Intel Dual Port PCI Express 4.0X16 Ethernet Network Adapter

Overview

The Intel E810CQDA2G2P5 is a dual-port Ethernet network adapter designed to deliver up to 100 gigabits per second per port, making it ideal for high-bandwidth server environments. It connects via a PCI Express 4.0 x16 slot, ensuring the host system can handle the full line-rate traffic without bottlenecks. This adapter is built around Intel’s E810 controller, which balances high throughput with reliable and consistent performance, supporting virtualization and advanced traffic management to optimize network efficiency.

Key features

• Two 100 GbE ports with fallback options to 50 GbE, 25 GbE, or 10 GbE for compatibility with legacy equipment
• PCIe 4.0 x16 interface that supports high data transfer rates with low latency, matching the demands of modern data centers
• QSFP28 cages compatible with direct-attach copper cables, active optical cables, and fiber transceivers, offering flexible cabling options
• Virtualization support including SR-IOV, VMDq, and Flexible Port Partitioning to allocate bandwidth precisely among virtual machines and containers
• Advanced traffic management and intelligent offloads that reduce CPU load, freeing system resources for critical applications
• Optimized for storage over Ethernet protocols such as iSCSI and NFS, enhancing performance in storage clusters
• Includes both full-height and low-profile brackets, allowing easy installation in a variety of server chassis and edge devices

Key specs

• Network ports: 2 x QSFP28
• Maximum speed per port: 100 GbE
• Fallback speeds: 50 GbE, 25 GbE, 10 GbE
• Host interface: PCI Express 4.0 x16
• Controller: Intel E810
• Supported virtualization features: SR-IOV, VMDq, Flexible Port Partitioning
• Compatible cabling: Direct-attach copper, active optical cables, fiber transceivers
• Bracket options: Full-height and low-profile included

Connectivity and compatibility

This adapter supports a wide range of cabling options through its QSFP28 ports, making it suitable for diverse network setups. Whether connecting within a single rack using direct-attach copper or spanning longer distances with optical cables, it adapts to your infrastructure needs. The fallback speeds ensure compatibility with older switches, easing integration into existing networks without sacrificing performance.

Performance and reliability

Built on the Intel E810 controller, the adapter delivers stable and predictable network performance essential for demanding workloads. Its intelligent offloads and traffic management features reduce CPU overhead, which is particularly beneficial in virtualized environments and storage clusters. This ensures that critical applications receive the necessary system resources without network processing delays.

Installation and setup

The inclusion of both full-height and low-profile brackets allows this adapter to fit into a variety of server and workstation chassis, from standard rack servers to compact edge nodes. Installation is straightforward, and the PCIe 4.0 x16 interface ensures seamless integration with modern server motherboards, providing immediate access to high-speed networking capabilities.

Ideal uses and environments

This network adapter is well suited to data centers modernizing cloud infrastructure, expanding enterprise storage arrays, or building high-performance computing clusters. Its high bandwidth and virtualization features make it a strong choice for environments that require precise bandwidth allocation and low latency, such as virtualized servers, database clusters, and storage nodes using iSCSI or NFS protocols.