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CFP vs CFP2 vs CFP4 vs CFP8 Optical Transceivers: Key Differences

This article breaks down the key differences between CFP, CFP2, CFP4, and CFP8 optical transceivers commonly used in fiber optic networks.

CFP vs CFP2 vs CFP4 vs CFP8

Figure 1: Dimensions of CFP, CFP2, CFP4, and CFP8

The table below summarizes the specifications of each form factor:

SpecificationsCFPCFP2CFP4CFP8
Dimension (Width x Height x Depth in mm)82 x 13.6 x 144.841.5 x 12.4 x 107.521.5 x 9.5 x 9240 x 9.5 x 102
Number of pins used in electrical connection14810456124
DSPIntegrated DSP within packageNo DSP in package, depends on Host CardNo DSP in package, depends on Host CardNo DSP in package, depends on Host Card
Power usage<24 W<12 W<6 W24 W (Max.)
Number of lanes10 x 10G or 4 x 25G10 x 10G, 4 x 25G, 8 x 25G or 8 x 50G4x 10G or 4 x 25G16 x 25G, 8 x 50G

In essence, the progression from CFP to CFP8 represents a trend towards smaller size, lower power consumption, and higher bandwidth capabilities. While CFP had an integrated DSP, later versions rely on the host card for DSP functionality, offering greater flexibility.

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