Mellanox Technologies, now part of Nvidia, has been at the forefront of network interface card (NIC) technology, providing cutting-edge solutions for data centers, high-performance computing (HPC), cloud environments, and more. One of the most popular product lines from Mellanox is the ConnectX-5 series, which offers a range of adapters designed for high-speed networking, low latency, and efficiency. In this article, we will explore various models within the ConnectX-5 family, including the MCX512A-ACAT, MCX516A-BDAT, and MCX516A-CCAT, and we will also cover key performance metrics such as latency and bandwidth.
1. Mellanox MCX512A-ACAT: Price and Datasheet Overview
The Mellanox MCX512A-ACAT is a high-performance 100GbE network interface card from the ConnectX-5 series. Designed for data-intensive applications like cloud computing, machine learning, and large-scale data transfers, the MCX512A-ACAT provides advanced features for enhanced network efficiency and reduced latency.
- Key Features:
- Speed: Offers 100GbE Ethernet connectivity, making it ideal for data centers and high-performance computing applications.
- Form Factor: PCIe 3.0 x16 interface, ensuring compatibility with a variety of server configurations.
- Cooling: Features advanced cooling capabilities, allowing it to handle high data loads with ease.
- Offload Support: Provides hardware offload capabilities such as RDMA over Converged Ethernet (RoCE) and iWARP, ensuring high throughput with low CPU usage.
- Price: The MCX512A-ACAT is typically priced in the range of $1,500 to $2,500 USD, depending on the retailer and order volume. Bulk purchases or enterprise agreements may offer additional discounts.
- Datasheet: For a full technical overview, the datasheet for the MCX512A-ACAT includes comprehensive details about port configurations, power consumption, thermal performance, and supported protocols. You can access the datasheet through Mellanox or authorized distributors.
2. Mellanox MCX516A-BDAT: Key Features and Use Cases
The MCX516A-BDAT is another highly regarded model in the ConnectX-5 series, designed for applications that require high throughput and low-latency networking. This card is optimized for both Ethernet and InfiniBand protocols, providing flexibility for various networking environments.
- Key Features:
- Speed: Supports 25GbE Ethernet connectivity, making it a great choice for applications that don’t require the 100GbE speeds of other models.
- Protocol Support: Supports InfiniBand, RoCE, and iWARP, providing multiple connectivity options for different networking needs.
- Low Latency: Engineered for ultra-low latency, making it ideal for high-frequency trading, real-time analytics, and AI applications.
- Power Efficiency: Designed for optimal energy efficiency, ensuring maximum performance with minimal power consumption.
- Price: The MCX516A-BDAT typically falls in the $700 to $1,200 USD range, depending on the configuration and quantity.
3. Mellanox MCX516A-CCAT: Performance and Applications
The MCX516A-CCAT is similar to the MCX516A-BDAT, but it comes with slightly different features tailored for specific environments. While both models support 25GbE Ethernet connectivity, the CCAT variant is often used in situations where the card needs to fit into more compact or energy-efficient setups.
- Key Features:
- Speed: Like the MCX516A-BDAT, it supports 25GbE Ethernet.
- Form Factor: PCIe 3.0 x8, making it suitable for applications with more limited space in servers.
- Cooling: Includes passive cooling for efficient heat dissipation in moderate workloads.
- Offload Capabilities: Supports RDMA for low-latency and high-throughput data transfers.
- Price: The MCX516A-CCAT generally ranges from $600 to $1,100 USD, depending on where you purchase it and the specific configuration.
4. What is the Latency of ConnectX-5?
One of the standout features of the ConnectX-5 series is its ultra-low latency, which is critical for applications like high-frequency trading, real-time data analytics, and other latency-sensitive workloads.
- The ConnectX-5 adapters can achieve latency as low as 0.6 microseconds in Ethernet configurations with RDMA. This ultra-low latency is one of the reasons why the ConnectX-5 series is favored for high-performance applications that require rapid data processing.
- For InfiniBand configurations, which are often used in scientific computing and supercomputing environments, the latency can be even lower, approaching 0.3 microseconds.
5. What is the Bandwidth of ConnectX-5?
The ConnectX-5 series is capable of providing high-bandwidth solutions, making it an ideal choice for data centers and other environments that require massive data throughput.
- 100GbE Models: The MCX512A-ACAT and other 100GbE models in the ConnectX-5 series can deliver up to 100Gbps of bandwidth, allowing for the handling of large volumes of data, which is essential for cloud computing, AI/ML workloads, and HPC tasks.
- 25GbE Models: The MCX516A-BDAT and MCX516A-CCAT provide 25Gbps of bandwidth, making them suitable for environments where 100GbE speeds are not necessary but still require high-performance networking.
- Flexibility: The ConnectX-5 series can be used in both Ethernet and InfiniBand configurations, providing bandwidth scalability to meet the demands of various networking environments.
Conclusion
Mellanox’s ConnectX-5 series, which includes the MCX512A-ACAT, MCX516A-BDAT, and MCX516A-CCAT, offers a range of high-performance network interface cards that cater to diverse applications in data centers, cloud computing, AI, and HPC. Whether you need 25GbE or 100GbE connectivity, low-latency capabilities, or high bandwidth, the ConnectX-5 series has a model that can fit your needs.
Key performance metrics, including latency as low as 0.6 microseconds and bandwidth options ranging from 25Gbps to 100Gbps, make these adapters a top choice for enterprises looking to optimize their network performance. With flexible pricing depending on the model and configuration, Mellanox ConnectX-5 solutions are suitable for a range of budgets and requirements.
For detailed specifications and to learn more about these models, be sure to check out the official datasheets for each adapter on Nvidia or Mellanox’s website.
