Technical selection

ConnectX-8 Card technical selection Q&A

Owner-confirmed and documentation-backed questions with explicit variant applicability and source boundaries.

Editorial Team•Oct 10, 2026

These questions were prepared for technical evaluation from cited documentation. They are not a measured list of frequently asked customer questions. The applicability line belongs to each answer; do not transfer a statement between order-code, firmware, cooling, length, form-factor or crypto variants.

The products listed below are the applicable catalog references. Answers use owner-confirmed manufacturer-origin product data, scoped public documentation, or explicitly stated engineering guidance. Genuine conflicting values are qualified individually.

Is its Ethernet mode the same as its 800Gb/s InfiniBand mode?

Applicable catalog candidates: 900-9X81E-00EX-DT0, 900-9X81E-00EX-SL0, 900-9X81E-00EX-ST0.

No. The order table lists 800Gb/s XDR InfiniBand as the default and 2 x 400GbE Ethernet. Validate the specific port configuration and interconnect.

Public references: NVIDIA ConnectX-8 SuperNIC User Manual | NVIDIA ConnectX-8 SuperNIC User Manual, Specifications | NVIDIA ConnectX-8 SuperNIC User Manual, Supported Interfaces | NVIDIA ConnectX-8 SuperNIC User Manual, General Cooling Recommendations for Partner-Cooled SuperNICs | NVIDIA ConnectX-8 SuperNIC User Manual, Troubleshooting | NVIDIA ConnectX-8 SuperNIC User Manual.

What extension type does this exact suffix provide?

Applicable catalog candidates: 900-9X81E-00EX-DT0.

DT0 specifies a downstream-port extension. It is distinct from the ST0 Socket Direct option.

Which OSFP cooling style is supported?

Applicable catalog candidates: 900-9X81E-00EX-DT0, 900-9X81E-00EX-SL0, 900-9X81E-00EX-ST0.

The exact specification section requires an RHS, or Riding Heatsink, OSFP cage arrangement. Match the interconnect mechanical and thermal design.

Can the partner-cooled card be deployed without a cooling design?

Applicable catalog candidates: 900-9X81E-00EX-DT0, 900-9X81E-00EX-ST0.

This is the standard C8180 configuration. The SL0 partner-cooled version is a distinct variant; server cooling still needs validation.

How is PPS exposed?

Applicable catalog candidates: 900-9X81E-00EX-DT0, 900-9X81E-00EX-SL0, 900-9X81E-00EX-ST0.

NVIDIA lists PPS input/output access through the optional 930-9XCBL-000A-000 cable-extender debugging kit.

Are all auxiliary-link generation claims consistent?

Applicable catalog candidates: 900-9X81E-00EX-DT0, 900-9X81E-00EX-SL0, 900-9X81E-00EX-ST0.

No. The main card is PCIe 6 x16, but auxiliary-kit ordering, contents and technical tables use inconsistent Gen6/Gen5/rate wording. Confirm the complete auxiliary assembly before promising its generation or throughput.

What extension type does this exact suffix provide?

Applicable catalog candidates: 900-9X81E-00EX-SL0, 900-9X81E-00EX-ST0.

This suffix specifies an x16 Socket Direct extension option. The auxiliary kit is separate and needs a compatible server topology.

Can the partner-cooled card be deployed without a cooling design?

Applicable catalog candidates: 900-9X81E-00EX-SL0.

No. This is the partner-cooled C8180L; the partner must provide a validated thermal solution.

Is this a ConnectX-8 SuperNIC?

Applicable catalog candidates: 930-9XAX6-0025-000.

No. C8180X is an auxiliary PCIe connection kit with a card, cable and brackets.

Public references: PCIe Auxiliary Card Kit | NVIDIA ConnectX-8 SuperNIC User Manual, PCIe Auxiliary Kit Technical Specifications | NVIDIA ConnectX-8 SuperNIC User Manual.

What cable is included?

Applicable catalog candidates: 930-9XAX6-0025-000.

The package lists one 250 mm MCIO cable.

Public references: PCIe Auxiliary Card Kit | NVIDIA ConnectX-8 SuperNIC User Manual, PCIe Auxiliary Kit Technical Specifications | NVIDIA ConnectX-8 SuperNIC User Manual.

Can it be described unconditionally as PCIe Gen6?

Applicable catalog candidates: 930-9XAX6-0025-000.

No. The public ordering description, package-contents table and technical-specification table disagree. Keep generation and rate fields unset until confirmed.

Public references: PCIe Auxiliary Card Kit | NVIDIA ConnectX-8 SuperNIC User Manual, PCIe Auxiliary Kit Technical Specifications | NVIDIA ConnectX-8 SuperNIC User Manual.

Does it include a primary networking card?

Applicable catalog candidates: 930-9XAX6-0025-000.

The listed package includes the auxiliary connection card, not a primary ConnectX network adapter.

Public references: PCIe Auxiliary Card Kit | NVIDIA ConnectX-8 SuperNIC User Manual, PCIe Auxiliary Kit Technical Specifications | NVIDIA ConnectX-8 SuperNIC User Manual.

Is there an official product image?

Applicable catalog candidates: 930-9XAX6-0025-000.

A manufacturer mechanical drawing of the auxiliary board is available. It is not a photograph of the complete packaged kit and commercial reuse permission is unconfirmed.

Public references: PCIe Auxiliary Card Kit | NVIDIA ConnectX-8 SuperNIC User Manual, PCIe Auxiliary Kit Technical Specifications | NVIDIA ConnectX-8 SuperNIC User Manual.

What should be provided to qualify the kit?

Applicable catalog candidates: 930-9XAX6-0025-000.

Provide the primary card order code, server PCIe topology, intended mode, available slot and cable route. Obtain the exact auxiliary generation/rate confirmation from NVIDIA.

Public references: PCIe Auxiliary Card Kit | NVIDIA ConnectX-8 SuperNIC User Manual, PCIe Auxiliary Kit Technical Specifications | NVIDIA ConnectX-8 SuperNIC User Manual.