Passive Copper Splitter Cables technical selection Q&A

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 does the two-way split provide?

Applicable catalog candidates: 980-9I433-00N001, 980-9I925-00N002.

One eight-lane OSFP head fans out to two four-lane OSFP tails, each at 400G using 100G-PAM4.

Public references: MCP7Y00-Nxxx 800Gbps Twin-port 2x400G OSFP to 2x400G OSFP Passive DAC Splitter | MCP7Y00-Nxxx 800Gbps Twin-port 2x400G OSFP to 2x400G OSFP Passive DAC Splitter, Overview | MCP7Y00-Nxxx 800Gbps Twin-port 2x400G OSFP to 2x400G OSFP Passive DAC Splitter.

Can the OSFP tails go into BlueField-3 QSFP112 cages?

Applicable catalog candidates: 980-9I433-00N001, 980-9I925-00N002.

No. NVIDIA explicitly distinguishes OSFP ConnectX-7 branches from QSFP112 BlueField-3 or ConnectX-7 ports, which require the appropriate QSFP112-ended cable.

Public references: Overview | MCP7Y00-Nxxx 800Gbps Twin-port 2x400G OSFP to 2x400G OSFP Passive DAC Splitter.

Does passive mean zero electrical consumption?

Applicable catalog candidates: 980-9I433-00N001, 980-9I925-00N002.

The signal path has no active electronics, but each end has management identification circuitry. NVIDIA specifies 0.1 W per OSFP end.

Public references: MCP7Y00-Nxxx 800Gbps Twin-port 2x400G OSFP to 2x400G OSFP Passive DAC Splitter | MCP7Y00-Nxxx 800Gbps Twin-port 2x400G OSFP to 2x400G OSFP Passive DAC Splitter, Specifications | MCP7Y00-Nxxx 800Gbps Twin-port 2x400G OSFP to 2x400G OSFP Passive DAC Splitter.

What does the flat-head version change?

Applicable catalog candidates: 980-9I433-00N001, 980-9I925-00N002.

The -FLT head is for a flat-top cooling arrangement, including documented liquid-cooled use. Confirm the endpoint rather than replacing it with the illustrated finned head.

Public references: MCP7Y00-Nxxx 800Gbps Twin-port 2x400G OSFP to 2x400G OSFP Passive DAC Splitter | MCP7Y00-Nxxx 800Gbps Twin-port 2x400G OSFP to 2x400G OSFP Passive DAC Splitter.

Where does forward error correction take place?

Applicable catalog candidates: 980-9I433-00N001, 980-9I46G-00N002, 980-9I46H-00N002, 980-9I46T-00N003, 980-9I75E-00N001, 980-9I75F-00N001, 980-9I75R-00N003, 980-9I80B-00N001, 980-9I80C-00N002, 980-9I925-00N002.

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: 980-9I433-00N001, 980-9I46G-00N002, 980-9I46H-00N002, 980-9I46T-00N003, 980-9I75E-00N001, 980-9I75F-00N001, 980-9I75R-00N003, 980-9I80B-00N001, 980-9I80C-00N002, 980-9I925-00N002.

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.

What is the speed of each OSFP branch?

Applicable catalog candidates: 980-9I46G-00N002, 980-9I46H-00N002, 980-9I46T-00N003, 980-9I75E-00N001, 980-9I75F-00N001.

Each of the four branches carries 200G using two 100G-PAM4 lanes; total head capacity is 800G.

Public references: MCP7Y50-Nxxx passive DAC splitter product specifications, Overview | MCP7Y00-Nxxx 800Gbps Twin-port 2x400G OSFP to 2x400G OSFP Passive DAC Splitter.

Which adapter connector is required?

Applicable catalog candidates: 980-9I46G-00N002, 980-9I46H-00N002, 980-9I46T-00N003, 980-9I75E-00N001, 980-9I75F-00N001.

The explicit use-case guidance specifies ConnectX-7 OSFP adapters. A BlueField-3 or ConnectX-7 QSFP112 cage requires a QSFP112-ended cable.

Public references: MCP7Y50-Nxxx passive DAC splitter product specifications.

What is different about -FLT?

Applicable catalog candidates: 980-9I46G-00N002, 980-9I46H-00N002, 980-9I46T-00N003, 980-9I75E-00N001, 980-9I75F-00N001.

The twin-port head has a flat-top thermal form. The official specification distinguishes this from the finned switch head; use the exact endpoint cooling design.

Public references: MCP7Y50-Nxxx passive DAC splitter product specifications, Validated and Supported Cables and Switches | ConnectX-7 Firmware RN.

Are all variants at the same lifecycle stage?

Applicable catalog candidates: 980-9I46G-00N002, 980-9I46H-00N002, 980-9I46T-00N003, 980-9I75E-00N001, 980-9I75F-00N001.

No. Current exact rows mark selected flat-head variants Last Time Buy while the listed finned-head 1 m, 2 m and 3 m variants remain P-Rel. This does not establish stock.

Public references: Validated and Supported Cables and Switches | ConnectX-7 Firmware RN, Validated and Supported Cables and Switches | ConnectX-9 Firmware RN.

What is the branch form factor and speed?

Applicable catalog candidates: 980-9I75R-00N003, 980-9I80B-00N001, 980-9I80C-00N002.

Four QSFP112 branches each carry 200G with two 100G-PAM4 lanes. The head is twin-port OSFP with 800G aggregate capacity.

Public references: MCP7Y40-Nxxx 800Gbps Twin-port OSFP to 4x200Gbps QSFP112 DAC Splitter Cable | MCP7Y40-Nxxx 800Gbps Twin-port OSFP to 4x200Gbps QSFP112 DAC Splitter Cable.

What hosts are described?

Applicable catalog candidates: 980-9I75R-00N003, 980-9I80B-00N001, 980-9I80C-00N002.

The manual describes QSFP112 ConnectX-7 adapters and BlueField-3 DPUs, paired with the appropriate Quantum-2 or Spectrum-4 switch configuration.

Public references: MCP7Y40-Nxxx 800Gbps Twin-port OSFP to 4x200Gbps QSFP112 DAC Splitter Cable | MCP7Y40-Nxxx 800Gbps Twin-port OSFP to 4x200Gbps QSFP112 DAC Splitter Cable.

Is this an OSFP-tail cable?

Applicable catalog candidates: 980-9I75R-00N003, 980-9I80B-00N001, 980-9I80C-00N002.

No. These variants have QSFP112 tails. MCP7Y50 is the separate OSFP-tail family.

Public references: MCP7Y40-Nxxx 800Gbps Twin-port OSFP to 4x200Gbps QSFP112 DAC Splitter Cable | MCP7Y40-Nxxx 800Gbps Twin-port OSFP to 4x200Gbps QSFP112 DAC Splitter Cable, Overview | MCP7Y00-Nxxx 800Gbps Twin-port 2x400G OSFP to 2x400G OSFP Passive DAC Splitter.

What lifecycle warning applies?

Applicable catalog candidates: 980-9I75R-00N003, 980-9I80B-00N001, 980-9I80C-00N002.

The exact 1 m, 2 m and 3 m OPNs are Last Time Buy in the cited 2026 firmware matrices. Confirm lifecycle and the required replacement path before choosing them for a new design.

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.

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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