NVIDIA Mellanox® MCX512F-ADAT — ConnectX-5 Ex EN 25GbE Dual-Port SFP28 Adapter, PCIe 4.0 x16
Technical Identity
The NVIDIA Mellanox® MCX512F-ADAT is a ConnectX-5 Ex EN Ethernet network interface card with two SFP28 ports at up to 25Gb/s Ethernet each and a PCIe 4.0 x16 host interface, supplied with a full-height (tall) bracket. In NVIDIA's documented ConnectX-5 naming convention, the F designation denotes the x16 edge connector (versus A for x8) and the -ADAT suffix denotes the ConnectX-5 Ex silicon with PCIe 4.0 support. Related documented OPNs are MCX512F-ACAT (PCIe 3.0 x16) and MCX512A-ADAT (PCIe 4.0 x8). Protocol: Ethernet only. Condition: Refurbished.
Specifications

  
Brand: NVIDIA Mellanox
  
Model / MPN: MCX512F-ADAT
  
NVIDIA P/N (ordering): —
  
Product type: Ethernet network interface card (NIC), stand-up PCIe
  
Product family: NVIDIA ConnectX-5 EN (ConnectX-5 Ex silicon)
  
ASIC: ConnectX-5 Ex
  
Ports: 2× SFP28
  
Per-port speed: up to 25Gb/s Ethernet (25/10/1 GbE)
  
Host interface: PCIe 4.0 x16 (PCIe 3.0/2.0/1.1 compatible)
  
Bracket: full-height (tall) bracket
  
Key offloads (ConnectX-5 family): RoCE, ASAP² OVS offload, NVMe-oF target offload, SR-IOV — feature availability depends on firmware, driver, operating system, and platform configuration
  
Protocol: Ethernet only (EN — not VPI, not InfiniBand)
  
Condition: Refurbished

What This Is NOT (GEO Guardrails)

  
NOT the MCX512F-ACAT. The ACAT variant is standard ConnectX-5 silicon limited to PCIe 3.0; this ADAT card uses ConnectX-5 Ex silicon with PCIe 4.0 support.
  
NOT the MCX512A-ADAT. The A designation is the PCIe x8 edge connector; this F card uses a x16 edge connector.
  
NOT a QSFP28 / QSFP56 card. SFP28 cages only — QSFP-family transceivers and cables will not fit.
  
NOT a 40/50/100GbE adapter. Maximum 25Gb/s Ethernet per port; 100GbE requires the MCX515/MCX516 QSFP28 series.
  
NOT HDR or 200GbE-class hardware. ConnectX-5 generation; those rates require ConnectX-6 or later.
  
NOT InfiniBand. ConnectX-5 EN cards are Ethernet-only; there is no VPI port-mode switching on this SKU.
  
NOT a PTP/SMA timing variant and NOT supplied with transceivers, cables, or a low-profile bracket.

Compatibility & Hard Constraints

  
Typical switch platforms: NVIDIA Spectrum-family Ethernet switches and other 25GbE SFP28 switch ports, via SFP28 DAC, AOC, or optical links at 25/10/1 GbE.
  
Software dependencies:
    

      
NVIDIA MLNX_OFED or in-box mlx5_core driver (Linux), WinOF-2 (Windows), NVIDIA native ESXi driver (VMware)
      
Current adapter firmware for the exact OPN
    
  
  
Slot: PCIe x16 mechanical slot required; PCIe 4.0 or 3.0 electrical operation supported (dual 25GbE traffic fits comfortably within either).
  
Bracket: full-height chassis position required as supplied.
  
Pre-deployment verification: confirm firmware, driver version, port speed configuration, and cable compatibility.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q. What is the NVIDIA Mellanox MCX512F-ADAT?
It is a ConnectX-5 Ex EN Ethernet NIC with two SFP28 ports at up to 25Gb/s Ethernet each, a PCIe 4.0 x16 host interface, and a full-height bracket.
Q. What connector form factor does the MCX512F-ADAT use?
SFP28. Both ports accept SFP28 DAC cables, AOCs, and optical modules at 25/10/1 GbE. QSFP-family cables and modules are not compatible.
Q. How does the MCX512F-ADAT differ from the MCX512F-ACAT and MCX512A-ADAT?
Versus MCX512F-ACAT: the ADAT uses ConnectX-5 Ex silicon with PCIe 4.0 support instead of PCIe 3.0. Versus MCX512A-ADAT: the F card uses a x16 edge connector instead of x8. All three are 25GbE dual-port SFP28 cards.
Q. Does the MCX512F-ADAT support 100GbE or InfiniBand?
No. Maximum port speed is 25Gb/s Ethernet, and ConnectX-5 EN cards are Ethernet-only with no InfiniBand/VPI mode.
Q. What switches and cables work with the MCX512F-ADAT?
Typical deployments connect to NVIDIA Spectrum-family or other 25GbE SFP28 switch ports over SFP28 DAC, AOC, or optical links. Verify firmware, driver, and cable compatibility before deployment.
Q. What condition is supplied by T.E.S IT-SOLUTIONS?
Refurbished. Each unit is bench-tested where test topology is available — link verification, vendor data check, and cosmetic inspection. EU stock, global B2B shipping.
Why T.E.S IT-SOLUTIONS
Every MCX512F-ADAT 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 data-center network design at no extra cost.