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Intel X550-T2

Overview

The Intel X550-T2 is a dual-port 10 Gigabit Ethernet network interface card (NIC) designed for high-performance servers and workstations. It delivers low latency, high throughput, and advanced features suitable for data centers, virtualization, and enterprise networking.

Key Specifications

  • Type: Network Interface Card (NIC)
  • Ports: 2 × 10GbE RJ-45
  • Interface: PCIe 3.0 x8
  • Form Factor: Full-height, half-length (FHHL) or standard add-in card
  • Chipset: Intel X550
  • Throughput: 20 Gbps aggregate (10 Gbps per port)
  • OS Support: Windows, Linux, VMware ESXi
  • Features: Advanced Traffic Management, VLAN tagging, Jumbo Frames, TCP/UDP checksum offload

Features

  • High Performance: Dual 10GbE ports with low latency for high-throughput networking.
  • Advanced Offloads: Supports TCP/UDP checksum offloading, large send/receive offloads, and VLAN tagging.
  • Jumbo Frame Support: Up to 9KB for improved network efficiency in high-bandwidth environments.
  • Virtualization Optimized: Supports SR-IOV for efficient VM networking.
  • Reliability: Enterprise-grade NIC designed for 24/7 server operation.

Use Cases

  • Data Centers: High-speed connectivity for servers, storage, and network aggregation.
  • Virtualization: Supports multiple virtual machines with efficient network offloading.
  • High-Performance Computing (HPC): Low-latency networking for clusters and compute nodes.
  • Enterprise Networks: Ideal for SAN/NAS integration, database servers, and application hosting.

Pros & Cons

Pros
✔ Dual 10GbE ports for high bandwidth
✔ Advanced offloading features for reduced CPU load
✔ SR-IOV support for virtualization
✔ Enterprise-grade reliability

Cons
✖ PCIe 3.0 may limit peak throughput compared to PCIe 4.0 cards
✖ Higher cost than standard 1GbE NICs
✖ Requires compatible server/workstation platform

Conclusion

The Intel X550-T2 is a high-performance dual-port 10GbE NIC designed for servers and workstations that demand reliability, low latency, and high throughput. It is ideal for data centers, virtualization environments, and enterprise networking where consistent and fast network performance is critical.