NVIDIA ConnectX-7 Adapters

NVIDIA ConnectX-7 Adapters

NVIDIA ConnectX‑7 is a next-generation SmartNIC (Smart Network Interface Card) designed to deliver unmatched performance, flexibility, and acceleration for modern data center infrastructures.

Built to support the most demanding workloads in cloud computing, high-performance computing (HPC), artificial intelligence (AI), and enterprise IT, ConnectX‑7 enables ultra-fast, secure, and efficient data movement across complex systems.

With support for both InfiniBand and Ethernet protocols, ConnectX‑7 offers data rates of up to 400 Gb/s per port, ensuring high throughput and low latency for critical workloads.

This makes it ideal for hyperscale data centers, AI training and inference clusters, disaggregated storage architectures, and edge computing platforms.

It is available in 1-port, 2-port, and 4-port configurations, offering deployment flexibility and scalability depending on application needs.

The card is compatible with PCIe Gen 5.0 ×16, allowing it to harness the full bandwidth of modern server platforms, while also maintaining backward compatibility with earlier PCIe generations (Gen 4 and Gen 3).

ConnectX‑7 is designed to accelerate not just network traffic, but also data processing and security operations through advanced hardware offloads, in-network computing capabilities, and integrated cryptographic engines.

These features help reduce CPU overhead and improve overall system efficiency.

In short, NVIDIA ConnectX‑7 transforms the way data centers operate by combining ultra-high-speed connectivity with intelligent offloading and programmable processing, setting a new standard for SmartNIC performance across AI, cloud, and enterprise environments.

Key Features & Technologies

• Blazing-Fast Data Rate

Delivers exceptional network throughput with speeds of up to 400 Gb/s, supporting both Ethernet and InfiniBand (NDR/NDR200).

This makes it ideal for modern data centers, AI clusters, and HPC workloads that demand ultra-high bandwidth and low latency.

• Flexible Port Configurations

Available in 1‑, 2‑, or 4‑port configurations, providing users with flexibility in system design and performance scaling.

This allows seamless integration into a variety of deployment scenarios, from compact edge systems to dense, high-throughput computing environments.

• Next-Generation PCIe Interface

Equipped with PCIe Gen 5.0 ×16 interface, ensuring maximum data throughput and compatibility with the latest server platforms.

It is also backward-compatible with PCIe Gen 4 and Gen 3, ensuring broad system support.

• Multiple Form Factors

Offered in both PCIe cards (half-height, half-length) and OCP 3.0 form factors, enabling easy integration into diverse hardware ecosystems and supporting a wide range of enterprise and cloud infrastructure platforms.

• Advanced Network Interface Technology

Supports a wide range of high-speed signaling technologies:

• NRZ (10/25 Gbps)
• PAM4 (50/100 Gbps)

Compatible with various connector types including OSFP, QSFP112, QSFP56-DD, SFP112, QSFP56, and SFP56, ensuring broad interoperability across different network environments.

• Comprehensive Protocol Support

InfiniBand: Fully compliant with IBTA v1.5, supporting all generations including SDR, DDR, EDR, HDR/HDR100, and NDR/NDR200.

Ethernet: Supports a wide range of Ethernet standards , 1/10/25/40/50/100/200/400 GbE, ensuring adaptability to virtually any networking requirement.

• Advanced Hardware Offloads

Integrated with cutting-edge offload engines for enhanced network performance:

• ASAP² (Accelerated Switching and Packet Processing)
• RoCE (RDMA over Converged Ethernet)
• GPUDirect Storage
• In-line encryption/decryption for TLS, IPsec, and MACsec
• Zero-touch RoCE configuration for simplified deployment

These features significantly reduce CPU overhead and latency, while increasing throughput.

• In-Network Computing

Built-in in-network computing engines enable scalable acceleration of workloads such as machine learning, data analytics, and security processing , directly within the network fabric. This allows faster time-to-results and reduced data movement costs.

• Robust Security Capabilities

Enhanced with enterprise-grade security mechanisms, including:

• Secure Boot for trusted firmware initialization
• Optional cryptographic acceleration for secure data transmission and protection against unauthorized access

Additional Technologies

• Multi-Host support for connecting multiple host systems to a single adapter
• Socket Direct Ready, enabling direct memory access from multiple CPU sockets via optional Cabline SA‑II Plus cabling ,optimizing bandwidth and reducing latency in dual-socket systems

Physical & Electrical Specifications

• Card Size: HHHL (2.71″ × 6.6″ / 68.9 × 167.7 mm).
• PCIe Auxiliary Card: Optional (5.09″ × 2.32″ + harnesses) for Socket‑Direct models.
• Voltage & Current: 12 V + 3.3 V AUX; AUX current ≤ 100 mA.
• Typical Power Consumption:
  • Single‑port (OSFP): ~24.9 – 25.9 W
  • Dual‑port (QSFP112): similar range
  • Other variants: down to ~15–19 W based on config.

Environmental & Regulatory

• Operating Temperature: 0 °C to 55 °C
• Storage Temperature: –40 °C to 70 °C
• Humidity: 10%–85% RH (operational); 10%–90% RH (non‑operational)
• Altitude: Up to 3050 m operational.
• Certifications: Safety (CB, cTUVus, CE), EMC (FCC, VCCI, ICES, RCM, KC), RoHS compliant.

Product Option Summary

A sampling of SKUs includes :

OPN & SKU	Ports	Form Factor	Data Rate	PCIe Gen	Crypto
MCX75310AAS-NEAT	1 × OSFP	HHHL	400Gab, NDR	Gen 5	Disabled
MCX75310AAC-NEAT	1 × OSFP	HHHL	400Gab, NDR	Gen 5	Enabled
MCX753436MC-HEAB	2 × QSFP112	HHHL	200Gb/s	Gen 5	Enabled
MCX755106AC-HEAT	2 × QSFP112	HHHL + AUX	200Gb/s	Gen 5	Enabled
MCX75343AMC-NEAC	1 × OSFP	HHHL	400Gb/s	Gen 5	Enabled

These reflect the flexibility between single/dual/multi-port, form factors, and crypto support.

Cables & Transceivers Compatibility

ConnectX‑7 supports a wide range of NVIDIA cables and optics:

• OSFP & QSFP112 for 400 Gb/s links
• QSFP56 for 200 Gb/s
• QSFP28 and SFP28 for 100/50 Gb/s.

Cable options: DAC (up to 3 m), AOC moderate lengths, multimode (-50 m), single-mode optics (100 m to 2 km+).

Documentation & Where to Buy

• Datasheet and detailed specs available via NVIDIA’s resource library.
• User Manual contains installation, environmental, and firmware details .
• Purchase through NVIDIA Marketplace, authorized resellers, and second sources (e.g., PNY, SHI) .

Summary

The NVIDIA ConnectX‑7 is a high-performance, PCIe Gen 5 SmartNIC offering up to 400 Gb/s bandwidth via InfiniBand or Ethernet.

It supports advanced offloading, in-network computing, strong security, and versatile port/form-factor configurations.

It’s designed for demanding environments, from HPC and AI to data center acceleration, with robust compliance and thermal characteristics.