DiLinKer MCIO x8 to 2*SlimSAS x4, SFF-TA-1016 74Pin to 2*SFF-8654 38Pin, PCIe Gen5 Mini Cooledge IO, Double Straight Cable 80cm
DiLinKer MCIO x8 to 2*SlimSAS x4, SFF-TA-1016 74Pin to 2*SFF-8654 38Pin, PCIe Gen5 Mini Cooledge IO, Double Straight Cable 80cm
A PCIe 5.0 bridge between the two newest internal storage connectors. The DiLinKer DLMC74-8871 takes one MCIO 8x host connector (SFF-TA-1016, 74-pin) and splits its eight lanes into two SlimSAS 4x ports (SFF-8654, 38-pin), four lanes each. Use it to feed SlimSAS-generation backplanes and devices from a board that only exposes MCIO headers — increasingly the case on current PCIe 5.0 platforms.
Why this cable
- PCIe 5.0 rated, 32 GT/s per lane. Two full x4 links, each up to about 15.75 GB/s, with backward compatibility to Gen4 and Gen3.
- 8 lanes in, 2 × x4 out. A physical lane split — no switch chip, no retimer, nothing to configure in the OS.
- Built to the SFF pinouts. SFF-TA-1016 on the host side, SFF-8654 38-pin on the device side.
- Double straight construction. Both legs leave the host connector as separate straight runs for clean routing.
- Passive assembly. No power draw, no firmware, no driver.
Specifications
| Host connector | MCIO 8x, SFF-TA-1016, 74-pin |
| Device connectors | 2 × SlimSAS 4x, SFF-8654, 38-pin |
| Lane configuration | 8 host lanes → 2 × 4 device lanes |
| PCIe generation | PCIe 5.0 (32 GT/s per lane); backward compatible with 4.0 / 3.0 |
| Bandwidth per port | Up to 128 GT/s (about 15.75 GB/s at Gen5 x4) |
| Protocol | PCIe only — the MCIO host port carries no SAS or SATA |
| Length | 80 cm / 31.5 in |
| Part number | DLMC74-8871 |
| SKU | B0DPMCPHPD |
| Warranty | 24 months |
Compatibility
Works with
- PCIe 5.0 server and workstation boards with an MCIO 8x (SFF-TA-1016 74-pin) header.
- SlimSAS 4x (38-pin) inputs on NVMe backplanes, U.2 adapters and drive cages.
- PCIe 4.0 and 3.0 equipment — links negotiate down automatically.
Does not work with
- SlimSAS hosts. This cable is driven from the MCIO side only.
- SAS-only controllers. The MCIO port carries PCIe lanes, so SAS backplanes fed from an SAS controller need a SAS cable.
- OEM systems that re-map the MCIO pinout (some Dell, HPE and Lenovo chassis) — check with us first.
Typical deployments
- Gen5 NVMe tier. Feed a SlimSAS-input NVMe backplane from a Gen5 board without a switch card.
- Board refresh. Keep SlimSAS-generation storage hardware when the new platform only has MCIO headers.
- Dense chassis routing. Two straight 4x legs are easier to dress than one 8x bundle.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to enable PCIe bifurcation?
If the board wires the MCIO 8x header as a single x8 root port, yes — enable x4x4 bifurcation for that header in the BIOS. Many server boards already present the header as 2 × x4 or drive it from a PCIe switch, in which case no setting is needed. The board manual will say which.
Is 80 cm too long for PCIe 5.0?
At 32 GT/s, long passive runs leave little signal margin. If a link trains below Gen5, shorten the run, improve routing, or accept Gen4 operation — the hardware negotiates automatically and nothing is damaged.
Can this cable carry SAS?
No. SlimSAS the connector can carry SAS, but your MCIO host port only carries PCIe lanes, so the device side must be PCIe equipment such as an NVMe backplane.
MCIO or SlimSAS — which one is on my board?
Check the header: MCIO (SFF-TA-1016) has a distinct housing and latch from SlimSAS (SFF-8654). Send us a photo of the header if you are unsure and we will identify it.
In the box
- 1 × MCIO 8x to 2 × SlimSAS 4x cable, 80 cm (SKU B0DPMCPHPD)
Backed by a 24-month warranty. If a link trains at reduced width or does not appear, contact us with your controller and device models and we will help you isolate the cause.
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