recommend 10gb nics for esxi 8.0.3j

I have the old Intel X520-DA2 cards from Lenovo and Dell. They work in Proxmox and Windows. I also have Mellanox ConnectX-3 cards and they work in Windows.

I just fired up ESXi 8.0.3j and my card was seen, had link lights but said down. After much talks with copilot, it said my sfp+ wasnt supported as I have F5's. I put an Intel one in and now my card is gone. After finding the deprecated card list, I see the X520 on it.

so my question here, what card should I get for the ESXi lab box? a ConnectX-4 or Intel X550 or ???

appreciate the help.


Almost forgot, I have an Intel 10GB-2-Port X550-T2 Adapter. What RJ45 SFTP+ would you recommend? My son will be moving from the basement into his bedroom with his PC and I want to get him over 10gb ethernet.

Haven't tried them on ESXi but I have several ConnectX-4s and they work well on Linux and client Windows (aka 11 and previously 10).

Best RJ45 SFP+ I don't know about. I don't have any 10Gb RJ45 clients. All my 10Gb rigs are using fiber or DAC cables. Mikrotik makes a multi-gig 10Gb SFP+ module. I've tried them at 1Gb, 2.5Gb and 10Gb, but only the 1Gb and 2.5Gb were connecting to non-Mikrotik equipment. I've also only tried them in Mikrotik switches. My only 10Gb twisted pair run is from my basement to my second floor and it's between two MikroTik switches. I have an unfinished basement so I can easily pull fiber to the first floor, but getting to the second floor would require drywall work. Those Mikrotik multi-gig modules are nice when they work but compatibility sounds sketchy.

If you're just setting up a 10Gb link over twisted pair I'd probably just buy straight 10Gb modules from fs.com. Just tell them what you have and they'll point you to a compatible SFP+ module. Most of the time their generic modules are fine.

appreciate it. It is a LAB and really doesnt do much so i might just keep 1gb. My current 10gb work in win11 and proxmox

I generally buy DAC and SFPs on eBay. They are usually way cheaper than buying new and I have not gotten a faulty one, not have I had any die in the past 5+ years.