Mellanox MCP1600-E003E26 100Gb/s QSFP28 Passive DAC Cable – 3m, 26 AWG, InfiniBand EDR & 100GbE Compatible
100Gb/s QSFP28 DIRECT ATTACH COPPER CABLE
Passive DAC cable for 100Gb/s InfiniBand EDR & Ethernet • 3 meters • 26 AWG • Low power • Ultra-low latency
Data Rate Up to 100Gb/s
Connector QSFP28 to QSFP28
Length 3.0 m (9.8 ft)
AWG 26
Type Passive Copper
Part Number MCP1600-E003E26
Manufacturer NVIDIA® / Mellanox®
Protocol InfiniBand EDR / 100GbE
Power ≤ 0.1 W (passive)
Temp Range 0°C to 70°C
Compliance RoHS, SFF-8665, SFF-8636
Jacket LSZH (Low Smoke Zero Halogen)
Product Overview
The Mellanox ® MCP1600-E003E26 is a high-performance, cost-effective QSFP28 direct attach copper (DAC) cable designed for 100Gb/s InfiniBand EDR and Ethernet applications. It provides a reliable, power-efficient alternative to optical fiber for short-reach interconnects within data centers and high-performance computing (HPC) environments.
This passive copper cable assembly integrates four high-speed copper pairs, each operating at up to 25 Gb/s, to deliver an aggregate data rate of 100 Gb/s. With no active components, it offers the lowest possible latency and near-zero power consumption, making it ideal for top-of-rack (ToR) and adjacent-rack connectivity.
Each QSFP28 connector includes an EEPROM that stores product identification and configuration data, which the host system can read via the SFF-8636 compliant I²C management interface. The cable is hot-pluggable, RoHS compliant, and features a durable LSZH (Low Smoke Zero Halogen) jacket.
Key Features
- Up to 100 Gb/s aggregate data rate
- SFF-8665 compliant QSFP28 form factor
- Passive design - no active components, zero additional power draw
- Single 3.3 V supply voltage
- Operating case temperature: 0°C to 70°C
- Hot-pluggable for easy installation and replacement
- RoHS compliant and LSZH jacket for safety
- SFF-8636 compliant I²C management interface
Technology & Construction
The MCP1600-E003E26 is a passive twinaxial copper cable assembly. It directly transmits electrical signals between QSFP28 ports without any signal conditioning, retiming, or amplification. This passive approach delivers several key advantages:
- Ultra-low latency: Sub-100 ns typical, critical for HPC and financial trading.
- Negligible power consumption: Consumes less than 0.1 W, reducing data center thermal load.
- High signal integrity: 100 Ω differential impedance and optimized shielding minimize crosstalk and insertion loss.
The cable construction uses 26 AWG copper conductors with a durable LSZH jacket. The thicker 26 AWG gauge supports longer reaches while maintaining signal integrity. Each cable is rigorously tested during production to ensure out-of-the-box performance and long-term durability, with a Bit Error Rate (BER) better than 1E-15 when used with Mellanox systems.
Compatibility
The MCP1600-E003E26 is fully compliant with industry standards and is interoperable with a wide range of networking equipment:
- Standards: SFF-8665 (QSFP28), SFF-8636 (management interface), IEEE 802.3bj (100GBASE-CR4), InfiniBand EDR
- Compatible with: NVIDIA® / Mellanox® switches, adapters, and systems; also interoperable with other MSA-compliant QSFP28 ports
- EEPROM: Programmed with product information per SFF-8636; vendor name: NVIDIA, OUI: 00-02-C9
Note: For best performance and compatibility, we recommend verifying compatibility with your specific switch or server model before ordering.
Specifications
Absolute Maximum Ratings
| Parameter | Min | Max | Units |
| Supply voltage | -0.3 | 3.6 | V |
| Data input voltage | -0.3 | 3.6 | V |
| Control input voltage | -0.3 | 3.6 | V |
Operational Specifications
| Parameter | Min | Typ | Max | Units |
| Supply voltage (Vcc) | 3.135 | 3.3 | 3.465 | V |
| Power consumption | -- | -- | 0.1 | W |
| Operating case temperature | 0 | -- | 70 | °C |
| Operating relative humidity | 5 | -- | 85 | % |
Electrical & Mechanical
| Parameter | Min | Typ | Max | Units |
| Characteristic impedance | 90 | 100 | 110 | Ω |
| Propagation delay | -- | -- | 4.5 | ns/m |
* Propagation delay is for reference only.
Selection Guide
The MCP1600 series offers a variety of lengths and wire gauges to suit different deployment needs:
| Part Number | Length | AWG | Description |
| MCP1600-E003E26 | 3.0 m | 26 | 3m, Black, 26AWG |
| MCP1600-E00AE30 | 0.5 m | 30 | 0.5m, Black, 30AWG |
| MCP1600-E001E30 | 1.0 m | 30 | 1m, Black, 30AWG |
| MCP1600-E01AE30 | 1.5 m | 30 | 1.5m, Black, 30AWG |
| MCP1600-E002E30 | 2.0 m | 30 | 2m, Black, 30AWG |
| MCP1600-E02AE26 | 2.5 m | 26 | 2.5m, Black, 26AWG |
| MCP1600-E004E26 | 4.0 m | 26 | 4m, Black, 26AWG |
| MCP1600-E005E26 | 5.0 m | 26 | 5m, Black, 26AWG |
Note: x = reach (meters), y = wire gauge (AWG).
Why Choose the MCP1600-E003E26?
✓ Cost-effective
Lower cost than optical transceivers for short-reach links.
✓ Power efficient
Consumes < 0.1 W, reduces data center power and cooling costs.
✓ Ultra-low latency
Ideal for HPC, AI, and financial trading environments.
✓ Reliable & durable
Rigorous testing and LSZH jacket ensure long service life.
✓ Plug-and-play
Hot-pluggable QSFP28 connectors with EEPROM for easy integration.
✓ Standards-based
SFF-8665, SFF-8636, RoHS compliant for broad interoperability.
Service & Support
- Warranty: 1-year limited hardware warranty covering parts repair or replacement (as per original manufacturer policy).
- Technical support: Our experienced team provides pre-sales and post-sales technical assistance to ensure smooth deployment.
- Global delivery: Worldwide shipping with reliable logistics partners.
- Customization: Custom cable lengths and EEPROM programming available for large-volume orders (please inquire).
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is the maximum distance for a passive DAC cable?
A: Passive DACs are typically recommended for distances up to 5 meters. The MCP1600-E003E26 is 3 meters and provides optimal signal integrity within that range.
Q: Is this cable compatible with 100GbE switches from other vendors?
A: Yes, it is MSA-compliant and interoperates with most standard QSFP28 ports. However, we recommend verifying compatibility with your specific switch model.
Q: What does "passive" mean for this cable?
A: Passive means the cable has no active electronic components (amplifiers, retimers). It relies solely on copper conductors to transmit signals, offering the lowest possible latency and power consumption.
Q: What is the difference between 30 AWG and 26 AWG versions?
A: Lower AWG numbers indicate thicker conductors, which allow for longer cable lengths. The 30 AWG version is used for shorter cables (up to 2m), while 26 AWG supports longer reaches (up to 5m). The MCP1600-E003E26 uses 26 AWG for reliable 3-meter performance.
Precautions
- Bending radius: Minimum single bend radius is 5× the cable outer diameter (approx. 47 mm for 26 AWG); repetitive bending radius is 10× the outer diameter (approx. 94 mm).
- Connector handling: Avoid pulling on the connector housing; use the pull tab to disconnect.
- Operating temperature: Do not operate outside the 0°C to 70°C case temperature range.
- ESD precautions: Follow standard ESD handling procedures to prevent damage to sensitive components.
Company Introduction
Hong Kong Starsurge Group Co., Limited is a technology-driven provider of network hardware, IT services, and system integration solutions. Founded in 2008, the company serves customers worldwide with products including network switches, NICs, wireless access points, controllers, cables, and related networking equipment.
Backed by an experienced sales and technical team, Starsurge supports industries such as government, healthcare, manufacturing, education, finance, and enterprise. The company also offers IoT solutions, network management systems, custom software development, multilingual support, and global delivery.
With a customer-first approach, Starsurge focuses on reliable quality, responsive service, and tailored solutions that help clients build efficient, scalable, and dependable network infrastructure.
Buyer Checklist
✅ Confirm required cable length (3 m for this model).
✅ Verify switch/server supports QSFP28 interfaces.
✅ Check if passive DAC is suitable for your distance (≤5 m recommended).
✅ Ensure operating temperature range meets your environment.
✅ Confirm vendor compatibility (NVIDIA/Mellanox recommended).
✅ Consider future scalability and port density.
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