Type: MCIO (Mini Cool Edge IO) 78-pin Gen4 to 2X SlimSAS 4i (SFF-8654) Y Cable
Length: 100CM (1 meter)
Data Rate: Supports PCIe Gen4 (16GT/s per lane), compatible with lower speeds (Gen3)
Connectors:
One end: MCIO 74-pin (male) – typically plugs into a RAID card, HBA, or motherboard header
Other end: 2X SlimSAS 4i (SFF-8654) – connects to backplanes, U.2/U.3 NVMe SSDs, or SAS expanders
Shielding: Usually high-quality shielded cables to minimize interference and maintain signal integrity
Cable Type: Passive copper cable, not active
Uses:
Connecting RAID/HBA Controllers to Storage Backplanes
Common in server environments where high-throughput connections are needed for multiple drives (SAS or NVMe).
NVMe U.2 / U.3 SSD Connections
When using an MCIO-equipped host to directly connect to NVMe SSDs via SlimSAS.
Upgrading Enterprise Storage Solutions
Used in high-density storage solutions where space and bandwidth efficiency are key.
OEM and Custom Server Builds
Popular in OEM server builds or custom server configurations that need PCIe Gen4 speeds and compact cabling.