All Active Electrical Cables

Retimed Copper Links from 400G to 800G

Overview

Active Electrical Cables (AEC) are high-speed copper interconnects with retimer chips built into the connectors. They are designed to restore and reshape PAM4 signals, helping reduce jitter and improve link stability at 400G/800G. Compared with passive copper, AEC is the better choice when you need more reach and cleaner signal quality, while still keeping a plug-and-play experience and avoiding the complexity of optical modules.

The NSComm AEC portfolio focuses on 400G and 800G Ethernet/InfiniBand environments, supporting modern data center fabrics, AI training clusters, and high-density switch/NIC connectivity. Most models are available in lengths up to 5m (16ft) depending on form factor and speed.

NVIDIA-Optimized Compatibility (Plus a Generic Option)

AEC is most commonly deployed in NVIDIA-based AI/HPC networks, so NSComm offers NVIDIA/Mellanox coding options for the majority of AEC products to match mainstream platforms and reduce integration risk.

• Primary ecosystem: NVIDIA (ETH / IB)

• Backup option: Generic coding where applicable (for special non-NVIDIA needs)

Need help choosing the right coding? Our certified engineers can quickly confirm the correct option for your switch, NIC, or DPU model.

Comprehensive Product Range

This AEC collection includes both straight-through and breakout designs across key 400G/800G form factors:

400G AEC (QSFP112 / QSFP-DD)

Built for 400G fabrics, high-density ToR/leaf switching, and AI/HPC racks where signal integrity matters.

• 400G QSFP112 InfiniBand NDR AEC (up to 3m) - NVIDIA-focused

• 400G QSFP-DD Ethernet AEC (up to 5m) - NVIDIA-focused

• 400G QSFP-DD to 4×100G QSFP28 breakout AEC (3m) - NVIDIA-focused

800G AEC (QSFP-DD / OSFP) + Breakouts

Designed for next-gen 800G Ethernet and InfiniBand NDR deployments, including OSFP finned-top cooling designs for dense cages.

• 800G QSFP-DD AEC (up to 5m) - NVIDIA-focused + generic option

• 800G OSFP finned-top Ethernet AEC (up to 5m) - NVIDIA-focused

• 800G OSFP to 2×400G QSFP112 InfiniBand NDR breakout AEC (up to 5m) - NVIDIA-focused

• 800G OSFP to 2×400G OSFP Ethernet breakout AEC (up to 5m) - NVIDIA-focused (with a generic fallback option)

Key Benefits of NSComm AEC Cables

• Cleaner PAM4 links: Retimers improve signal quality and reduce jitter.

• Reliable short-to-medium reach: Better stability than passive copper for 400G/800G.

• Plug-and-play deployment: No optics, no fiber patching, fewer parts to manage.

• High-density ready: Ideal for crowded AI racks and high-port-count switches.

• Breakout flexibility: Split 800G into multiple 400G/100G links for phased upgrades.

• NVIDIA-first approach: Built for mainstream NVIDIA Ethernet/InfiniBand fabrics.

Buying Guide for AEC

• Choose the network type:

  • Ethernet for leaf-spine / ToR switching and general data center networking

  • InfiniBand (NDR) for AI/HPC clusters that prioritize low-latency fabric performance

• Pick the interface: QSFP112, QSFP-DD, OSFP (finned-top vs flat-top where required).

• Decide straight vs breakout:

  • Straight cables for simple switch-to-switch or switch-to-NIC links

  • Breakouts to convert one high-speed port into multiple downstream links

• Select the coding: Default to NVIDIA for AI fabrics; keep Generic only as a backup.

• Confirm the topology: In-rack links, adjacent-rack links, ToR-to-server/GPU racks, leaf-to-spine.

• Get expert validation: We can help confirm port type, cage style, coding, and deployment plan.

Conclusion

The All Active Electrical Cables (AEC) Collection delivers a focused lineup of 400G and 800G retimed copper links, including breakout options for high-density designs. With NVIDIA-optimized compatibility, strong PAM4 signal integrity, and practical reach up to 5m, NSComm AEC cables are ideal for modern data centers and AI/HPC clusters that demand stability, speed, and simplified cabling.

⚡ Upgrade to retimed copper AEC for cleaner 400G/800G links-built for NVIDIA-scale networks.