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Green printed circuit board with silver metal bracket, dual QSFP28 cages and gold PCIe x16 edge connector

Mellanox Technologies

Mellanox Technologies MCX516A-CDAT ConnectX-5 100GbE Dual Port QSFP28 network card

SKU CH-4QPY-G6NJ6

Dual-port 100 Gbps QSFP28 adapter with PCI Express 4.0 x16 connectivity

  • Rated speed100 Gbit/s
  • Interface typePCI-Express
  • 100 Gbps throughput for high-bandwidth workloads
  • Dual QSFP28 ports double connectivity options
  • PCI Express 4.0 x16 interface maximises bus bandwidth
  • ConnectX-5 architecture delivers efficient packet processing
  • Plug-in card design enables standard server installation

Mellanox ConnectX-5 100GbE Dual Port QSFP28

The Mellanox ConnectX-5 MCX516A-CDAT is a 100Gbps dual-port network adapter built on a PCI Express 4.0 x16 interface. It uses QSFP28 connectors to deliver 100GbE throughput in a standard plug-in card form factor.

Suited for servers needing two 100GbE links over

This card fits hosts that require dual-port 100GbE connectivity through a PCIe 4.0 x16 slot. It is not for systems limited to PCIe 3.0 or x8 electrical width. It is not for builds that need single-port 100GbE, SFP28 cages, Fibre Channel, or OCP mezzanine form factors.

Deciding spec: PCI Express 4.0 x16 electrical

The adapter demands a full PCIe 4.0 x16 slot to reach 100Gbps per port. If the platform provides only x8 or PCIe 3.0, bandwidth will be constrained. Verify the motherboard or riser delivers x16 electrical before purchase.

How it compares

Measured against everything we stock in Ethernet Cards & NICs, at today’s prices. Recalculated every night.

Price $296.99
Pricier than about 77% of the 1,505 comparable items (median $90.99).

Specifications

Product
Brand nameMellanox
Performance
Rated speed100 Gbit/s
Ports & slots
Interface typePCI-Express

Questions about this item

Does the dual-port QSFP28 adapter require any scheduled firmware or hardware maintenance after installation?

The ConnectX-5 adapter has no moving parts and no user-serviceable components, so it does not require scheduled maintenance or replacement parts during its operational life.

Will the PCI Express 4.0 x16 interface or the 100 Gbps ports become the throughput bottleneck first under sustained load?

The PCI Express 4.0 x16 link provides sufficient bandwidth to support both 100 Gbps ports simultaneously, so the network links themselves are the effective throughput limit.

How much heat and power does the MCX516A-CDAT generate when both 100 Gbps ports run continuously all day?

The card is a standard plug-in adapter cooled by server airflow; it draws power from the PCIe slot and does not need an external power connector, making its thermal output compatible with typical rack-mounted chassis cooling.

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