The difference between AOC cables and DAC cables
600 2022-08-09

QSFP28-100G-DAC 240G AOC 2

AOC (Active Optical Cable) and DAC (Direct Attached Cable) are both used for data center short distance server interconnection and server switch interconnection. There are some key differences between the two.

Power Consumption

The maximum power consumption of AOC active cable is lower than that of DAC high-speed cable.

Transmission Distances

The maximum power consumption of AOC active cabThe transmission distance of AOC active optical cable (OM3) is generally longer compared with DAC, some up to 100m, while that of DAC high-speed cable is generally limited to approximately 7m.

Transmission Media

AOC active optical cable adopts optical fiber material (insulation), which belongs to optical fiber communication and is not interfered by electromagnetic wave. The DAC high-speed cable is made of copper wire, which belongs to electrical communication and will be subject to electromagnetic interference.

Transmission Signals

The transmission signal of AOC active optical cable is optical signal, while that of DAC high-speed cable is low-voltage pulse signal.

Pricing: The price of optical fiber material is generally higher than that of copper cable, primarily due to the modules at both ends of active optical cable contain lasers, while DAC high-speed cable does not.

Volume and Weight

With the same length, the weight of AOC active optical cable is about 1/4 of that of DAC high-speed cable, and its volume is about 1/2 that of DAC high-speed cable, making installation and transportation more convenient.

Transmission Performance

The bit error rate of AOC active cable is lower than that of DAC high-speed cable.

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