Newbie: how good are these fake Intel nics?
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Perhaps belongs here but are we all in agreement purchasing something like this is a crapshoot?
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000BMZHX2/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_dp_T2_d38uzbEQHN498
Basically, perhaps you get a genuine intel card, maybe you get an OEM card that is fine and maybe you get a knockoff?
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Sorry for hijacking the thread for a question but it seem related
Funny, I was looking at intel NICs at ebay and before ordering I thought I check out pfsense forum to see if there is anything about it and the top thread of hardware was this one. I'm looking to buy this http://www.ebay.com/itm/INTEL-I350-T2-Dual-Port-Gigabit-1000M-PCI-E-Network-Server-Adapter-I350-AM2-/251724682804?epid=1474629115&hash=item3a9bf5d634:g:s8MAAOSwofxUdqrT NIC and reading this thread it seem like it might not be a such a bad idea. I only have on expansion card slot in my router so it's either a dual NIC or a single NIC and use the realtek chip that's included on the mobo. I can get a single port intel NIC (EXPI9301CT) for about the same price as this dual port NIC from china.
Right now I'm using a pretty much unusuble TP-link NIC as a last resort that has started to get PHY read fail errors and I can only assume that that's the reason my internet is feels much slower than usual, tests gives me 80Mbps full duplex and it's usually at 100Mbps
Are these cards genuine intel or what are they selling?
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Sorry for hijacking the thread for a question but it seem related
Funny, I was looking at intel NICs at ebay and before ordering I thought I check out pfsense forum to see if there is anything about it and the top thread of hardware was this one. I'm looking to buy this http://www.ebay.com/itm/INTEL-I350-T2-Dual-Port-Gigabit-1000M-PCI-E-Network-Server-Adapter-I350-AM2-/251724682804?epid=1474629115&hash=item3a9bf5d634:g:s8MAAOSwofxUdqrT NIC and reading this thread it seem like it might not be a such a bad idea. I only have on expansion card slot in my router so it's either a dual NIC or a single NIC and use the realtek chip that's included on the mobo. I can get a single port intel NIC (EXPI9301CT) for about the same price as this dual port NIC from china.
Right now I'm using a pretty much unusuble TP-link NIC as a last resort that has started to get PHY read fail errors and I can only assume that that's the reason my internet is feels much slower than usual, tests gives me 80Mbps full duplex and it's usually at 100Mbps
Are these cards genuine intel or what are they selling?
It seems that they can be both knockoff or OEM. They've been reported to work well. I'll give it a try anyway
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This http://www.ebay.it/itm/Winyao-WYI350T-PCIe-dual-port-Gigabit-Ethernet-PRO1000-network-Card-intel-I350T2/132009714315?ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&_trksid=p2055119.m1438.l2649 is a Winyao clone of the I350T2. Why the original has a pci e x4 and the Winyao one has a pci e x1? ;D
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This http://www.ebay.it/itm/Winyao-WYI350T-PCIe-dual-port-Gigabit-Ethernet-PRO1000-network-Card-intel-I350T2/132009714315?ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&_trksid=p2055119.m1438.l2649 is a Winyao clone of the I350T2. Why the original has a pci e x4 and the Winyao one has a pci e x1? ;D
x4 is single data lane, enough for 2x 1Gbps ports.
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x4 is single data lane, enough for 2x 1Gbps ports.
These cards are all PCIe v2.0+, x1 is enough for quad port full duplex gigabit.
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Yeah, I wasn't sure if the cards are PCIe 2.0 or 1.0, but either way good.
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Yes, my question was more about the different pci connector from the Intel one. I thought that they were mere "clones"
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Now I have to choose from this two options:
http://www.ebay.it/itm/Intel-82576EB-Dual-RJ45-Port-E1G42ET-PCI-E-X1-Gigabit-Server-Adapter-ROS-VMare/272346169212?ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&_trksid=p2055119.m1438.l2649http://www.ebay.it/itm/Winyao-WYI350T-PCIe-dual-port-Gigabit-Ethernet-PRO1000-network-Card-intel-I350T2/132009714315?ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&_trksid=p2055119.m1438.l2649
The first one, is $19.95 + $25 fast shipping ($44 total) no brand, the second one is $45 with 20/25 days shipping, but it's a Winyao, which seems to be a good brand from what I read here -
I haven't looked recently but usually you can find a server pull i340-t4 with fast shipping in the $45-50 range.
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The x1 connector is actually a nice feature over the intel part. In the server market it really doesn't matter (I don't recall seeing any real servers with x1 connectors, they're generally at least x4 if not x8.) But in the small form factor space, there are a lot of boards with only x1 pcie which it's been a pain to get a dual port intel card into.
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For home use, just trim the card to x1.
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Not BS, part of the spec, it's even silk screened on the pins where to cut. Some people just aren't much for physical alteration, which is fine. But for those who are it is a useful option. i.e., instead of buying off brand dual port just because it fits, buy quality quad port and modify within spec for fit.
But again, only worth while for someone capable and comfortable with physical alteration, no matter how simple it may be.
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My mobo has only one x16 slot, but for now it's free, I could just use it for a x4 card, right?
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The 'unbranded' cards work fine here. I have some OEM, some server pull and a few 'unbranded' (fake? white label with no label? different market segment? insolvency sale parts?), and they pretty much all work equally well.
Most of the times when you have a 'fake' card, it just won't work well no matter what you do. It's not like they work in the beginning but fail a day later.
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@johnkeates:
The 'unbranded' cards work fine here. I have some OEM, some server pull and a few 'unbranded' (fake? white label with no label? different market segment? insolvency sale parts?), and they pretty much all work equally well.
Most of the times when you have a 'fake' card, it just won't work well no matter what you do. It's not like they work in the beginning but fail a day later.
Does your unbranded card pretend to be a Intel one?
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@johnkeates:
The 'unbranded' cards work fine here. I have some OEM, some server pull and a few 'unbranded' (fake? white label with no label? different market segment? insolvency sale parts?), and they pretty much all work equally well.
Most of the times when you have a 'fake' card, it just won't work well no matter what you do. It's not like they work in the beginning but fail a day later.
Does your unbranded card pretend to be a Intel one?
Basically they are all Intel cards. The only ones that don't report as Intel are some of the OEM cards that have a different name/PCI ID string for the vendor.
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My mobo has only one x16 slot, but for now it's free, I could just use it for a x4 card, right?
Yep.
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The x1 connector is actually a nice feature over the intel part. In the server market it really doesn't matter (I don't recall seeing any real servers with x1 connectors, they're generally at least x4 if not x8.) But in the small form factor space, there are a lot of boards with only x1 pcie which it's been a pain to get a dual port intel card into.
Use a PCI-E x1 to x4/x8/16 riser.
You're welcome.
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I bought yesterday the one on the first post. When it'll arrive I'll try to make a little review
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Here I am. The "fake" nic is arrived and is now running rock solid into my system. It's recognized by both bios and pfsense as an Intel one. Definitely worth the money
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Hi,
@johnkeates:
Basically they are all Intel cards. The only ones that don't report as Intel are some of the OEM cards that have a different name/PCI ID string for the vendor.
The main chip most likely is, apparently Intel sells those to third parties…
As for the rest of the card a lot of people say that the cheaper ones use lower quality components...
On a real Intel card you will usually have clearly visible Delta chips as well with the logo engraved and not printed (printed are fake and intended to deceive), not MR-MACOM chips of more dubious quality...
On a real Intel card (or real OEM (HP, IBM, etc...) card) even the crystal will be branded while you will barely find any markings except from the clock speed on a cheaper card.
Apparently Winyao cards are not bad but it would not be my first choice, I would either go with a real Intel card (but that means $$$) if it is for a business or a server pull (real Intel or real HP, IBM OEM version, etc..) for home...
Good luck and have a nice day!
Nick
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For business sure, buy a new Intel nic - they aren't expensive at all for a business.
For home use, if it will but gigabit specs on iperf you almost certainly will never tell the difference.
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I'll run iperf once it'll be all set up, so I can give you more detailed info
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This has been discussed several times before on other threads. My experience with a cheap ebay i350-T4 has been very positive since I bought it. Stable as a rock and appropriately fast - and as far as I can tell it's using genuine SoC's.
https://forum.pfsense.org/index.php?topic=74158.msg569894#msg569894