Network Adapters

Network Adapters questions

Which Network Adapters brands does Memory Clearance carry?

The most listed brands in Network Adapters are Dell, HP, IBM, HPE, Intel and Lenovo. Every listing names its manufacturer and part number, so you can search by either.

Are these Network Adapters products new or refurbished?

Both. Of the 15,298 listings, 8,038 state a condition: 6,421 are refurbished and 1,617 are new. The other 7,260 do not record one, so ask for it when you request a quote. The condition shown on a listing is the condition you receive.

How do I get a price on a Network Adapters part?

4,819 Network Adapters listings show a price you can order at. Items marked "Call for Price" have a Request for Quote button; send the part number and quantity and the sales team replies weekdays between 8:00 am and 5:00 pm PST.

How to choose a server network adapter

A network adapter is defined by four things: port speed and media, port count, the slot it plugs into, and whether it is an OEM-branded card tied to one vendor's firmware or a standard chipset card. Get any one wrong and the part comes back. Memory Clearance lists 15,298 items in Network Adapters from 184 brands, of which 7,695 declare a condition, 6,222 refurbished and 1,473 new (what each grade means).html">what each grade means). The category holds Ethernet, Wi-Fi and host bus adapters, and it also holds adjacent gear filed under the same heading, such as the Extremeswitching 5520 series switch and the APC Smart-UPS in this price range; check the listing name against what you actually need, not just the category it sits in.

Start with speed and media. Product type here breaks out as 2,268 Gigabit Ethernet Cards, 1,809 10 Gigabit Ethernet Cards, 789 Fast Ethernet Cards, 1,019 Wi-Fi Adapters, and 2,662 listed simply as Ethernet Card. The port-count attribute is labeled RJ-45/SFP/SFP+: RJ-45 copper handles 1GbE and some 10GbE, SFP+ takes a fibre or direct-attach module for 10GbE, and the fastest cards step up to SFP28 for 25GbE and QSFP28 or QSFP112 for 100GbE (vendor-coded vs MSA optics).

Port count is the second check, and it is a separate part number, not a setting. Of the 6,203 listings here with a recorded port count, 2-port is the largest group at 3,251, ahead of 1-port at 1,398, 4-port at 1,091, 8-port at 218, and 16-port at 37. Buy for the number of physical links you actually run to the switch, plus one spare port if you use link aggregation or an active/standby pair.

Third, check the slot and the bracket. Read the slot type and lane width straight off the listing title: a standard PCI Express card states its generation and width there, for example Gen4 or Gen5.0 x16, and an OCP3 card states OCP3, a mezzanine form factor that plugs into a motherboard bay, not a PCIe slot, and is not interchangeable with a slot card at any port speed. Bracket height is a third variable: the Card Height attribute recorded on 3,335 listings splits 2,804 Low-profile and 531 Full-height, and a card built for one height will not close up in a chassis cut for the other.

Finally, decide between an OEM-branded card and a standard chipset card. Dell (3,431 listings), HP (2,273), IBM (1,733), HPE (1,542) and Lenovo (505) badge their own adapters, often around Broadcom or other suppliers' chips. Intel (1,156) and Mellanox (288) sell cards under their own name with standard firmware, not tied to a server vendor. Only 4,889 of the 15,298 listings carry an online price; the rest go through a quote, answered weekdays 8:00 am to 5:00 pm PST on (800) 733-1169, with a Request for Quote button on any listing with no price.

Network adapter buying questions

What's the difference between a Gigabit and a 10 Gigabit network adapter?

Speed, and the media each one uses. Gigabit Ethernet Cards (2,268 listings) run 1Gb/s over RJ-45 copper. 10 Gigabit Ethernet Cards (1,809 listings) run 10Gb/s over RJ-45 copper or through an SFP+ cage, which needs a matching optic or direct-attach cable.

How many Ethernet ports do I need on a network adapter?

Match the port count to the physical links you run to the switch. Of the recorded port counts, 3,251 listings are 2-port, ahead of 1,398 at 1-port, 1,091 at 4-port, 218 at 8-port and 37 at 16-port. Add a spare port for link aggregation or failover.

Does bracket height matter on a network adapter?

Yes. A full-height (tall) bracket and a low-profile bracket are different physical parts for the same card; the wrong one will not close up in your chassis even though the card works. Several listings here specify a tall bracket or note that both brackets are included.

What's the difference between a Dell or HPE adapter and an Intel or Mellanox card?

Brand tells you who wrote the firmware and validated the card for a server line. Dell, HP, IBM, HPE and Lenovo badge adapters built around chips from other suppliers, often tied to that vendor's firmware and management tools. Intel and Mellanox sell cards under their own name with standard firmware. Both are stocked here.