DAC vs AOC vs Optical Transceiver: Data Center Interconnect Solutions Compared

30/04/2026 Langzhi Technology


Compare DAC direct attach copper, AOC active optical cable and pluggable optical transceivers for data center interconnects. Power, cost, distance and best use cases.

DAC vs AOC vs Optical Transceiver

DAC (Direct Attach Copper): Copper cable with integrated connectors. Lowest power (0.1-0.5W), lowest latency, shortest distance (≤7m), lowest cost. Best for within-rack server to ToR connections.

AOC (Active Optical Cable): Fiber cable with integrated optical engines. Low power (1-2.5W), medium distance (3-100m), lighter and thinner than DAC. Best for cross-rack connections.

Optical Transceiver + Fiber: Separate modules and patch cables. Flexible, longest distance (30m-120km+), highest flexibility. Best for long reach and mixed-rate environments.

Feature DAC AOC Transceiver
Distance ≤7m ≤100m ≤120km
Cost Lowest Medium Higher

Our SFP modules and fiber patch cables support all interconnect types.

Conclusion

Visit Langzhi Technology for DAC, AOC and transceiver solutions.



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