Amazon - Generic Intel X520-DA1 $15

Notice: Page may contain affiliate links for which we may earn a small commission through services like Amazon Affiliates or Skimlinks.

EasyRhino

Well-Known Member
Aug 6, 2019
571
488
63
wow that's nice. last time I needed one a SFP card I got a cheap mellanox but this is a good price for something that will probably have good driver support.
 

MountainBofh

Beating my users into submission
Mar 9, 2024
320
238
43
I would call that not a deal when you can get used branded dual x520 sfp cards for $1 more:
For my work, I'm not allowed to buy from Ebay, so the generic card is a nice option. Plus the generic doesn't vendor lock on the transceiver ( I know thats easy to get around, but still annoying).
 
  • Like
Reactions: Samir

EasyRhino

Well-Known Member
Aug 6, 2019
571
488
63
I would call that not a deal when you can get used branded dual x520 sfp cards for $1 more:
ah i guess I didn't know these cards had gotten that cheap!
 
  • Like
Reactions: Samir

T_Minus

Build. Break. Fix. Repeat
Feb 15, 2015
7,762
2,141
113
The "newer" gen is still more $$$ but much reduced power so that's nice :) newer in quotes because it's really not new anymore, lol but the next gen 10g intel :D good % saving for those of us @ Home with tight power constraints... not worth the $$ to swap in DC.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Samir

MountainBofh

Beating my users into submission
Mar 9, 2024
320
238
43
From what I've seen with Intel SFP+ cards, the X710's do use a tad less power vs a X520, but its not a huge difference (maybe 5 watts max). The E810's are about the same as the X520's.

For the price of the X520's vs the X710's, I'd buy the X520's all day.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Samir

T_Minus

Build. Break. Fix. Repeat
Feb 15, 2015
7,762
2,141
113
I don't think it's even that big of a power savings :D wattage-wise, but %-wise iirc it was a great savings.



The real sweet spot is those 25Gig ConnectX4 LX cards that use the same power as the Intel 10Gigs!!! Too bad there's not more switcehs or affordable switches at that capacity.... jump right to 56Gig :D is what I did, then realized the power of THOSE switches is a bit much :D :D LOL!!
 
Last edited:

CyklonDX

Well-Known Member
Nov 8, 2022
1,177
402
83
keep in mind based by the picture its a counterfeit x520 (its an older chip flashed and sold as x520) while they may work - its likely to produce some issues.
 
  • Like
Reactions: T_Minus and Samir

Samir

Post Liker and Deal Hunter Extraordinaire!
Jul 21, 2017
3,568
1,674
113
49
HSV and SFO
keep in mind based by the picture its a counterfeit x520 (its an older chip flashed and sold as x520) while they may work - its likely to produce some issues.
I was thinking this could be the case, but didn't post it since I only had a hunch. Makes the branded cards with dual ports an even better deal. :)
 
  • Like
Reactions: CyklonDX

Magnet

Active Member
Jan 25, 2018
213
160
43
North Florida
I have some use cases that only allow x4 so the single port Mellanox CX3 are ideal. The Windows drivers are a little funky for me, but it works.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Samir

EasyRhino

Well-Known Member
Aug 6, 2019
571
488
63
also using a Mellanox CX3 (single 10G SFP variant) in my consumer desktop because it only has a x4 pcie slot. (it's actually only x1 electrically, so max bandwidth is around 6 or 8gbps)

In my home server, it runs esxi, and i'm using an ancient emulex card that I got for dirt cheap years ago. And even though it's been deprecated by broadcome/vmware for several releases, it still works great (once I forced the connection speed in esxi so the link would come up)

(2) Beware - Emulex 10GbE Virtual Fabric Adapter II x8 PCI-E slot | ServeTheHome Forums
 
  • Like
Reactions: Samir