NVIDIA ConnectX-8 SuperNIC User Manual

Channel Insertion Loss

Channel insertion loss refers to the reduction in signal power due to the insertion of a device in a transmission line or optical fiber. It is typically measured in decibels (dB).

The table below outlines the channel insertion loss budget for the ConnectX-8 SuperNIC in a PCIe Gen5 architecture (32 GT/s).

The listed values are based on measured data. It is advisable to add a 0.5 dB margin to your system, as channel loss may vary.

Channel Loss at Gen5

Decibels

Total add-in card (bump to Goldfinger) Insertion loss approved by PCI-SIG Gen5

9.5 dB @16GHz

SuperNIC PCIe Lanes (PCORE1)

5 dB @16GHz

Passive PCIe Auxiliary Card

2.5 dB @16GHz

MCIO harness (including connectors)

3.5 dB @16GHz

SuperNIC PCIe interface, PCIe Auxiliary Card, and MCIO harness

11 dB @16GHz

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