Direct Attach Copper (DAC) 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.
Is this a splitter?
Applicable catalog candidates: 980-9IA0G-00N001, 980-9IA0H-00N001, 980-9IA0J-00N002, 980-9IA0L-00N00A, 980-9IA0R-00N01A.
No. MCP4Y10 is a straight twin-port OSFP interlink, carrying two logical 400G links over eight 100G-PAM4 lanes.
How are FLT and FTF selected?
Applicable catalog candidates: 980-9IA0G-00N001, 980-9IA0H-00N001, 980-9IA0J-00N002, 980-9IA0L-00N00A, 980-9IA0R-00N01A.
Choose flat-to-flat for the documented flat endpoints, or a mixed finned/flat assembly where the two cages require different heat-sink arrangements. The exact OPN determines the construction.
Public references: Validated and Supported Cables and Switches | ConnectX-7 Firmware RN, Overview | MCP4Y10-Nxxx Twin-port 2x400Gb/s OSFP to 2x400Gb/s OSFP Passive DAC Product Specifications.
Are these variants still ordinary current-life products?
Applicable catalog candidates: 980-9IA0G-00N001, 980-9IA0H-00N001, 980-9IA0J-00N002, 980-9IA0L-00N00A, 980-9IA0R-00N01A.
The selected flat and mixed variants are marked Last Time Buy in the cited current release matrices. A family product page alone does not override those exact lifecycle rows.
Public references: Validated and Supported Cables and Switches | ConnectX-7 Firmware RN, Validated and Supported Cables and Switches | ConnectX-8 Firmware RN, Validated and Supported Cables and Switches | ConnectX-9 Firmware RN.
Can a generic gauge or bend radius be assumed?
Applicable catalog candidates: 980-9IA0G-00N001, 980-9IA0H-00N001, 980-9IA0J-00N002, 980-9IA0L-00N00A, 980-9IA0R-00N01A.
No. Use the exact mechanical drawing and variant table. The family overview has conflicting wire-gauge wording, so this package withholds an unverified exact gauge.
Public references: Overview | MCP4Y10-Nxxx Twin-port 2x400Gb/s OSFP to 2x400Gb/s OSFP Passive DAC Product Specifications, Specifications | MCP4Y10-Nxxx Twin-port 2x400Gb/s OSFP to 2x400Gb/s OSFP Passive DAC Product Specifications.
Where does forward error correction take place?
Applicable catalog candidates: 980-9IA0G-00N001, 980-9IA0H-00N001, 980-9IA0J-00N002, 980-9IA0L-00N00A, 980-9IA0R-00N01A.
The FAQ places FEC in the switch and network adapter. Match the supported endpoint configuration; a cable does not independently fix a FEC mismatch.
Public references: NVIDIA Cable Management Guidelines and FAQ.
Why can a cable have two minimum bend radii?
Applicable catalog candidates: 980-9IA0G-00N001, 980-9IA0H-00N001, 980-9IA0J-00N002, 980-9IA0L-00N00A, 980-9IA0R-00N01A.
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.
Availability is on request. Sales provides the USD quotation after the exact configuration is confirmed. No stock, condition or delivery promise is made here.
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