I have 2 existing servers running 13.3 Core. I’ve been using the onboard 1Gb ethernet since they were setup.
My main computer is a Mac Studio with 10Gb ethernet. I’d like to upgrade the existing servers to 10Gb (or at least 2.5Gb) and connect them via 10Gb switch.
SuperMicro has a board that’s around $300. I’d like to find out if there is anything out there not quite so expensive that will work for my scenario.
Recommendations for 10G NICs haven’t changed in a long time:
Since that article was written, Intel X550 NICs are now well supported.
If you’re looking for copper, the X550-T2 is really the best option. They are around $100 on eBay now too, they are popping up from retired servers already. Far and away better than the Aquantia stuff thats been popular in client computers for a while.
EDIT: God I’m getting old. That resource is from 2017.
Yeah. So are the X550s!
(Actually 2016)
And these days they support multi gbit too (1/2.5/5/10), it may be a good idea to fire them up in a windows box at least once, which I think may ensure the firmware is up2date.
Or research what the latest firmware version is. And check that that’s present.
They were brand new enough that when @jgreco wrote that he probably didn’t trust them xD
Yes, there are probably newer firmwares than the ones you’ll find on eBay, but the mGig support (Linux only apparently) really sells these. Plus they don’t feel like they are going to catch on fire at any moment like the X540s 
I feel like ARK used to say the TDP for these but it doesn’t seem to. I just remember the X550s being way more power efficient.
Intel® Ethernet Converged Network Adapter X550-T2
Intel Ethernet Converged Network Adapter X540T2 Product Specifications
Last time I checked, you could get two or three Solarflare SF7122F or Chelsio T520 (-BT for copper) for that money. There are plenty of cheap unmanaged, and sometimes even managed, no-name switches in 4x2.5G + 1x10 G or 2x10G in all configuarions of SFP+ and 10Base-T: Just perfect to plug in a NAS and a MacStudio in 10G and the rest of a little home network in plain 1G/2.5G.
X550 is the best (sole) option if you want plug it directly to 2.5G/5G copper—which you don’t have to do.
There are plenty of options that are way cheaper than interestringly-prices Supermicro parts yet more reliable than consumer-grade Aquantia (and even cheaper too!).
To be honest, I forgot about the T520-BT. I’ve never used Chelsio copper.
Chelsio T520-BT Product Brief
It says 20 watts, and IIRC this is the same generation as Intel X540. While I’m sure its bullet proof at this point, you can get 10x (100G) the bandwidth in the same power envelop with more modern silicon.
ConnectX5 as an example:
Specifications - NVIDIA Docs
I found a differant ARK entry for the X550-AT2 that does include TDP. It’s 11W so half of the Chelsio card. So when I say it’s really the best option, it’s not only that it has mGig, it uses alot less power too.
Intel Ethernet Controller X550AT2 Product Specifications
