Identity & Definition
This passive copper hybrid breakout cable, the NVIDIA Mellanox MCP7H50-H003, splits a single 200 Gb/s InfiniBand HDR QSFP56 connection into two independent 100 Gb/s HDR100 QSFP56 links over a 3-meter 26AWG LSZH assembly. It is a 1-to-2 breakout DAC (direct attach cable), not a trunk cable. The MCP7H50-H003 operates in InfiniBand HDR mode and is also compatible with 200GbE Ethernet where QSFP56 ports support breakout. Color-coded pulltabs aid downstream port identification. This is a new unit.
Engineering Context
The MCP7H50-H003 splits the four 50 Gb/s PAM4 lanes inside a single QSFP56 200G interface into two groups of 2x50G, delivering 100 Gb/s per QSFP56 leg. As a passive copper cable with 26AWG conductors and LSZH (Low Smoke Zero Halogen) jacket, it introduces sub-microsecond latency and draws zero power. At 3 meters the cable is within the passive copper specification for HDR100/100GbE PAM4 signaling at 26AWG gauge, providing extended reach for row-to-row or cross-rack deployments compared to the 2m MCP7H50-H002 variant.
Deployment & Use Cases
Maximizing HDR switch port utilization by connecting two HDR100 compute nodes per 200G switch port on Quantum HDR switches (QM8700 series). AI training clusters where ConnectX-6 adapters operate at HDR100 (100 Gb/s) per node with row-to-row cabling. HPC environments splitting 200 Gb/s spine links into two 100 Gb/s leaf connections across adjacent racks. VMware ESXi or KVM hypervisor hosts with ConnectX-6 adapters operating QSFP56 ports at 100 Gb/s.
Technical Specifications
Manufacturer: NVIDIA Mellanox
Part Number (MPN): MCP7H50-H003
Cable Type: Passive Copper Hybrid Breakout DAC (Twinax)
Aggregate Data Rate: 200 Gb/s
Per-Leg Rate: 100 Gb/s (2x50G PAM4)
Breakout Configuration: 1x QSFP56 to 2x QSFP56
Length: 3 meters
Wire Gauge: 26 AWG
Jacket: LSZH (Low Smoke Zero Halogen)
Signaling: PAM4
Power Consumption: 0 W (passive)
Pulltabs: Color-coded (downstream ends)
Protocol: InfiniBand HDR / 200GbE Ethernet
Condition: New
Compatibility & Hard Constraints
The upstream QSFP56 end connects to any 200 Gb/s QSFP56 switch port supporting 2x100G breakout mode, including Quantum HDR switches (QM8700 series) and Spectrum-3 Ethernet switches. The two downstream QSFP56 ends connect to 100 Gb/s QSFP56 ports on ConnectX-6 or equivalent adapters. This cable is NOT compatible with NDR (OSFP/QSFP112) equipment — NDR uses different connectors and lane structures. It is NOT compatible with QSFP28 (EDR/100GbE) — QSFP56 and QSFP28 use different signaling (PAM4 vs NRZ). For shorter reach, the MCP7H50-H002 (2m) variant is available.
Why Choose T.E.S IT-SOLUTIONS
T.E.S IT-SOLUTIONS tests every breakout cable for signal integrity and BER compliance before shipping. Technical consultation is available for HDR fabric breakout topology planning. Global shipping with 1–3 business day handling from our facility.