Best 10 Gb RJ45 NIC for PCIe x4?

[Quartz]

I'm finally in the process of upgrading my home LAN to 10 GbE, having given up on my original plans. The NAS's motherboard is on its way and I have a dual 10 Gb NIC for it but I need NICs for my PCs. There are v3 x4 slots available in both. Which NICs do you recommend?

I'm aware of the OWC 10g ethernet PCIEe network adapter which is PCIe v4 x1 and that's an obvious choice for my upcoming PC should I have a v4 x1 slot available if it passes muster with you lot.

 

[Quartz]

There are a couple of Intel x550 T2 dual port NICs that are x4 but even the older x540 x8 cards will run in an x4 slot and give dual 10Gb, I ran one previously in a B450.

Yes, I have an Intel x540 dual port NIC for my server, but I don't fancy forking out several hundred quid a time (even second-hand) for an x550 card when there are alternatives available brand new for £100 or less. I was most surprised to find that Windows did not autodetect the x540.

I'm not in an especial hurry. It seems my network switch is on a very slow boat from China, though I've enquired about air shipment.

 

[Quartz]

Yep you need to get the proset drivers from Intel

What dual 10Gb card is available for £100?

Not a dual card - single port. I only need single port cards for my PCs.

 

[Quartz]

OCUK sell two cards; which is the better?

 

[Quartz]

They're flaky at best, suffer from detection errors, and are bottom of the barrel jobs.

Noted.

Yes it's an extra ~£80,

More like an extra £100. Each, and I need two. At £200+ for the NIC for my main PC I might well buy a motherboard with an onboard 10 Gb NIC.

(and update the NVM aka firmware).

Do tell.

If you can go SFP+ then Mellanox Connectx-3 are worth a look,

I want to keep it simple.

Do you have any thoughts on the OWC x1 NIC?

 

[Quartz]

That's great advice, thank you. I've spent so much these past few months, so what's an extra few hundred?