MCIO Cable
- BC-DAI010 internal MCIO cables and related breakout assemblies.
- Twenty photographed straight, angled and branched reference configurations.
- 38-, 74-, 124- and 148-contact formats require drawing-level confirmation.
- Options include SlimSAS, Mini SAS HD, OCuLink, SATA and U.2 terminations.
- Passive wiring: no automatic protocol conversion or added host lanes.
- Specify pinout, sidebands, routing length and target channel performance for quotation.
Product Details
MCIO Cable Assemblies for Internal Board Connections
A cable can have the right connector and still be wrong for the system. Lane mapping, sideband wiring, exit direction and installed length all matter. BespokeCable offers BC-DAI010 MCIO configurations and related internal harnesses for engineers sourcing a repeatable connection, rather than a connector look-alike.
MCIO means Mini Cool Edge IO. The name is associated with the SFF-TA-1016 connector family; it does not mean that every assembly carries every protocol used by equipment with that connector. Start with your board documentation, then select the matching wiring and mechanical layout.
Series Specification and Ordering Scope
| Item | What to specify |
|---|---|
| Series | BC-DAI010; individual suffixes identify the pictured reference configurations. |
| Construction | Internal passive cable assemblies; straight, angled and breakout layouts shown below. |
| MCIO formats | 38, 74, 124 and 148 contacts are listed for the corresponding reference models. Confirm contact allocation and sidebands from the approved drawing. |
| Other terminations | Selected configurations use SFF-8654, Mini SAS HD, OCuLink, SATA data or U.2 interfaces. Match the precise mating part and pinout. |
| Performance | State the protocol and generation. Acceptance depends on the specific construction and complete host-to-endpoint channel. |
| Routing | Specify installed length, branch lengths, connector orientation and release-tab access. No single maximum length applies to every configuration. |
| Drive power | SATA data leads do not power drives. The U.2 reference includes a separate power branch needing a verified source and pinout. |
| Order definition | Confirm materials, conductor size, markings, inspection requirements, quantity and delivery terms in the quotation. |
Choose by Connection, Not Just Connector Shape
| Requirement | Starting reference |
|---|---|
| Matching MCIO ports | A/B for compact formats; C/D or R/S/T for larger assemblies, subject to the board contact and lane map. |
| Different connector families | E/H/I/K/N/O, with an agreed signal assignment and common supported protocol. |
| Separate SATA drives | F, with a host exposing the required storage channels; drive power is separate. |
| U.2 SSD | G, with the correct NVMe lane map and verified power connection. One drive connector is pictured. |
| MCIO fan-out | P or U, with supported host topology and defined branch allocation. |
| Limited clearance | L/M/S/T, selected from a marked mating-face and enclosure drawing. |
| Guarded termination | J, ordered by the actual connector drawing rather than its legacy label alone. |
These references are a selection guide, not a universal compatibility list. A passive cable changes the physical route and pin assignment; it does not translate SAS into PCIe or add SATA support to a PCIe-only port.
Compare other interconnect families in our SAS cable collection. For a conventional drive data lead, the SATA cable range may be a more direct starting point.
MCIO and Related Cable Configurations
Compare 20 photographed reference assemblies. Match the connector drawing, pinout and platform requirements before ordering; physical fit is not a compatibility guarantee.
P/N: BC-DAI010-A
Connect matching internal MCIO interfaces with a compact, latched assembly. The 38-contact format is a starting point for an x4 design, not proof of a particular PCIe generation. Send the connector number and sideband map so the cable matches the complete channel.
P/N: BC-DAI010-B
A wider MCIO assembly for an eight-lane routing requirement. Check host and endpoint pin assignments before selecting the length. The pictured latch and sleeved bundle identify this version; they do not establish GPU, CXL or server compatibility without the platform specification.
P/N: BC-DAI010-C
Choose the 124-contact assembly when your board drawing calls for this connector size. Contact allocation depends on high-speed pairs, grounds and sidebands. Specify the actual lane map rather than ordering from an x20 label alone, particularly when independent links share the assembly.
P/N: BC-DAI010-D
This larger MCIO format has a different contact arrangement from the compact versions. Match the receptacle, grounding and sideband requirements to the approved drawing. A high contact count does not by itself define a single PCIe x24 link or guarantee accelerator compatibility.
P/N: BC-DAI010-E
Route between the pictured SFF-8654 8i and MCIO formats when both ports carry compatible signals. This passive wiring assembly is not a SAS-to-PCIe converter. Provide both board manuals and the required signal map before choosing a production configuration and installed cable length.
P/N: BC-DAI010-F
Eight separately terminated SATA data leads route a compatible storage connection to individual drives. The MCIO-shaped source must expose the required SATA or supported SAS-controller channels. This harness does not turn a PCIe-only port into SATA, and each drive still needs separate power.
P/N: BC-DAI010-G
The photographed harness has one U.2 drive connector and a separate power-input branch, not eight U.2 outputs. Confirm the host lane allocation, SFF-8639 wiring and power-source pinout for your SSD. Do not connect an arbitrary power lead because its housing appears to fit.
P/N: BC-DAI010-H
Two OCuLink branches provide a physical fan-out from the pictured SlimSAS connector. Specify source protocol, branch assignment and any required PCIe bifurcation. The cable does not convert a SAS controller into a PCIe host or create additional lanes beyond those available at the source.
P/N: BC-DAI010-I
The reference shows paired Mini SAS HD connections and two OCuLink terminations. Confirm both source ports and each branch map against the drawing. Do not treat the paired block as an interchangeable single eight-lane port; establish protocol compatibility separately from mechanical fit.
P/N: BC-DAI010-J
This reference uses shrouded, latched terminations with pull tabs. The legacy SFF-8643 label alone is insufficient to identify the pictured mating interface, so order J against an approved connector drawing. The housing does not establish hot-plug support, damage-proof mating or a certified data rate.
P/N: BC-DAI010-K
Two Mini SAS HD branches offer a routing option for a compatible controller or backplane design. Check signal assignment, sidebands and host operating mode before ordering. A passive fan-out cannot add a protocol controller, PCIe switch or missing storage channels to the system.
P/N: BC-DAI010-L
Side-exit terminations can keep the bundle clear of a lid, fan or adjacent board. Define left and right from a marked mating-face drawing, since viewing direction changes the apparent orientation. Include latch access and the first supported bend in your enclosure review.
P/N: BC-DAI010-M
The angled connector provides a different cable exit from the straight reference assembly. Check connector height, board orientation and pull-tab access rather than choosing from a 90-degree description alone. Use a marked enclosure photo to show the required route and prevent reversed orientation.
P/N: BC-DAI010-N
Route two OCuLink branches where the host lane map supports the intended endpoints. Confirm branch labels, sideband wiring and firmware settings before installation. This internal assembly is not automatically an external OCuLink cable or a universal plug-and-play expansion connection for every matching receptacle.
P/N: BC-DAI010-O
Two SFF-8654 4i-style branches provide a compact route from the MCIO termination. Send the pin map for both ends and identify the intended protocol. Connector names alone cannot establish NVMe, SAS or SATA operation, and a passive cable cannot translate between those protocols.
P/N: BC-DAI010-P
Two smaller MCIO terminations distribute the available route into separate branches. For independent PCIe endpoints, confirm that the source supports the required split and sideband allocation. The harness supplies wiring only; it does not add bifurcation support or function as a PCIe switch.
P/N: BC-DAI010-R
The straight x16 reference suits layouts with room for the bundle to leave along the connector axis. Match contact count and sidebands to the board drawing. Select the final length from the installed route and channel requirements, not from a nominal lane-width label alone.
P/N: BC-DAI010-S
An angled x16 assembly can reduce interference where straight connectors crowd a cover or neighboring hardware. Confirm mating orientation and the connector envelope before sampling. The pictured geometry does not establish a common speed rating with every other MCIO cable in the series.
P/N: BC-DAI010-T
Opposing side-exit terminations provide another routing option for wide internal links. Mark both mating faces, cable direction and latch-access space on the drawing. This helps avoid approving a cable that fits electrically but cannot be installed or released once the chassis is assembled.
P/N: BC-DAI010-U
Route a wide connection into two MCIO branches using an agreed lane and sideband map. Where independent PCIe links are needed, the platform must support that topology. This passive assembly does not double bandwidth or replace the switch, controller or firmware configuration required by the design.
Plan the Breakout Before Ordering
The MCIO-to-dual-MCIO reference illustrates a physical branch arrangement, not an active switch. Establish host topology, lane assignment and sidebands first, then check branch reach and latch access in the enclosure.
A marked board drawing lets us discuss the right combination without guessing from a product name. Include both mating interfaces and the required channel performance with your inquiry.
MCIO means Mini Cool Edge IO. SFF-TA-1016 identifies the associated connector family. Neither the name nor mechanical fit alone establishes pinout, protocol or tested data rate.
No. These are passive wiring assemblies. They do not convert SAS into PCIe, USB4 or Ethernet, add a storage controller, or generate extra host lanes.
No. Confirm the exact assembly and complete channel against the required generation. PCIe 5.0 is 32 GT/s and PCIe 6.0 is 64 GT/s; a connector-family designation is not a performance report.
Use the board connector drawing and signal allocation. Grounds and sidebands affect the available arrangement. Do not order solely from an x20 or x24 label or assume it represents one standard PCIe link of that width.
No. F needs appropriate storage channels and wiring at the source. A PCIe-only MCIO port cannot become SATA through this passive harness. Supply drive power separately.
The reference photograph shows one U.2 drive connector and a separate power-input branch, not eight drive outputs. Confirm the host lane map, SSD interface and power-source pinout before ordering.
No. The host and firmware must support the topology, and the cable must route lanes and sidebands correctly. A passive split is not a PCIe switch and cannot enable unsupported independent links.
Not by itself. Both ports must expose compatible signals with a matching map. A connector adapter cannot translate SAS into PCIe. Provide the controller and endpoint documentation for review.
J shows guarded terminations and pull tabs. Its precise mating connector needs drawing-level confirmation because the legacy SFF-8643 description is insufficient to identify the pictured interface. Do not infer hot-plug capability or damage-proof mating from the housing.
There is no single qualified maximum for every reference model. Specify the protocol, generation, board channel and route. Agree the order-specific length and acceptance requirements before treating the assembly as suitable for the design.
Mark the mating face, latch position and desired exit on a drawing or enclosure photo. Include height and release-tab access. Left, right and downward descriptions can reverse when viewed from the opposite side.
F provides SATA data leads only. G has a separate power-input branch for its U.2 connection, but source voltage, pinout and load need confirmation. A matching housing alone is insufficient for a safe power connection.
Do not assume so. Confirm the internal or external interface, shielding, retention and equipment requirements. The pictured internal assemblies are not automatically interchangeable with a complete external cable system.
No common conductor, shielding or temperature specification is established by these photos. Define the selected assembly materials, environmental requirements and supporting evidence in the quotation.
Share the route, branch identifiers and orientation for review. Feasibility, samples, markings and production terms depend on the defined configuration; the reference photo alone does not establish them.
Send board and connector part numbers, protocol, lane width, sidebands, installed lengths, orientation, quantity and target acceptance evidence. Include drive power requirements for a U.2 harness.
For a new platform connection, sample validation is a practical step. Check installation, pin mapping and operation on the intended host and endpoints, including the required link rate. Agree acceptance criteria and sample terms before production.
Related Products
How to Specify an MCIO Cable Without Losing a Design Cycle
The frustrating failures are often quiet ones: a drive is missing, a link trains at a lower rate, or the connector fits but the lid no longer closes. A useful cable specification addresses those risks before the purchase order. It also gives purchasing a clear basis for comparing quotations that otherwise appear identical.
Identify Both Ports and Their Electrical Roles
Record the board and mating connector part numbers, host or endpoint role, protocol and required lane width. A SlimSAS, Mini SAS HD or MCIO housing does not tell you which signals the board designer assigned to it. If the boards do not expose compatible signals, a passive harness cannot resolve the mismatch.
For a SATA fan-out, identify whether the source is a SATA-capable controller or a compatible SAS controller. For NVMe, establish the PCIe route and required sidebands. Describing either project only as a storage cable leaves too much room for an incorrect assumption.
Separate Contact Count from Lane Allocation
Contacts may carry high-speed pairs, grounds and sideband signals. Larger MCIO formats can be used differently by different implementations. A 124- or 148-contact connector is therefore not, by itself, a promise of one standard PCIe x20 or x24 link. Put the actual arrangement and pin assignments on the drawing.
Breakouts need a branch map. Mark which lanes reach each termination and how reset, presence, management or other required signals are handled. For P and U configurations, verify the source can operate the intended independent links; a cable cannot enable an unsupported split in firmware.
Set a Channel Target, Not an Unqualified Speed Claim
PCIe 5.0 uses 32 GT/s signaling, while PCIe 6.0 uses 64 GT/s with PAM4. These generation-level rates are not measured application throughput and are not interchangeable with a generic 112 Gbps claim. Selecting the connector is only part of meeting a channel target.
Board traces, vias, mating interfaces and cable length all contribute to the channel. Define the required generation, topology and acceptance evidence for the ordered assembly. Qualification at one length or connector combination does not establish performance for every variant. A retimer, where required, is an active system component—not something a passive cable silently provides.
Review the Route in the Assembled Chassis
Measure the route rather than the straight-line distance between ports. Allow room for the connector body, first supported bend, latch release and service access. An angled plug can solve a clearance problem, but the wrong direction creates another. A photo marking both mating faces and the desired exit is more useful than the word right-angle alone.
Branch lengths should reach their destinations without pulling one connector while another is installed. Keep the bundle clear of sharp edges, fans and hot components. Request an order-specific bend requirement rather than assuming that sleeving makes the assembly suitable for repeated flexing.
Check Drive Power and Serviceability Separately
F carries SATA data, not drive power. G has one U.2 connector and a separate power input; that input must match the source, voltage rails and SSD load. Similar-looking modular power housings are not proof of a common pinout.
Power down before installation unless the complete platform expressly supports the intended service procedure. A pull tab or guarded housing does not make a connection hot-pluggable. Check that technicians can release the latch without pulling on conductors.
Turn a Reference Model into a Repeatable Order
Send the suffix, board manuals, connector drawings, lane and sideband map, installed lengths and quantity. Add target performance evidence, labels and inspection requirements. Sample availability and production terms can then be established against a defined configuration in the quotation.
The aim is simple: a cable that fits the enclosure, connects the intended signals and can be reordered against the same specification. Send your MCIO connection details to start with fewer assumptions.
Ready to Match Your MCIO Connection?
Send the board and connector part numbers, intended protocol, lane and sideband map, required lengths and quantity. A marked routing photo is useful when clearance or branch reach is tight.
Include the required performance evidence and drive power details where applicable. We can discuss the reference configuration and quotation terms against those requirements.
