Does external PCIE enclosure exist and is it a sensible option for SFF++ PC?

[Dunya]

I have HP EliteDesk 800 G5 Desktop mini.

Based on my research, what I’ve found out so far:

1. The option slot in this pc is outdated and is not usable for high speed networking.
2. There is a spare m.2 slot available, I will need m.2 to PCIe adapter. I believe this slot is PCIe 3 x8 which should be able to handle dual slot 10gbe NIC.
3. The case isn’t big enough to fit a NIC.

I also looked into buying an entirely new pc. I decided against that on cost basis.

My question is. Is there an enclosure for NIC? If so, is it sensible to use it as an external add on with the adapter connecting to it from inside to outside of the pc?

I’m currently looking into Mellanox connectx5 series NICs.

 

[Tech Junky]

There is an M2 10ge nic available.

https://www.amazon.com/IO-Gigabit-Ethernet-Network-Expansion/dp/B0BWSLSK78

 

[Dunya]

There is an M2 10ge nic available.

https://www.amazon.com/IO-Gigabit-Ethernet-Network-Expansion/dp/B0BWSLSK78

I did not know they existed. It makes my life so much easier thank you!

Just wondering, should I be looking for ones with intel chipset? I note there’s a few chipsets such as Marvell.

 

[Tech Junky]

From the one review for the 10ge versions on it's using the aquantia controller which I'm using on my setup for the past few years.

Also, kind of hard to be picky on brands with a niche use case. I doubt you'll find other controllers that come in M2 format or even x1 slot.