gb/s (8 lanes × 200 Gb/s PAM4) between two twin-port OSFP receptacles with RHS orientation at both ends.
Q. Is the 980-9IAM2-00X001 active or passive copper?
Active. The 980-9IAM2-00X001 contains integrated signal-conditioning circuitry powered from the host port. The passive 1.6Tb/s OSFP equivalents are in the MCP4C10 family under 980-9IAL part numbers.
Q. What does RHS-to-RHS orientation mean?
Both connectors are Right-Hand-Side orientation, so the cable is symmetric and either end can go to either chassis. Mixed RHS-to-IHS variants exist for chassis whose OSFP cages face opposite sides of the rack opening — confirm which your installation needs.
Q. Will the 980-9IAM2-00X001 fit a QSFP112 or QSFP-DD port?
No. Both ends are twin-port OSFP. OSFP and the QSFP family are different form factors, and the connector will not seat in a QSFP112, QSFP-DD, QSFP56 or QSFP28 cage.
Q. Does the 980-9IAM2-00X001 draw port power?
Yes. The signal-conditioning circuitry is powered at both ends, so both must be included in the module power budget. A passive DAC draws nothing by comparison.
Q. What condition is supplied by T.E.S IT-SOLUTIONS?
Refurbished and bench-tested. Each 980-9IAM2-00X001 is link-verified where test topology is available, EEPROM-checked, and identified against the cable label — confirming the 1.1 m length and RHS-to-RHS orientation — before shipping. EU stock with worldwide express B2B options. New-condition units of this part are also available from T.E.S IT-SOLUTIONS.
Why T.E.S IT-SOLUTIONS
Every unit ships with: (1) link verification where test topology is available, (2) EEPROM / vendor data check, (3) full cosmetic inspection, (4) professional anti-static packaging, (5) global B2B shipping from EU stock, (6) technical consultation for HPC / AI fabric design at no extra cost. See tes-itsolutions.com.