Active Copper Splitter Cables technical selection Q&A
Owner-confirmed and documentation-backed questions with explicit variant applicability and source boundaries.
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.
What connection does MCA4K50-Xxxx-RHS provide?
Applicable catalog candidates: 980-9IAM6-00X001, 980-9IAM6-00X002, 980-9IAM6-00X003.
It is a 1.6T-to-1.6T OSFP active copper interlink with RHS at both ends. The owner-confirmed model maps to an exact 980 OPN and nominal length, including 1.1 m for the X001 variant.
Public references: Validated and Supported Cables and Switches | ConnectX-9 Firmware RN.
May the IHS MCA4K50 datasheet be copied onto it?
Applicable catalog candidates: 980-9IAM6-00X001, 980-9IAM6-00X002, 980-9IAM6-00X003.
No. That ordering table lists different IHS-to-IHS codes. The RHS power, temperature, lane-level and retimer specifications need an exact applicable document.
Public references: Ordering Information | NVIDIA MCA4K50 1600Gbps to 1600Gbps OSFP Active Copper Cable, Validated and Supported Cables and Switches | ConnectX-9 Firmware RN.
What distinguishes an active-electric interlink from LACC?
Applicable catalog candidates: 980-9IAM6-00X001, 980-9IAM6-00X002, 980-9IAM6-00X003.
NVIDIA describes active-electric copper with DSPs at both ends, while LACC uses linear equalization. Choose the connection architecture and host power budget together; do not assume a different thermal variant has the same power.
Public references: NVIDIA Interconnect for Spectrum-6 Based Ethernet Switches | NVIDIA Spectrum-6 SN6000 Switch Systems Hardware User Manual.
Does a validated-table entry mean production availability?
Applicable catalog candidates: 980-9IAM6-00X001, 980-9IAM6-00X002, 980-9IAM6-00X003.
No. The exact row is Prototype. Treat it as an engineering-sample-stage entry and obtain current manufacturer confirmation for the intended design.
Public references: Validated and Supported Cables and Switches | ConnectX-9 Firmware RN.
What distinguishes XDR signaling from NDR?
Applicable catalog candidates: 980-9IAM6-00X001, 980-9IAM6-00X002, 980-9IAM6-00X003, 980-9IAO6-00X001, 980-9IAO6-00X002, 980-9IAQ5-00X001, 980-9IAQ5-00X002, 980-9IAQ5-00X01A, 980-9IAQ6-00X001, 980-9IAQ6-00X002.
XDR uses 200G-PAM4 signaling; NDR uses 100G-PAM4. Equal aggregate bandwidth alone does not establish interoperability.
Public references: Optical Transceivers and Cables for AI Networking | NVIDIA.
Why can a cable have two minimum bend radii?
Applicable catalog candidates: 980-9IAM6-00X001, 980-9IAM6-00X002, 980-9IAM6-00X003, 980-9IAO6-00X001, 980-9IAO6-00X002, 980-9IAQ5-00X001, 980-9IAQ5-00X002, 980-9IAQ5-00X01A, 980-9IAQ6-00X001, 980-9IAQ6-00X002.
The connector exit generally needs a larger bend radius than the cable body. Follow the exact assembly drawing and leave adequate space behind the rack door.
Public references: NVIDIA Cable Management Guidelines and FAQ.
Does an XDR optic automatically downshift to NDR?
Applicable catalog candidates: 980-9IAM6-00X001, 980-9IAM6-00X002, 980-9IAM6-00X003, 980-9IAO6-00X001, 980-9IAO6-00X002, 980-9IAQ5-00X001, 980-9IAQ5-00X002, 980-9IAQ5-00X01A, 980-9IAQ6-00X001, 980-9IAQ6-00X002.
No. NVIDIA places generation compatibility at the switch or adapter; an XDR optic does not independently downshift to 100G-PAM4.
Public references: Optical Transceivers and Cables for AI Networking | NVIDIA.
Can copper assemblies connect to Q3450 CPO data ports?
Applicable catalog candidates: 980-9IAM6-00X001, 980-9IAM6-00X002, 980-9IAM6-00X003, 980-9IAO6-00X001, 980-9IAO6-00X002, 980-9IAQ5-00X001, 980-9IAQ5-00X002, 980-9IAQ5-00X01A, 980-9IAQ6-00X001, 980-9IAQ6-00X002.
No. NVIDIA identifies these as fiber interfaces. A compatible fiber path and optical endpoints are required.
Public references: Optical Transceivers and Cables for AI Networking | NVIDIA.
What does the RHS splitter provide?
Applicable catalog candidates: 980-9IAO6-00X001, 980-9IAO6-00X002.
The exact OPN description specifies a 1.6T OSFP head and two 800G OSFP branches, with RHS at both ends.
Public references: Validated and Supported Cables and Switches | ConnectX-9 Firmware RN.
Can it be used in every Q3200 port?
Applicable catalog candidates: 980-9IAO6-00X001, 980-9IAO6-00X002.
No. NVIDIA prohibits these RHS LACC OPNs and split mode on Q3200 ports 17, 18, 35 and 36. Check the actual port map.
Public references: Appendix—Design Consideration Using Q3200 - NVIDIA Docs.
Can the IHS sibling supply the power specification?
Applicable catalog candidates: 980-9IAO6-00X001, 980-9IAO6-00X002.
No. The public MCA7K10 manual orders IHS-to-RHS codes. Its values are not copied to a different RHS-to-RHS OPN.
Public references: Ordering Information | MCA7K10 1600Gb/s to 2x800Gb/s, OSFP to 2xOSFP, IHS to RHS Active Copper Splitter Cable, Validated and Supported Cables and Switches | ConnectX-9 Firmware RN.
Which host-side design checks apply?
Applicable catalog candidates: 980-9IAO6-00X001, 980-9IAO6-00X002.
Check RHS cooling, two independent 800G branches and the host release matrix. The Spectrum-6 guide names the 980-9IAO6 family as undergoing SN6600-LD qualification; the exact cited CX9 rows say Prototype.
Public references: NVIDIA Interconnect for Spectrum-6 Based Ethernet Switches | NVIDIA Spectrum-6 SN6000 Switch Systems Hardware User Manual, Validated and Supported Cables and Switches | ConnectX-9 Firmware RN.
How many outputs does the assembly have?
Applicable catalog candidates: 980-9IAQ5-00X001, 980-9IAQ5-00X002, 980-9IAQ5-00X01A, 980-9IAQ6-00X001, 980-9IAQ6-00X002.
The exact CX9 descriptions and form-factor column specify four 400G OSFP branches from a 1.6T OSFP head.
Public references: Validated and Supported Cables and Switches | ConnectX-9 Firmware RN.
How do the two thermal options differ?
Applicable catalog candidates: 980-9IAQ5-00X001, 980-9IAQ5-00X002, 980-9IAQ5-00X01A, 980-9IAQ6-00X001, 980-9IAQ6-00X002.
The 980-9IAQ5 group is IHS-to-RHS; the 980-9IAQ6 group is RHS-to-RHS. These are separate OPNs, not interchangeable labels.
Public references: Validated and Supported Cables and Switches | ConnectX-9 Firmware RN.
What Q3200 restriction applies to RHS variants?
Applicable catalog candidates: 980-9IAQ5-00X001, 980-9IAQ5-00X002, 980-9IAQ5-00X01A, 980-9IAQ6-00X001, 980-9IAQ6-00X002.
OPNs 980-9IAQ6-00X001 and 980-9IAQ6-00X002 cannot use Q3200 ports 17, 18, 35 or 36; those ports also lack split mode.
Public references: Appendix—Design Consideration Using Q3200 - NVIDIA Docs.
How should a four-way breakout be planned?
Applicable catalog candidates: 980-9IAQ5-00X001, 980-9IAQ5-00X002, 980-9IAQ5-00X01A, 980-9IAQ6-00X001, 980-9IAQ6-00X002.
Assign four 400G logical links, verify the switch breakout mode and the four receiving ports, then check the chosen IHS/RHS cooling arrangement and release-qualified OPN. Keep cable nominal length separate from connector-exit routing space.
Public references: NVIDIA Interconnect for Spectrum-6 Based Ethernet Switches | NVIDIA Spectrum-6 SN6000 Switch Systems Hardware User Manual, Validated and Supported Cables and Switches | ConnectX-9 Firmware RN.
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