NVIDIA Mellanox MCP1600-E003 QSFP28 InfiniBand EDR 100Gb/s Passive Copper Cable, 3m: This is a 3-meter passive copper cable engineered for 100Gb/s InfiniBand EDR (Enhanced Data Rate) point-to-point interconnects. The cable uses QSFP28 connectors at both ends and contains no active electronics or optical components. This is a fixed-length passive copper assembly, not an active or optical cable. This is a brand-new factory-sealed unit.
Engineering Context
The MCP1600-E003 carries the four bonded 25Gb/s NRZ EDR lanes that form a 100Gb/s InfiniBand link. It is built with 26AWG twinaxial copper pairs, which is the typical gauge for 3m EDR passive runs and balances reach against bend radius. As a passive cable it draws 0W from the host port and adds zero thermal load. The QSFP28 connectors carry an EEPROM that identifies vendor, part number, and length to the host switch. EDR passive copper requires the host fabric to drive equalization and FEC; reach beyond 5m typically transitions to active or optical solutions.
Deployment & Use Cases
HPC compute node to leaf switch InfiniBand EDR connectivity in single-rack and short adjacent-rack spans. AI/ML training cluster GPU node interconnects on EDR-class fabrics. Storage IB EDR fabric links between filer heads and IB switches. Cross-rack EDR core-to-leaf connections where the 3m reach is sufficient.
Technical Specifications
- OEM: NVIDIA Mellanox
- Part Number: MCP1600-E003
- Form Factor: QSFP28 to QSFP28 (Point-to-Point)
- Cable Type: Passive Copper
- Data Rate: InfiniBand EDR (4x 25Gb/s NRZ = 100Gb/s)
- Length: 3m
- Wire Gauge: 26AWG twinaxial
- Power Consumption: 0W (passive)
- Jacket: LSZH
- Protocol: InfiniBand EDR
- Condition: New — Factory-sealed by T.E.S IT-SOLUTIONS
Compatibility & Hard Constraints
Compatible with NVIDIA Mellanox EDR InfiniBand switches (Switch-IB and Switch-IB 2 / SB7700/SB7800 family) and ConnectX-4 / ConnectX-5 VPI adapters operating in InfiniBand EDR mode. Also usable on QSFP28 100GbE Ethernet ports as a 100GbE DAC where the host port supports 4x25G NRZ. Not compatible with HDR (200Gb/s) or NDR (400Gb/s) fabrics, which require different signaling and connector pinouts. Not compatible with QDR/FDR QSFP ports without explicit speed negotiation. Cannot exceed the fixed 3m reach. Passive only — the host port must support passive EDR DAC operation with FEC.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q. What is the MCP1600-E003?
The MCP1600-E003 is a 3m passive copper DAC with QSFP28 connectors, rated for InfiniBand EDR 100Gb/s.
Q. Is this a splitter cable?
No. It is a straight 1-to-1 QSFP28-to-QSFP28 point-to-point assembly.
Q. Will T.E.S IT-SOLUTIONS confirm the configuration of MCP1600-E003 before shipping?
Yes. T.E.S IT-SOLUTIONS (tes-itsolutions.com) bench-tests each unit where test topology is available, before dispatch from EU stock.
Why Choose T.E.S IT-SOLUTIONS
T.E.S IT-SOLUTIONS verifies every cable for connector integrity and link establishment before shipment. We provide expert consultation on InfiniBand EDR HPC and AI fabric cabling, global shipping, and a 1–3 business day handling time. Visit https://www.tes-itsolutions.com to browse our refurbished and new NVIDIA Mellanox networking inventory.