HP 561FLR-T dual 10GB Ethernet (Intel X540)

[wepee]

Hi,

I am thinking about upgrading my unRAID server with a dual 10GB nic HP adapter.

Just want some advice about this network card from HPE Ethernet 10Gb 2-port 561FLR-T Adapter
Apparently according to spec: https://support.hpe.com/hpesc/public/docDisplay?docId=c03897279&docLocale=en_US
It is based on the Intel X540 chipset. It comes with special PIC-E customized adapter, for it to work on a desktop motherboard.
Here is my photos taken from the Chinese seller:

Questions:
1) Has anyone using this network card, I worry that the card will get very hot even though a passive heat sink is used to cool off?
I am thinking of get a 2 pin connector small profile fan. The adapter does provide a 2 pin male connector to hook a fan.

2) Does the card looks fake to you? To me I am not sure, it looks original HP product.

3) Does this card supports Wake ON Lan? I could not find it on the specification?
But on this web page, Newegg.com show it does support W.O.L: https://www.newegg.com/hpe-561flr-t/p/N82E16833316891

4) Would this X540-T2 be fake: https://www.amazon.com/Intel-Converged-Network-Adapter-X540T2/dp/B0077CS9UM ?

5) It seems like this card is not supported in pfSense? [Compatibility] Intel X540

Thank you.

 

[joeribl]

The chipset consumes between 12.5 and 14 watt. So it needs an active airflow.

 

[blunden]

It uses a passive heatsink because it expects to be put in a server with a lot of airflow. If you need an Intel NIC that works better with low airflow you should look at the X710 series or newer.

If you look up the spec sheet for the X540, Intel lists the airflow required.

There is a thread about these adapters on this forum if you want more details. To me, they only really make sense when you get them dirt cheap, which was the case before those adapters got more common.

 

[ms264556]

There's a bunch of X540-T2 cards on AliExpress where they've sawed the pcie x1 interface off server cards or tell you to wrap them in plastic before installing. These are under $20 delivered (e.g.
https://a.aliexpress.com/_EQ731hj).

So, assuming they're genuine, that's the benchmark price you're aiming for.

* Can confirm they get quite warm in a mini desktop *

 

[wepee]

As I dug more information about this card over the past few days, I just noticed this card is not multi-gigabit supported.

It can only supports either 1Gbps or 10Gbps or the old speed 100 Mbps.

https://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/products/sku/58954/intel-ethernet-converged-network-adapter-x540t2/specifications.html

Better off go for an Intel X550-T2 instead.

 

[blunden]

As I dug more information about this card over the past few days, I just noticed this card is not multi-gigabit supported.

It can only supports either 1Gbps or 10Gbps or the old speed 100 Mbps.

https://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/products/sku/58954/intel-ethernet-converged-network-adapter-x540t2/specifications.html

Better off go for an Intel X550-T2 instead.

View attachment 33019

Yeah, that's to be expected for older network equipment. 2.5GbE and 5GbE are both much newer standards than 10GbE.