What 2.5GBase-T Netword card

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tozmo

Active Member
Feb 1, 2017
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Do you need just a 2.5GBE nic?
Go with a card with a realtek chip like in the Syba add-on card (https://www.servethehome.com/syba-2-5-gigabit-ethernet-pcie-nic-review-2-5gbe/)
Do you need a "professional" nic?
Go with a intel x550-t1 or -t2.

Personally I would not want to waste a pcie slot for 2.5GBE networking :D
I agree with not using a PCIE for 2.5gbe (edited). Would rather use a Mellanox Connect X 3 for PCIE x8.

I recommend the Plugable 2.5G USB C and USB to Ethernet Adapter. I have one and do a point to point 2.5 without a hitch
 
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nerdalertdk

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Mar 9, 2017
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::1
Well it’s just for my personal pc and I have an switch with 16 x 2.5gbe ports so might as well use it
 

tozmo

Active Member
Feb 1, 2017
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Just bought an brocade icx7150-48zp

The thing is an beast
Where did you get one at a reasonable price for "just for my personal pc"? Also, how much did you buy it for, because that could be a new thing here if it's in the same range as BEEF OVERLOAD
 

nerdalertdk

Fleet Admiral
Mar 9, 2017
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Got it for 500$ including shipping to EU, the last one on eBay was bought for 400$ with us shipping I think, check the big icx tread it one of the last pages.

But mainly got it for 10gb for my homelab needed 8 x 10gb ports


And might as well use the 2.5gb ports

Yes it was a steal for that price
 

RobstarUSA

Active Member
Sep 15, 2016
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Do you need just a 2.5GBE nic?
Go with a card with a realtek chip like in the Syba add-on card (https://www.servethehome.com/syba-2-5-gigabit-ethernet-pcie-nic-review-2-5gbe/)
Do you need a "professional" nic?
Go with a intel x550-t1 or -t2.

Personally I would not want to waste a pcie slot for 2.5GBE networking :D
I actually think there are HUGE benefits to 2.5Gbit networking as opposed to 1Gb/10Gb. I've seen very few 10Gbit cards under x8 (at least the cheap/bargain ones) and the x16/x8 slots I have I want to put other stuff in such as nvme/ssd/etc. Stuff that I will see the benefit of constantly.

On the other hand almost every box I owne has a free x1 slot which works nicely with 2.5Gbit & is significantly faster than 1gbit/s nics. These are especially good for handing "bursty" traffic (such as on homemmade routers/switches) vs 1Gbit/s.
 

Kal G

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Oct 29, 2014
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If you prefer Intel to Realtek, QNAP makes a 2.5Gbe NIC based on the Intel I225 chipset (P/N: QNAP QXG-2G1T-I225). I have one on the way for testing.
 

RobstarUSA

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Sep 15, 2016
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If you prefer Intel to Realtek, QNAP makes a 2.5Gbe NIC based on the Intel I225 chipset (P/N: QNAP QXG-2G1T-I225). I have one on the way for testing.
I've heard nothing but nightmares on the new intel i225 chip....bugs not fixable except with new silicon. Google around for it. I will try to find some links later when I have more time.

Edit: Here is 1...
 

Kal G

Active Member
Oct 29, 2014
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I've heard nothing but nightmares on the new intel i225 chip....bugs not fixable except with new silicon. Google around for it. I will try to find some links later when I have more time.

Edit: Here is 1...
Thanks for the heads up. It'll be interesting to see which stepping it comes with.
 
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RobstarUSA

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Sep 15, 2016
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TBH I'm not a huge fan of realtek, but in the m-gig space I've only found Aquantia (hard to find, 10Gbit only it seems) and the Realtek 8125. I found a github project that takes the realtek driver & makes it addable to dkms, so I've gone that way. I haven't seen any x1 slot Aquantia cards that I can recall.