Mellanox MCP1600-E003E26 100Gb/s QSFP28 Passive DAC Cable, 3 m, 26AWG | 100G EDR

The MCP1600-E003E26 is a 3-meter, 26AWG passive direct attach copper (DAC) cable engineered for 100Gb/s InfiniBand EDR and 100Gb/s Ethernet QSFP28 links. It delivers a cost-effective, low-power alternative to fiber optics for short-reach interconnects in data centers, achieving a bit error rate (BER) better than 1E-15 when deployed with Mellanox systems.

• 100Gb/s QSFP28
• 3 m Length
• 26AWG
• Passive Copper
• SFF-8665 / SFF-8636

The Mellanox MCP1600-E003E26 belongs to the MCP1600-E0xxEyy series of 100Gb/s QSFP28 direct attach copper cables. Each cable contains four high-speed copper pairs operating at up to 25Gb/s per lane, delivering an aggregate data rate of up to 100Gb/s. The QSFP28 port includes an EEPROM that stores product information readable by the host system through the SFF-8636 compliant I²C management interface.

This 3-meter variant uses 26AWG wire with a single cable diameter of 9.4 ± 0.4 mm. The heavier gauge supports longer reach within the series while maintaining signal integrity for short-distance InfiniBand EDR and 100Gb/s Ethernet applications. Passive copper construction limits power consumption to a maximum of 0.1 W and avoids the cost and complexity of optical transceivers in rack-to-rack and adjacent-rack connections.

Mellanox LinkX cables undergo rigorous production testing to support out-of-the-box installation, performance, and durability. The cable is RoHS compliant and uses an LSZH jacket with lead-free and halogen-free PCB construction.

• Up to 100Gb/s aggregate data rate over four 25Gb/s copper pairs
• SFF-8665 compliant QSFP28 form factor
• Single 3.3V supply voltage
• Maximum power consumption of 0.1 W
• Bit Error Rate (BER) better than 1E-15 with Mellanox systems
• Hot pluggable
• SFF-8636 compliant I²C management interface with EEPROM
• Operating case temperature range of 0°C to 70°C
• LSZH jacket, RoHS compliant, lead-free and halogen-free PCB
• 3 m length, 26AWG, black cable

Passive direct attach copper cables transmit high-speed signals over twin-axial copper pairs without active signal conditioning. This architecture keeps power draw minimal and avoids the latency and cost associated with optical modules. The QSFP28 connector integrates an EEPROM that allows the host system to read identification and product data over the I²C bus, supporting inventory management and link diagnostics.

The cable's characteristic impedance is specified at 90–110Ω, with a typical value of 100Ω, matching the differential signaling environment of 100Gb/s QSFP28 ports. Informative propagation delay is up to 4.5 ns/m. The 26AWG construction in the 3 m model provides lower conductor resistance than 30AWG variants, supporting reliable signal transmission over the longer reach.

• InfiniBand EDR 100Gb/s switch-to-switch and switch-to-server links
• 100Gb/s Ethernet QSFP28 connections within a rack or between adjacent racks
• Data center top-of-rack (ToR) and spine-leaf short-reach interconnects
• High-performance computing (HPC) cluster cabling
• Enterprise and cloud data center infrastructure where low power and low cost are priorities

The MCP1600-E003E26 is designed for QSFP28 ports supporting 100Gb/s InfiniBand EDR and 100Gb/s Ethernet. Mellanox states a BER better than 1E-15 when the cable is used with Mellanox systems. It is SFF-8665 and SFF-8636 compliant, which supports interoperability with QSFP28 hosts that follow these specifications. For non-Mellanox hosts, compatibility should be confirmed before ordering.

The MCP1600-E0xxEyy series offers multiple lengths and wire gauges. The table below lists the available part numbers and their key attributes to help select the correct cable for a given reach and routing requirement.

• Cost-effective alternative to fiber optics for short-reach 100Gb/s links
• Low power consumption of no more than 0.1 W
• BER better than 1E-15 with Mellanox systems for reliable data transmission
• Hot-pluggable QSFP28 form factor simplifies installation and maintenance
• EEPROM and SFF-8636 I²C management support host-side product identification
• LSZH jacket and RoHS compliance support data center safety and environmental requirements
• Rigorous production testing supports out-of-the-box installation and durability

Hong Kong Starsurge Group Co., Limited supplies Mellanox LinkX direct attach copper cables and related network hardware to customers worldwide. Our sales and technical team can assist with part number selection, length and wire gauge decisions, compatibility verification, and quotation requests. We support industries including government, healthcare, manufacturing, education, finance, and enterprise.

For this product, the manufacturer provides a 1-year limited hardware warranty covering parts repair or replacement. Please confirm current lead time, MOQ, and shipping terms with our sales team before ordering.

• Observe the minimum bend radius: 47 mm for a single bend and 94 mm for repetitive and assembly bends on the 3 m / 26AWG model.
• The minimum assembly bending radius close to the connector is 10* the cable outer diameter. Repeated bend far from the connector is also 10* the cable outer diameter. Single bend far from the connector is 5* the cable outer diameter.
• Do not exceed the absolute maximum ratings for supply voltage, data input voltage, or control input voltage.
• Use the cable within the specified operating case temperature and humidity ranges.
• Handle the QSFP28 connectors carefully and avoid excessive force during insertion or removal.
• Confirm host compatibility and coding requirements before deploying in non-Mellanox systems.

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.

• Confirm required reach: 3 m for this part number; other lengths available in the series.
• Confirm wire gauge and cable diameter fit the planned cable routing and bend radius.
• Verify host port type is QSFP28 and supports 100Gb/s EDR or 100Gb/s Ethernet.
• Check whether the host requires vendor-specific coding; confirm with sales before ordering.
• Confirm operating temperature and humidity range match the deployment environment.
• Review minimum bend radius requirements for installation and maintenance.
• Confirm warranty terms, lead time, MOQ, and shipping terms with the supplier.

• MCP1600-E00AE30 — 0.5 m, 30AWG, QSFP28 passive DAC
• MCP1600-E001E30 — 1 m, 30AWG, QSFP28 passive DAC
• MCP1600-E01AE30 — 1.5 m, 30AWG, QSFP28 passive DAC
• MCP1600-E002E30 — 2 m, 30AWG, QSFP28 passive DAC
• MCP1600-E02AE26 — 2.5 m, 26AWG, QSFP28 passive DAC
• MCP1600-E004E26 — 4 m, 26AWG, QSFP28 passive DAC
• MCP1600-E005E26 — 5 m, 26AWG, QSFP28 passive DAC

• How to choose between passive DAC, active DAC, and optical transceivers for 100Gb/s links
• QSFP28 DAC cable length and wire gauge selection guide
• InfiniBand EDR cabling best practices for HPC and data center deployments
• Understanding SFF-8636 I²C management and EEPROM data in QSFP28 cables
• Minimum bend radius and installation precautions for copper DAC cables