PCIe X16 to 2x MCIO 8X Splitter Cable Assembly – VTC-APEBEOP3HC02-K2

The VITALCONN VTC-APEBEOP3HC02-K2 is a high-speed PCIe X16 to dual MCIO 8X bifurcation cable assembly. Supports PCIe 5.0 at 32 GT/s per lane, splits a single x16 host port into two independent x8 links. Built with 30 AWG silver-plated copper conductors, 85 ohm controlled impedance, and full-length shielding. Ideal for dual-GPU direct-attach, NVMe storage expansion, and OCP multi-node server architectures.

Product Type	PCIe X16 to 2x MCIO 8X Splitter Cable
Protocol	PCIe 5.0 (backward compatible 4.0/3.0/2.0/1.0)
Data Rate	32 GT/s per lane
Bifurcation	x16 to 2x x8
Input Connector	1x PCIe X16 Male (standard key)
Output Connector	2x MCIO 8X (SFF-TA-1016)
Conductor	30 AWG Silver-plated Copper
Differential Impedance	85±5Ω
Shielding	Per-pair Al foil + overall tinned-copper braid
Jacket	PVC (LSZH optional)
Cable Length	0.3 m / 0.5 m / 0.8 m (OEM 0.1-1.5 m)
Operating Temperature	-20°C to +85°C
Locking	PCIe X16 latch + MCIO micro-latch
Compliance	RoHS Compliant, REACH, PCIe-SIG

The VTC-APEBEOP3HC02-K2 is a high-performance PCIe X16 to 2x MCIO 8X splitter cable assembly designed for next-generation server, AI, and high-performance computing platforms. One end terminates to a standard PCIe X16 (male) edge-card connector that plugs into the host motherboard, riser card, or backplane; the other end fans out to two independent MCIO 8X (SFF-TA-1016) connectors, each carrying 8 PCIe lanes.

The cable provides a clean, loss-engineered path to split a single PCIe x16 host port into two independent x8 links (x16 → 2x x8 bifurcation), supporting high-end GPUs, NVMe EDSFF storage, or smart NICs. Built with 30 AWG silver-plated copper conductors, tightly controlled 85 ohm differential impedance, and a dual-layer shielding scheme (per-pair aluminum foil + overall tinned copper braid), it sustains 32 GT/s signaling (PCIe 5.0) over 0.3 m to 0.8 m typical runs while suppressing crosstalk and EMI to levels required by hyperscale and OCP deployments.

Both connector ends feature positive-locking latches for vibration-resistant mating. The cable jacket uses durable PVC (LSZH optional) for mechanical protection in dense server chassis. Custom lengths, gauge, and jacket materials are available on request. Explore the VITALCONN High Speed Cable family for related interconnects. MCIO connector dimensions follow the SFF Committee SFF-TA-1016 style specification.

PCIe X16 to 2x MCIO 8X Splitter Cable Specifications

Part Number: VTC-APEBEOP3HC02-K2
Product Type: PCIe X16 to 2x MCIO 8X Splitter Cable Assembly
Input Connector: 1x PCIe X16 (PCI-SIG standard keying, male edge-card)
Output Connectors: 2x MCIO 8X (SFF-TA-1016, 38-position typical, 8 differential pairs each)
Bifurcation: PCIe x16 to 2x PCIe x8 (x8+x8 mode, requires BIOS/CPU bifurcation support)
Protocol Support: PCIe 5.0 (backward compatible with PCIe 4.0 / 3.0 / 2.0 / 1.0)
Data Rate: 32 GT/s per lane (PCIe 5.0)
Aggregate Bandwidth: Up to ~64 GB/s uni-directional per MCIO 8X port, ~128 GB/s bi-directional
Conductor Material: 30 AWG silver-plated copper
Differential Impedance: 85 ± 5 Ω (PCIe-compliant)
Shielding: Per-pair aluminum foil + overall tinned-copper braid
Jacket Material: PVC (LSZH optional)
Cable Length: OEM custom (typical 0.3 m / 0.5 m / 0.8 m)
Operating Temperature: -20°C to +85°C
Storage Temperature: -40°C to +85°C
Locking Mechanism: PCIe X16 standard latch + MCIO micro-latch (both ends)
Compliance: RoHS Compliant, REACH, PCIe-SIG compliant signaling

Key Features

PCIe 5.0 Ready — 32 GT/s

Engineered to transmit 32 GT/s per lane (PCIe 5.0) over 0.3–0.8 m runs while preserving signal integrity; backward compatible with PCIe 4.0/3.0/2.0/1.0 for legacy platforms.

Clean x16 → 2x x8 Bifurcation

Splits a single host PCIe x16 port into two independent x8 links for dual-GPU, dual-NVMe, or mixed accelerator topologies — no extra riser board required.

High-Density MCIO 8X Output

Each MCIO 8X (SFF-TA-1016) connector carries 8 differential pairs plus sideband signals in a compact footprint — ideal for dense server backplanes and EDSFF storage trays.

85Ω Controlled Impedance

Tight 85±5Ω differential impedance match minimizes reflection and inter-symbol interference, sustaining BER well below 1e-12 at PCIe 5.0 rates.

30 AWG Silver-Plated Copper

Silver-plated copper conductors reduce skin-effect loss at high frequencies and improve long-term reliability versus bare copper at elevated temperatures.

Multi-Layer Shielding

Per-pair aluminum foil plus overall tinned-copper braid suppress alien crosstalk and external EMI in dense, multi-cable server chassis.

Positive Locking — Both Ends

PCIe X16 standard latch and MCIO micro-latch ensure vibration-resistant mating, surviving shock and vibration typical of rack-mounted and edge deployments.

Custom Lengths & Materials

Standard lengths 0.3 / 0.5 / 0.8 m in stock; OEM lengths (0.1–1.5 m) and LSZH jacket available on request to match your chassis routing.

Packing Details

Standard Length Options: 0.3 m, 0.5 m, 0.8 m (custom 0.1–1.5 m on request)
Individual Packing: Anti-static PE bag per cable
Outer Carton: 50 pcs / carton (length-dependent)
Carton Labeling: VITALCONN part number, lot number, quantity, date code
Documents Included: Compliance certificate (RoHS), inspection report, optional custom datasheet

PCIe X16 to 2x MCIO 8X Splitter Cable Applications

The PCIe X16 to 2x MCIO 8X splitter cable is used wherever a single x16 host slot must drive two independent x8 devices:

Dual-GPU direct-attach in 1U/2U AI inference and training servers (e.g. NVIDIA A16, A40, RTX 6000 Ada; AMD data-center GPUs in x8 mode)
NVMe storage expansion — dual x8 EDSFF / E1.S / E3.S backplanes from a single host x16 slot
OCP open-rack multi-node interconnects — compute-to-storage or compute-to-accelerator
Smart NIC and DPU offload cards (Mellanox ConnectX-6/7, BlueField) in x8 mode
FPGA acceleration cards and high-channel-count RAID HBAs
Test, validation, and protocol-analyzer platforms requiring simultaneous dual x8 capture
AI server and HPC cluster builds needing cable-managed bifurcation without riser boards

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What is the new VTC-APEBEOP3HC02-K2 model number based on?

A: The VTC-APEBEOP3HC02-K2 is VITALCONN’s house-branded version of an industry-standard PCIe X16 to 2x MCIO 8X splitter cable. The “VTC-” prefix indicates VITALCONN’s OEM product family, and the “-K2” suffix denotes our second internal revision (cable jacket, strain relief, and QC process improvements over K1).

Q: What does “x16 to 2x x8 bifurcation” mean?

A: Bifurcation means a single physical PCIe x16 slot is electrically split into two independent x8 links. The motherboard BIOS and CPU must support bifurcation (commonly exposed as “x8x8” in BIOS). Once enabled, this cable routes 8 lanes to each MCIO 8X port, each behaving as a fully independent PCIe 5.0 x8 link.

Q: Are the two MCIO 8X outputs fully independent?

A: Yes. Each MCIO 8X output has its own 8-lane differential channel and sideband signals, so the two outputs are isolated PCIe links. They do not share bandwidth, and either can be used or left disconnected independently.

Q: What is MCIO 8X and how does it differ from SlimSAS?

A: MCIO (SFF-TA-1016) is the next-generation high-density internal I/O connector defined for PCIe 5.0/6.0 systems. It supports up to 85Ω differential signaling at 32 GT/s and beyond, with a smaller footprint and better SI than SlimSAS. MCIO 8X carries 8 differential pairs and is the standard EDSFF / E1.S / E3.S backplane interface for hyperscale servers.

Q: Can I use this cable for PCIe 4.0 or 3.0 systems?

A: Yes. The cable is fully backward compatible — it will auto-negotiate to the highest common rate between the host and the endpoint (PCIe 5.0 / 4.0 / 3.0 / 2.0 / 1.0) on each link. Older systems benefit from the same mechanical build and shielding quality.

Q: Is custom length and labeling available?

A: Yes. VITALCONN offers OEM custom lengths from 0.1 m to 1.5 m, optional LSZH jacket, custom labeling (your PN + barcode), and even custom pinout variations for specialized backplanes. Contact sales for MOQ and lead time.

Q: Do I need a special riser card or backplane?

A: The cable connects directly to a standard PCIe x16 slot on the host side and to any MCIO 8X receptacle on the device side. For GPUs that use a PCIe edge connector, pair each MCIO 8X output with a “MCIO 8X to PCIe x8” riser card (available from VITALCONN as a separate SKU).

Q: Where can I order this PCIe X16 to 2x MCIO 8X splitter cable?
A: Contact VITALCONN (www.vitalconn.com) with the part number above. Samples, OEM custom lengths, and volume pricing for this PCIe X16 to 2x MCIO 8X splitter cable are available with typical lead times of 2-4 weeks.