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Green PCB expansion card with two silver QSFP28 cages and tall metal bracket

Mellanox Technologies

Mellanox Technologies MCX556A-ECAT expansion card, 100 Gbps, dual-port QSFP28, PCIe 3.0 x16

SKU CH-CP0A-HW6RP MPN MCX556A-ECAT

A dual-port QSFP28 adapter delivering 100 Gbps Ethernet or InfiniBand over a PCIe 3.0 x16 slot

  • Interface typePCI Express 3.0 x16
  • Connection typesQSFP28 / QSFP+ / QSFP
  • Key featuresData Transfer Rate: 100 Gbit/s Data Link Protocol: 100 Gigab
  • Product weight0.44
  • Dual 100 Gbps ports deliver high-throughput connectivity
  • PCI Express 3.0 x16 interface provides ample host bandwidth
  • QSFP28 connectors support 100 Gigabit Ethernet and EDR InfiniBand
  • Tall bracket fits standard full-height expansion slots
  • ROHS R6 compliance meets environmental material standards

ConnectX-5 VPI dual-port QSFP28 adapter

The Mellanox MCX556A-ECAT is a new ConnectX-5 VPI adapter card that delivers 100 Gbps over two QSFP28 ports. It installs in a PCI Express 3.0 x16 slot and uses a tall bracket. The card supports EDR InfiniBand at 100 Gb/s and 100 Gigabit Ethernet for wired connectivity.

Suited for high-performance clusters

This adapter suits administrators building EDR InfiniBand or 100 GbE clusters who need dual-port density in a single x16 slot. It is not for systems that lack a PCIe 3.0 x16 slot or for networks that operate at lower Ethernet speeds. Buyers needing a single-port or low-profile form factor should consider other models.

Dual-port QSFP28 at 100 Gbps over PCIe 3.0 x16

The decisive specification is the dual-port QSFP28 interface running at 100 Gbps on a PCIe 3.0 x16 bus. This combination determines whether the card matches the slot width, cable type and throughput required by the target fabric. Verify slot availability and cable compatibility before purchase.

How it compares

Measured against everything we stock in PCIe Expansion Cards, at today’s prices. Recalculated every night.

Price $1,034.99
Pricier than about 92% of the 891 comparable items (median $30.99).

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Specifications

Product
Brand nameMellanox
Model nameMCX556A-ECAT
Ports & slots
Interface typePCI Express 3.0 x16
Connection typesQSFP28 / QSFP+ / QSFP
Size & build
Shipping weight1.36 kg
Package size193 × 155 × 36 mm

Questions about this item

Should I pick the dual-port QSFP28 version or a single-port alternative?

This model provides two QSFP28 ports for 100 GbE and EDR InfiniBand, giving link redundancy or doubled aggregate bandwidth in a single PCIe slot.

What does the 100 Gbps rate deliver inside a server?

Each port runs at 100 Gb/s line rate for Ethernet or InfiniBand, so the adapter can sustain 100 Gb/s per port when the host and cabling support it.

How does the PCIe 3.0 x16 interface affect throughput?

The card installs in a PCIe 3.0 x16 slot and uses that link to move data between the two 100 Gb/s ports and the host system.

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