AddOn X520-DA2 2-Port 10GbE FCoE SFP+ NIC
Best high-speed network adapter for data center virtualization and server connectivity.
This high-performance network interface card provides dual 10GbE connectivity with support for Fibre Channel over Ethernet (FCoE). It is engineered with an Intel 82599 processor, delivering robust performance for demanding data center environments. The card features a PCI Express 2.0 x8 interface for high throughput and supports advanced virtualization technologies like SR-IOV. It ensures reliable, high-speed networking across a wide range of Windows and Linux operating systems, making it a versatile solution for server upgrades. A limited lifetime warranty provides added peace of mind.
$290.80
Owner Satisfaction
4.7
/ 5
Category Rank
14
/ 1009
#14 in Network Cards & Adapters
Price vs Category Average
-68%
Below average
Connectivity Technology
Wired
/ Wired
Who it's for
- Budget-conscious IT managers seeking high-performance networking
- System administrators prioritizing stable, widely supported hardware
- Data center architects looking to consolidate storage and network traffic
Who should skip it
- Power users requiring the latest energy-efficient virtualization features
- Enterprise teams managing strict, vendor-locked server environments
- Buyers needing an all-in-one solution without extra hardware purchases
Performance breakdown
Virtualization Efficiency
SR-IOV and VMDq support significantly reduce overhead in virtualized server environments.
Data Throughput
Dual 10Gbps ports provide robust bandwidth for demanding enterprise network traffic.
Protocol Versatility
Native FCoE and iSCSI support streamlines unified storage and networking deployments.
Processing Reliability
The proven Intel 82599 chipset ensures consistent performance under heavy loads.
System Compatibility
Broad driver support across Windows and Linux simplifies integration into existing infrastructure.
Traffic Management
Flow Director and coalescing features optimize packet processing for lower latency.
Key Specs
Connectivity Technology
Wired
Slot Type
PCI Express x8
Slot Type
PCI-Express 2.0
Form Factor
Plug-in card
Data Transfer Rate
10Gbps
Processor
Intel 82599
Networking Protocol
10 Gigabit Ethernet
Networking Protocol
Fibre Channel over Ethernet (FCoE)
Know before you buy
The SFP+ ports require compatible 10GbE SFP+ transceivers or Direct Attach Copper (DAC) cables. You should select modules or cables that match your specific switch infrastructure and distance requirements.
Yes, the AddOn X520-DA2 supports SR-IOV and VMDq, which help improve network performance and efficiency in virtualized environments by allowing virtual machines to access the hardware directly.
This card uses a PCIe 2.0 x8 interface. It is physically compatible with x8 or larger PCIe slots and is backward compatible with newer PCIe generations, though performance will be limited by the PCIe 2.0 specification.
Yes, this card supports Fibre Channel over Ethernet (FCoE), allowing you to consolidate your network and storage traffic onto a single 10GbE connection.
The card is compatible with a wide range of modern Windows and Linux server operating systems. It utilizes the robust Intel 82599 processor, which has broad driver support across most enterprise-grade platforms.
Features like Receive Side Coalescing and Intel Ethernet Flow Director offload processing tasks from the server's CPU to the network card. This reduces CPU overhead and improves overall system throughput during high-traffic operations.
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$291