DiLinKer SlimSAS 8X to SlimSAS 8X, SFF-8654 74pin to SFF-8654 74pin Cable 80cm
DiLinKer SlimSAS 8X to SlimSAS 8X, SFF-8654 74pin to SFF-8654 74pin Cable 80cm
A straight 8-lane link for SAS 4.0 and PCIe backplanes. The DiLinKer DLSL74-8815 is an 80 cm SlimSAS cable with a 74-pin SFF-8654 plug at each end, wired 8x to 8x. It carries eight lanes in one low-profile ribbon, so a single HBA port, RAID controller port or motherboard SlimSAS header can feed a full 8-bay backplane without eight discrete cables in the airflow path.
Why this cable
- SAS 4.0, 24 Gb/s per lane. Matches current tri-mode controllers and 24G SAS expanders, and runs 12G and 6G backplanes at their own negotiated speed.
- 8x to 8x, straight through. All eight lanes are passed 1:1 — the right cable for host-to-backplane links, where a fan-out cable would leave four lanes unused.
- 30 AWG ribbon construction. Thin, flexible and easy to dress in a 1U chassis where round bundles block airflow.
- Also carries PCIe. The same SFF-8654 8x link is used for PCIe x8 NVMe backplanes; at SAS 4.0 signal integrity this assembly is a comfortable match for Gen4 NVMe links.
- 80 cm working length. Reaches from a front HBA slot to a mid-chassis backplane in most 1U and 2U layouts.
- Passive, no firmware. No retimer or equaliser to power, nothing to configure.
Specifications
| Connector A | SlimSAS 8x, SFF-8654, 74-pin plug |
| Connector B | SlimSAS 8x, SFF-8654, 74-pin plug |
| Lanes | 8 (8x), straight 1:1 mapping |
| Interface speed | SAS 4.0, up to 24 Gb/s per lane; backward compatible with SAS 3.0 / 2.0 |
| PCIe support | PCIe x8 links (Gen3 / Gen4 deployments) |
| Wire gauge | 30 AWG |
| Cable type | Ribbon, low-profile |
| Length | 80 cm / 31.5 in |
| Part number | DLSL74-8815 |
| SKU | B0C6PC9L7M |
| Net weight | 68 g |
| Warranty | 24 months |
Compatibility
Works with
- Tri-mode and SAS 4.0 controllers with SlimSAS 8x (SFF-8654) ports, including the Broadcom 9600 and 9500 series HBAs.
- Server and workstation boards that expose SlimSAS 8x headers — common on AMD EPYC and Intel Xeon Scalable platforms with high drive counts.
- SAS and SATA backplanes with SFF-8654 8x inputs, and PCIe NVMe backplanes that use the same connector for x8 links.
- SAS 3.0 (12 Gb/s) and SAS 2.0 (6 Gb/s) equipment — the link negotiates down automatically.
Does not work with
- MCIO (SFF-TA-1016) headers. The two connectors look similar at this pin count but are different standards and will not mate.
- MiniSAS HD (SFF-8643) ports — that is the older 36-pin interface.
- Drives connected directly. This is a host-to-backplane cable; drives need a backplane or a fan-out cable.
- 4x (38-pin) SlimSAS ports. Use the 4x variant instead if your header is half-width.
Typical deployments
- HBA to 8-bay backplane. One 9600-series port drives eight SAS or SATA bays.
- Storage server rebuild with a newer board. Keep the existing SFF-8654 backplane and change only the host side.
- Dense 1U nodes. Ribbon construction keeps the cable out of the airflow path between the riser and the drive wall.
- PCIe NVMe expansion. Feed a SlimSAS-input NVMe backplane from a Gen4 x8 root port.
SlimSAS cable options
| Host port | Device side | Use when |
|---|---|---|
| SlimSAS 8x | SlimSAS 8x | This product — host to backplane, 8 lanes end to end |
| SlimSAS 8x | 2 × U.2 (SFF-8639) | Two NVMe drives without a backplane (U.2 cables) |
| SlimSAS 8x | 2 × MiniSAS HD | Keeping an older SFF-8643 backplane (MiniSAS HD cables) |
| MCIO 8x | SlimSAS 8x | Your board uses MCIO rather than SlimSAS (MCIO cables) |
Frequently asked questions
What does "8x to 8x" mean, and why not a fan-out cable?
It means all eight lanes go in one end and come out the other, one lane per lane. A fan-out cable (for example 8x to 2 × 4x, or 8x to 8 × SATA) splits those lanes across several device connectors. Use straight-through when the device is a single 8-lane backplane; use a fan-out when the device is individual drives or 4-lane connectors.
Can I use this cable for PCIe NVMe instead of SAS?
Yes. SFF-8654 carries both SAS and PCIe, and 8-lane SlimSAS is a common input on PCIe NVMe backplanes. Deployments are typically Gen3 or Gen4. For PCIe 5.0 links, confirm the signal budget with your backplane vendor first — a passive 80 cm assembly at 32 GT/s leaves very little margin.
Will a 12G SAS backplane work with a 24G controller?
Yes. The link negotiates to the slowest component, so a 24G HBA with a 12G backplane and 12G drives runs at 12 Gb/s. The cable itself does not limit the link.
Do I need to check the pinout before buying?
For a straight host-to-backplane link on standard equipment, no — both ends follow the SFF-8654 8x pinout. If your backplane comes from a system vendor that re-purposes the connector, send us the model and we will check the lane order with you before you order.
What is the difference between SlimSAS and MiniSAS HD?
SlimSAS is SFF-8654: 74-pin for 8 lanes, 38-pin for 4 lanes, designed for SAS 4.0 and high-density PCIe. MiniSAS HD is SFF-8643: 36-pin, 4 lanes, the previous generation. They are not compatible; the board and backplane must both use the same standard.
Is the 80 cm version available in other lengths?
Yes, this cable is also stocked in 70 cm for shorter 1U runs. If you need a length that is not listed, contact us — short custom lengths are usually available from stock production.
In the box
- 1 × SlimSAS 8x to SlimSAS 8x cable, 80 cm (DLSL74-8815)
Backed by a 24-month warranty. Cables are tested for continuity and shorts before packing; if a link fails to train, contact us with your controller and backplane models and we will help you isolate the cause.
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