A 10G DAC Cable, How Does It Differ From An AOC Cable?

1. What is a 10G SFP+ DAC active optical cable?

A 10G DAC high-speed cable consists of a dual-core copper wire and SFP+ connectors at both ends, allowing direct connection to active devices. DAC cables include passive and active DACs, both of which can directly transmit electrical signals via copper wires. The difference lies in that the former can transmit without signal modulation, while the latter incorporates electronic components within the optical transceiver to enhance the signal.

Generally, 10G SFP+ DACs are used in storage area networks, network-connected storage, and switching infrastructure I/O within storage servers, such as switches and routers, data center cabling, and high-density connections between infrastructure network devices.

2. What is a 10G SFP+ AOC active optical cable?

An AOC active optical cable is a communication cable that requires external power for photoelectric conversion during communication. It converts electrical signals into optical signals through optical transceivers at both ends of the cable and transmits them through optical fiber. 10G SFP+ AOC active optical cable specifically refers to an active optical cable with a transmission rate of 10Gbps and an SFP+ package. It operates at a wavelength of 850nm, is suitable for multimode fiber transmission, and has a maximum transmission distance of up to 300 meters on OM3 MMF. This type of cable not only offers high-speed transmission capabilities but also advantages such as small size, light weight, electromagnetic interference resistance, and low power consumption.

10G SFP+ AOC active optical cables are mainly used in 10Gb Ethernet, 4G and 8G Fibre Channel applications, high-performance computing clusters, servers, switches, storage, and host card adapters. Besides enterprise applications, they are also widely used for interconnection between set-top boxes and televisions.

3. 10G SFP+ DAC VS AOC Cable

In short-distance transmission solutions, 10G SFP+ AOC and 10G DAC are two common choices.

Transmission Distance

AOC can achieve a transmission distance of up to 300 meters, while DAC typically only supports transmission within 7 meters.

Transmission Medium

AOC uses fiber optic transmission, immune to electromagnetic interference; DAC uses copper cable, susceptible to electromagnetic interference.

Power Consumption

AOC consumes 1-2W, slightly higher than DAC (passive DACs consume close to 0W, active DACs less than 1W).

Size and Weight

AOC is approximately one-quarter and one-half the size and weight of DAC, respectively, facilitating cabling and transportation.

Cost

AOC is generally more expensive than DAC, but its advantages in long-distance transmission and interference resistance make it more cost-effective in certain scenarios.

When choosing, if the transmission distance is within 5 meters and cost and power consumption are strictly controlled, DAC cables are preferable.

If the transmission distance is between 5 and 100 meters, and electromagnetic interference resistance and lightweight cabling are required, AOC cables are a better choice.

Conclusion

10G SFP+ AOC active optical cable, as an efficient and stable short-distance transmission solution, has become an ideal choice in the field of network communication due to its advantages such as fast transmission, long-distance coverage, interference resistance, and low power consumption. Compared to DAC cables, AOC cables offer advantages in transmission distance and interference immunity, making them particularly suitable for interconnection needs within a range of 5 to 100 meters. With the continuous growth in data transmission demands, 10G SFP+ AOC active optical cables will play an increasingly important role in the future optical communication market.