5GbE and beyond ethernet adapters

[xiaofan]

Intel E610 chipset for low power 10Gbe NIC.

Intel E610-XT2, PCIe Gen4 x4 with two RJ45 ports support 10GbE, 5GbE, 2.5GbE, and 1GbE. At full dual 10Gbase-T speeds, this card is rated at only 5.1W.

They also have quad 2.5Gbe NIC based on the E610 chipset, Intel E610-IT4 in an OCP NIC 3.0 form factor (SFF with pull tab in this case).

https://www.servethehome.com/new-intel-e610-nics-shown-for-low-power-10gbase-t-and-2-5gbe/

 

[guangzong]

Intel E610 chipset for low power 10Gbe NIC.

Intel E610-XT2, PCIe Gen4 x4 with two RJ45 ports support 10GbE, 5GbE, 2.5GbE, and 1GbE. At full dual 10Gbase-T speeds, this card is rated at only 5.1W.

They also have quad 2.5Gbe NIC based on the E610 chipset, Intel E610-IT4 in an OCP NIC 3.0 form factor (SFF with pull tab in this case).

https://www.servethehome.com/new-intel-e610-nics-shown-for-low-power-10gbase-t-and-2-5gbe/

I saw this a few days ago. It costs $600+ retail

 

[Boomboomshaketheroom]

I am thinking of getting 10g internet but my pc has max 2.5g ethernet

I have no more PCIe as my gpu eats up all the space

Would one of those usb4 external cards from taobao work fine for just gaming? Nothing critical .. as long as I can get stable ping and not disconnect while gaming.

I do download stuff once in awhile too but nothing important

 

[Able]

A few weeks earlier, I had issues with my TP-Link TX401 10Gbps network adapter, which I temporarily resolved by tweaking the advanced settings. After my upgrade to 10Gbps plan and with the new Asus RT-BE88U router, I reverted the TX401 to its default configuration, and it now performs flawlessly—even under stress tests. I don’t know if my previous “request timed out” problem with TX401was related to the old ONR.

 

[xiaofan]

I am thinking of getting 10g internet but my pc has max 2.5g ethernet

I have no more PCIe as my gpu eats up all the space

Would one of those usb4 external cards from taobao work fine for just gaming? Nothing critical .. as long as I can get stable ping and not disconnect while gaming.

I do download stuff once in awhile too but nothing important

Gaming does not need high bandwidth. Latency is more important.

2.5Gbe or 1Gbps is perfectly fine for gaming.

 

[froztheart]

Gaming does not need high bandwidth. Latency is more important.

2.5Gbe or 1Gbps is perfectly fine for gaming.

Facts, this is what's important, unless when downloading patches/updates which also relys on external factors mainly too.

 

[soreloser]

Gaming does not need high bandwidth. Latency is more important.

2.5Gbe or 1Gbps is perfectly fine for gaming.

any reliable 2.5Gbe pcie cards to recommend? My motherboard ethernet died recently and a lot of different opinions online on whats good and whats not, really confusing

 

[xiaofan]

any reliable 2.5Gbe pcie cards to recommend? My motherboard ethernet died recently and a lot of different opinions online on whats good and whats not, really confusing

Anything using Intel I226-V should be fine.

 

[soreloser]

Anything using Intel I226-V should be fine.

where do you buy it from? I don't see much options for the I226-V locally, there's a TP-Link TX201 2.5G for $50 on lazada but it doesn't say what chip it is using

 

[xiaofan]

where do you buy it from? I don't see much options for the I226-V locally, there's a TP-Link TX201 2.5G for $50 on lazada but it doesn't say what chip it is using

Probably Taobao is easier.

1) Intel I226-V chipset 2.5Gbe

Example: XikeStor brand, RMB 84 now
【淘宝】假一赔四 https://e.tb.cn/h.h8sWtudG1YG4A3t?tk=Uw5m4cIPyRT CZ057 「兮克2.5G电口网卡PCIE内置网卡Intel英特尔I226芯片高速传输电脑台式机服务器可用」
点击链接直接打开 或者 淘宝搜索直接打开

Another one from Fenvi at RMB 81.

【淘宝】假一赔四 https://e.tb.cn/h.h8fxqoZnTVtR27h?tk=itUp4csTxNU CZ057 「PCIE转RJ45有线网卡台式机电脑2.5G单口双口四口千兆万兆服务器群晖DS923网卡超高速游戏电竞直播内置」
点击链接直接打开 或者 淘宝搜索直接打开

2) RealTek 8125B 2.5Gbe NIC is cheaper and should work fine as well for most users.

RealTek 8126 5Gbe NIC is also pretty cheap even though the performance may be a bit below 5Gbps (you can refer to test results in this thread).

Example from IOcrest:

RTL8125B based 2.5Gbe at RMB 49
RTL8126 based 5Gbe at RMB 79

【淘宝】假一赔四 https://e.tb.cn/h.h8TEGGUzVrEXOoA?tk=6Ih24cIpVo5 MF287 「乐扩PCIE2.5G网卡8125B台式机网络适配器千兆有线网口 2500M/1000M自适应 高速游戏电竞RJ45接口无盘PXE启动」
点击链接直接打开 或者 淘宝搜索直接打开

 

[lhseong]

any reliable 2.5Gbe pcie cards to recommend? My motherboard ethernet died recently and a lot of different opinions online on whats good and whats not, really confusing

It depend on what you need. If your home network is 1G base, then buy any gigabit adapter will do.
For 2.5G/5G adapter, do look for those with metal casing that could help heat dissipation.

 

[xiaofan]

Test done with low power Intel N100 CPU based mini PCs and Singtel 5Gbps internet

1) Mini PC 1 with quad 2.5Gbe NICs
2.5Gbe Intel I226-V chipset NIC -- virtualized using Proxmox, without passthrough, behind virtualized OpenWRT main router and Asus TUF-BE6500, no problem with 2.5Gbe performance.

root@ubuntu2204ct01:~/ookla# ./speedtest

   Speedtest by Ookla

      Server: Singtel - Singapore (id: 13623)
         ISP: Singtel Fibre
Idle Latency:     3.87 ms   (jitter: 3.59ms, low: 2.15ms, high: 9.45ms)
    Download:  2337.55 Mbps (data used: 1.1 GB)                                                   
                 36.59 ms   (jitter: 42.50ms, low: 1.96ms, high: 378.14ms)
      Upload:  2347.20 Mbps (data used: 2.8 GB)                                                   
                  3.21 ms   (jitter: 0.47ms, low: 1.19ms, high: 4.42ms)
 Packet Loss:     0.0%
  Result URL: https://www.speedtest.net/result/c/6fd2ea7c-385b-4959-a72d-642271ed87a8

2) Mini PC2 with dual 10G SFP+ ports and dual 2.5Gbe RJ45 NICs
Intel 82599ES chipset based 10Gbe SFP+ NIC and SFP+ to 10G RJ45 copper module, virtualized with Proxmox and behind virtualized OpenWRT main router running on the same Intel N100 mini PC, without passthrough.

No problem with 5Gbps internet. I believe it also works with 10Gbps internet even though I will recommend to use a mini PC with a bit more powerful CPU if running Proxmox.

root@debianct21r1:~# ./speedtest

   Speedtest by Ookla

      Server: Singtel - Singapore (id: 13623)
         ISP: Singtel Fibre
Idle Latency:     1.61 ms   (jitter: 0.18ms, low: 1.37ms, high: 1.86ms)
    Download:  5556.70 Mbps (data used: 2.5 GB)                                                   
                  2.79 ms   (jitter: 0.77ms, low: 1.39ms, high: 6.12ms)
      Upload:  4933.40 Mbps (data used: 2.5 GB)                                                   
                  2.27 ms   (jitter: 0.19ms, low: 1.18ms, high: 2.83ms)
 Packet Loss:     0.0%
  Result URL: https://www.speedtest.net/result/c/a93384f6-b385-453d-a6f4-a2b968e8bdfb

 

[soreloser]

Test done with low power Intel N100 CPU based mini PCs and Singtel 5Gbps internet

1) Mini PC 1 with quad 2.5Gbe NICs
2.5Gbe Intel I226-V chipset NIC -- virtualized using Proxmox, without passthrough, behind virtualized OpenWRT main router and Asus TUF-BE6500, no problem with 2.5Gbe performance.

root@ubuntu2204ct01:~/ookla# ./speedtest

   Speedtest by Ookla

      Server: Singtel - Singapore (id: 13623)
         ISP: Singtel Fibre
Idle Latency:     3.87 ms   (jitter: 3.59ms, low: 2.15ms, high: 9.45ms)
    Download:  2337.55 Mbps (data used: 1.1 GB)                                                 
                 36.59 ms   (jitter: 42.50ms, low: 1.96ms, high: 378.14ms)
      Upload:  2347.20 Mbps (data used: 2.8 GB)                                                 
                  3.21 ms   (jitter: 0.47ms, low: 1.19ms, high: 4.42ms)
 Packet Loss:     0.0%
  Result URL: https://www.speedtest.net/result/c/6fd2ea7c-385b-4959-a72d-642271ed87a8

2) Mini PC2 with dual 10G SFP+ ports and dual 2.5Gbe RJ45 NICs
Intel 82599ES chipset based 10Gbe SFP+ NIC and SFP+ to 10G RJ45 copper module, virtualized with Proxmox and behind virtualized OpenWRT main router running on the same Intel N100 mini PC, without passthrough.

No problem with 5Gbps internet. I believe it also works with 10Gbps internet even though I will recommend to use a mini PC with a bit more powerful CPU if running Proxmox.

root@debianct21r1:~# ./speedtest

   Speedtest by Ookla

      Server: Singtel - Singapore (id: 13623)
         ISP: Singtel Fibre
Idle Latency:     1.61 ms   (jitter: 0.18ms, low: 1.37ms, high: 1.86ms)
    Download:  5556.70 Mbps (data used: 2.5 GB)                                                 
                  2.79 ms   (jitter: 0.77ms, low: 1.39ms, high: 6.12ms)
      Upload:  4933.40 Mbps (data used: 2.5 GB)                                                 
                  2.27 ms   (jitter: 0.19ms, low: 1.18ms, high: 2.83ms)
 Packet Loss:     0.0%
  Result URL: https://www.speedtest.net/result/c/a93384f6-b385-453d-a6f4-a2b968e8bdfb

I just installed it but cant detect in BIOS (PCIE Slot 4 on the X870 Aorus Elite Wifi7) SSDs installed in the top and bottom slot so lane sharing not affected. Lights on the port is on and everything but device manager also don't have. Seems like i plugged it in all the way already:

 

[xiaofan]

I just installed it but cant detect in BIOS (PCIE Slot 4 on the X870 Aorus Elite Wifi7) SSDs installed in the top and bottom slot so lane sharing not affected. Lights on the port is on and everything but device manager also don't have. Seems like i plugged it in all the way already:

Which network card did you buy in the end?

Cannot help you much here and you have to figured out by yourself.

Howver, just looking at the picture, it seems to me that you did not install it correctly. It should be fully seated in the PCIe slot and the bracket should be flushed with the chassis slot.

Or maybe you buy the wrong network adapter (low profile half height PCIe card?) which is meant to be used with a NAS or things like that.

 

[soreloser]

Which network card did you buy in the end?

Cannot help you much here and you have to figured out by yourself.

Howver, just looking at the picture, it seems to me that you did not install it correctly. It should be fully seated in the PCIe slot and the bracket should be flushed with the chassis slot.

Or maybe you buy the wrong network adapter (low profile half height PCIe card?) which is meant to be used with a NAS or things like that.

I bought the one linked here https://e.tb.cn/h.h8sWtudG1YG4A3t?tk=Uw5m4cIPyRT , however the chip on it that says W I S E in the picture is HQST instead. Is this supposed to be used with a NAS?

 

[xiaofan]

I bought the one linked here https://e.tb.cn/h.h8sWtudG1YG4A3t?tk=Uw5m4cIPyRT , however the chip on it that says W I S E in the picture is HQST instead. Is this supposed to be used with a NAS?

The "WISE" or "HQST" thingy is the transformer. The chipset is under the heat sink. Since you buy from the official Xikestor shop, the adapter should be correct.

From the descriptions, it should come with two types of brackets -- half height bracket (80x18mm) and full height bracket (120x18mm). You have to change to the full height bracket.

Contact the vendor if it only comes with the half height bracket.

You may also need to download the device driver if Windows does not have the built-in driver.
Xikestor has the 30.1 version and Intel website has version 30.3. So you may want to go with Intel site to download.

http://visit.xikestor.com:6555/app/file-en/new_download.html

Network Card->PCIe NIC->SKS-I226-2.5ET (version 30.1 now)​

https://www.intel.com/content/www/u...el-ethernet-adapter-complete-driver-pack.html (version 30.3 now).

 

[1 Ghz]

RTL8127 card is now available for sale. (35 USD for 1 sample + 4.44 USD for shipping)

Uses PCIE 4.0 x1 slot.

 

[soreloser]

The "WISE" or "HQST" thingy is the transformer. The chipset is under the heat sink. Since you buy from the official Xikestor shop, the adapter should be correct.

From the descriptions, it should come with two types of brackets -- half height bracket (80x18mm) and full height bracket (120x18mm). You have to change to the full height bracket.

Contact the vendor if it only comes with the half height bracket.

You may also need to download the device driver if Windows does not have the built-in driver.
Xikestor has the 30.1 version and Intel website has version 30.3. So you may want to go with Intel site to download.

http://visit.xikestor.com:6555/app/file-en/new_download.html

Network Card->PCIe NIC->SKS-I226-2.5ET (version 30.1 now)​

https://www.intel.com/content/www/u...el-ethernet-adapter-complete-driver-pack.html (version 30.3 now).

is it supposed to appear in device manager even w/o the drivers? I can't seem to get it to be detected. BIOS also says theres nothing there

 

[1 Ghz]

is it supposed to appear in device manager even w/o the drivers? I can't seem to get it to be detected. BIOS also says theres nothing there

If the card is not detected as "unknown device" without drivers, that means it's probably dead.

 

[xiaofan]

is it supposed to appear in device manager even w/o the drivers? I can't seem to get it to be detected. BIOS also says theres nothing there

You will have to install the network adapter properly first -- the card needs to be secured. As mentioned in the earlier reply, it seems to me that you are using the wrong bracket and the card may not be installed properly.

If you change to the long bracket and install it properly, yet the card does not show up in Windows Device manager (eg: as an unknown device), then you may have a bad adapter. Contact the seller for help in that case.