NVIDIA Mellanox MCP1600-C003 100GbE QSFP28 Passive Copper Cable, 3m: This is a 3-meter passive copper Direct Attach Cable (DAC) for 100Gb/s Ethernet (100GbE) point-to-point interconnects between QSFP28 ports. The cable is a fixed-length integrated assembly with two factory-attached QSFP28 connectors. This is not an Active Copper Cable (ACC), Active Optical Cable (AOC), or transceiver with a detachable patch cord. This is a refurbished unit.
Engineering Context
The MCP1600-C003 carries 100GbE as 4 lanes of 25Gb/s NRZ over twinaxial copper conductors. At 3m it sits within the typical passive copper reach window for QSFP28 100GbE before signal integrity degradation requires active conditioning. As a passive cable, it draws no DC power and produces no heat at the host port, which simplifies thermal budgeting in high-density top-of-rack deployments. The 28AWG twinax construction balances reach and bend radius for in-rack cabling.
Deployment & Use Cases
Top-of-Rack (ToR) switch to server NIC connections within the same rack. Storage shelf to controller links over short spans. Test, lab, and burn-in benches where short-reach passive 100GbE is sufficient. Inter-switch stack links between adjacent 1U switches in a single rack.
Technical Specifications
- OEM: NVIDIA Mellanox
- Part Number: MCP1600-C003
- Form Factor: QSFP28 to QSFP28
- Data Rate: 100GbE (4x 25Gb/s NRZ)
- Cable Type: Passive Direct Attach Copper (DAC)
- Length: 3 meters
- Conductor: 28AWG twinaxial copper
- Power Consumption: 0 W (passive)
- Protocol: 100GbE Ethernet
- Condition: Refurbished — Tested by T.E.S IT-SOLUTIONS
Compatibility & Hard Constraints
Compatible with NVIDIA Spectrum series Ethernet switches (SN2000, SN3000) and ConnectX-4, ConnectX-5, ConnectX-6 Dx EN adapters configured for 100GbE. Requires switch ports configured for 100GbE Ethernet operation. Not compatible with SFP28 ports. Does not support 4x25G breakout — this is a direct QSFP28-to-QSFP28 cable. Will not establish a link on InfiniBand-only ports without VPI Ethernet reconfiguration. Fixed 3m length; cannot be extended.
Why Choose T.E.S IT-SOLUTIONS
T.E.S IT-SOLUTIONS validates each passive copper cable for end-to-end continuity, lane integrity, and connector wear before shipment. We provide expert consultation on 100GbE fabric cabling, global shipping, and 1–3 day handling time. Visit https://www.tes-itsolutions.com for our full catalog.