Intel network cards 82546GB vs 82571EB

[ben.suffolk]

Hi,

I am about to purchase some intel network cards, since everybody tells me they are the ones to use with pfSense  :)

I was going to buy the HP NC340T quad card (because I have seen people mention it on here as working well) which uses the 82546GB chipset, but my supplier has quoted for the NC364T which uses the 82571EB chipset. I have asked for them to quote on the one I actually asked for anyway.

I just wondered if there was a preference, or will either be just as fine as the other?

Regards

Ben

[jahonix]

I'm not too sure about performance differences, but:

• HP NC340T is PCI-X        (http://www.dooyoo.co.uk/network-adapter/hp-nc340t-pci-x-quad-port-gigabit-server-adapter/) 
  whereas
• HP NC364T is PCIexpress (http://www.dooyoo.co.uk/network-adapter/hp-nc364t-pci-express-quad-port-gigabit-server-adapter/)

Not exactly comparable…

[jahonix]

The different onboard processors are needed for the different busses. The PCI-e 4x should have a better lane speed compared to the 133MHz of a PCI bus.

[ben.suffolk]

Good point, I had not noticed they were different PCI architectures. Being PICe means I would not need the PCI-X raiser board either, which is kind of a bonus.

I'd obvioulsy be interested in hearing from anybody who might actually be using one, or another card with the same chipset.

Thanks

Ben