NVIDIA Quantum QM8790
The NVIDIA Quantum QM8790 is an externally managed 1U HDR InfiniBand switch providing 40 ports of 200 Gb/s HDR InfiniBand QSFP56 (or 80 ports of 100 Gb/s HDR100). Delivering 16 Tbps of throughput with 130 nanoseconds latency and SHARPv2 acceleration, the QM8790 is built for large multi-tier InfiniBand fabrics managed centrally by NVIDIA UFM. It commands exceptional trading volume across secondary enterprise IT channels for AI supercomputing deployments.
Specifications
| Brand | NVIDIA |
|---|---|
| Family | Quantum |
| Form factor | 1U fixed switch |
| Released | Jun 2018 |
| Ports | 40x 200 Gb/s HDR InfiniBand QSFP56 ports (or 80x 100 Gb/s HDR100 ports) |
| Switching capacity | 16 Tbps non-blocking switching throughput |
| Latency | 130 nanoseconds cut-through latency |
| Management | Externally managed via centralized NVIDIA UFM or host Subnet Manager |
| Cooling and power | Dual hot-swappable AC or DC power supplies and reversible fan trays |
Generations
- Previous generation: NVIDIA Quantum Switch-IB 2 SB7890
- Next generation: NVIDIA Quantum-2 QM9790
Compatible parts
Cables
MCP1650-H003E30 NVIDIA HDR 200Gb/s QSFP56 Direct Attach Copper Cable 3m
Transceivers
MMA1T00-HS NVIDIA HDR 200Gb/s QSFP56 MPO Optical Transceiver
Works together
How the NVIDIA Quantum QM8790 connects to servers, storage and the network: 1 way, with the parts and products on each path.
GPU cluster fabric
InfiniBand adapters and switches must match the generation: HDR is 200Gb, NDR is 400Gb. VPI adapters such as ConnectX-6 and ConnectX-7 can run either InfiniBand or Ethernet.
Servers
HPE Apollo 6500 Gen10 4U rack
HPE ProLiant DL580 Gen10 4U rack
HPE ProLiant ML350 Gen10 4U tower
HPE Apollo 6500 Gen10 Plus 4U rack
Lenovo ThinkSystem SR860 V2 4U rack
Dell PowerEdge XE8545 4U rack
GPUs
NVIDIA Data Center GPU T4 PCIe low-profile half-height half-length
NVIDIA Data Center GPU Tesla V100 SXM2 32GB SXM2 module
NVIDIA Data Center GPU A100 SXM4 80GB SXM4 module
NVIDIA Data Center GPU A40 PCIe 4.0 dual-slot full-height full-length
Adapters for the server
MCX556A-ECAT NVIDIA ConnectX-5 VPI Dual-Port 100Gb/s EDR InfiniBand and 100GbE QSFP28 PCIe 3.0 x16 Adapter
MCX75310AAS-NEAT NVIDIA ConnectX-7 Single-Port 400Gb/s NDR InfiniBand and 400GbE OSFP PCIe 5.0 x16 Adapter
MCX755106AS-HEAT NVIDIA ConnectX-7 Dual-Port 200Gb/s NDR200 InfiniBand and 200GbE QSFP112 PCIe 5.0 x16 Adapter
540-BCVE Dell NVIDIA Mellanox ConnectX-6 VPI Single Port 200Gb/s HDR InfiniBand / 200GbE PCIe Adapter
Plan and size it
- Draw this setup in the topology planner mrplanb.com
- Tokens per kWh calculator for GPU racks rack-density.com
- Add up rack power and space rack-density.com
- Power, cooling and racks for dense GPU servers mrplanb.com
- Network monitoring tools compared mrplanb.com
Check compatibility with NVIDIA
Before you buy, confirm the exact configuration against the vendor's own lists: firmware levels, operating systems, adapters and optics that NVIDIA has tested with the NVIDIA Quantum QM8790.
- Compatibility NVIDIA Qualified System Catalog (certified GPU servers)
- Specifications NVIDIA Networking documentation (adapters, switches, cables)
- Support NVIDIA Enterprise Support
FAQ
Why is the QM8790 preferred in large AI clusters?
Large multi-tier fabrics utilize external Subnet Managers via NVIDIA UFM, making the unmanaged QM8790 more cost and power efficient.
Can the QM8790 interconnect with older EDR equipment?
Yes, QSFP56 ports can auto-negotiate to EDR 100 Gb/s speeds.
Buying or selling Quantum QM8790?
New, refurbished or used. Tell us the quantity and condition and we connect you with a vetted reseller in your region, usually within one working day.
Sources
- NVIDIA Quantum QM8790 Product Overview, checked 2026-10-27
- NVIDIA Quantum QM8790 Datasheet, checked 2026-10-27