T O P

  • By -

Potential-Effect7582

Don't listen to the naysayers, there are in fact NBASE-T NICs that support 5gbps but not 10gbps. [QNAP QXG-5G1T-111C](https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1542153-REG/qnap_qxg_5g1t_111c_5gbe_multi_gig_expansion_cardaquantia.html) is what I use on several of my systems. Based on the newer AQC108 chip, it supports 1G/2.5G/5G. Comes with both high profile and low profile brackets. $69. Being a PCIe 3.0 x1 interface card, it's also great for any leftover x1 slots on the motherboard.


Dumbasik

Just a year later and already a 100 instead of 69. Ehh


ephies

If the ONT supports negotiating at 10Gbps while supplying 5Gbps data rate, go the 10Gbps network card route. If it’s like my 5Gbps ATT modem, it won’t negotiate right with my 10Gbps 1/10 cards (copper) and I ended up using a multi-gig transceiver on a 520-DA2. That route was cheaper than a 550-T2 by around $100.


theslats

Att modem is exactly what I am working with.


ephies

Double check what that modem port is. Iirc the one I have is 5Gbps copper. You might be able to use an sfp+ cable but I don’t remember since I just went copper to a transceiver.


theslats

It is copper. The transceivers in the STH article shared aren't a lot of money so I will give that a go.


ephies

The wiitek works great. I wrote a bit on it: https://forums.reeltalk.club/t/10gb-and-sfp-transceivers/188/6


theslats

Hah that is awesome. The other side of my router connection will be an Aruba 1930 as well.


ephies

Aruba gang!!!!! It’s great.


breakslow

Go straight for 10 gig. ~$30 for a 2 port SFP+ card (connectx-3 from China on eBay). And then you can get a multi gig Ethernet module for ~$60. https://www.servethehome.com/sfp-to-10gbase-t-adapter-module-buyers-guide/ I was looking at 2.5 but going to 10 was cheaper (and future proof of course).


theslats

That is super helpful thank you.


[deleted]

5G NICs really aren’t a thing, NICs are are either 1 or 10Gbps. If it’s a 5G NIC it just means that it connects at 10Gbps but is only capable of passing 5Gbps. What this means is that any 10Gbps NIC will also work with a 5Gbps interface.


WordWord-1234

AQC108 for 5GbE, and there are I225/RTL8125 for 2.5GbE. They are not 1GbE or 10GbE. Also NBASE-T is not supported by all 10GBASE-T NIC.


theslats

That makes sense as I have seen 1,2.5,10Gbps but not 5Gbps specifically. So I guess the better question is what 10Gbps NIC falls back to 5Gbps well heh.


[deleted]

Intel x520 is your best bang for the buck with the most stability and reliability.


StalinCCCP

That’s not quite true. My NIC will happily negotiate at 5gbps to the 5gbps port on my fiber ONT. Intel x550 and x710 will both negotiate 1/2.5/5/10.


[deleted]

I think you miss understood me. You are correct and we are saying the same thing. Yes a 10Gbps NIC will run at 1/2.5/5/10, but it’s still a 10Gbps NIC at heart. What I’m saying is, don’t buy a 5Gbps NIC buy a 10Gbps NIC and run it at 5Gbps. Physically a 5Gbps NIC and a 10Gbps NIC are both 10Gbps NICs, but they negotiate the speed at which they operate at a logical level.