GIGABYTE Intros VISION Branded 10 GbE Adapter

[btarunr]

GIGABYTE today released a 10 Gbps Ethernet adapter under its VISION brand of products targeted at creators (model: GC-AQC113C 10G). The card features a PCI-Express 3.0 x4 host interface, and is half height (low-profile), with a single 10 GbE port. A premium-looking 2-tone aluminium shroud covers the top side of the PCB. Under the hood, is a Marvell AQtion AQC113C PHY chip, which supports both CAT6A and CAT7 cabling, along with data rates of 10 Gbps, 5 Gbps, 2.5 Gbps, 1 Gbps, 100 Mbps, and 10 Mbps. The box includes a low-profile bracket. The company didn't announce pricing.



View at TechPowerUp Main Site

 

[AnarchoPrimitiv]

I'm sure the shroud and paint job will add $50

 

[TheLostSwede]

I don't get the shroud on these cards, as they do actually run quite hot.
I guess the AQC113 is a bit different from the older AQC107, so hopefully they don't run as hot.
Also, I think 10Mbps is a typo, as no Aquantia product to date has supported 10Mbps.

Still quite a big chip. No integrated heatspreader though.
This is from a Supermicro board.

 

[TheinsanegamerN]

I don't get the shroud on these cards, as they do actually run quite hot.
I guess the AQC113 is a bit different from the older AQC107, so hopefully they don't run as hot.
Also, I think 10Mbps is a typo, as no Aquantia product to date has supported 10Mbps.

Still quite a big chip. No integrated heatspreader though.
This is from a Supermicro board.

Companies have forgotten what a "heatsink" is supposed to do and now believe a hunk of aluminum will do the job well enough. If not they add a tiny jet engine fan that moves air as well as a mouse fart.

 

[TheLostSwede]

Companies have forgotten what a "heatsink" is supposed to do and now believe a hunk of aluminum will do the job well enough. If not they add a tiny jet engine fan that moves air as well as a mouse fart.

In all fairness, these things don't get that hot, but they do need a decent size heatsink.
This is what my "ugly" cards look like.

 

[jeremyshaw]

I don't get the shroud on these cards, as they do actually run quite hot.
I guess the AQC113 is a bit different from the older AQC107, so hopefully they don't run as hot.
Also, I think 10Mbps is a typo, as no Aquantia product to date has supported 10Mbps.

Still quite a big chip. No integrated heatspreader though.
This is from a Supermicro board.

Marvell finally (partially) updated their site with the 113.

Ethernet Network Adapters and Controllers | AQtion Ethernet Controllers | Client Computing at its Best - Marvell

Aside: an 113 variant is also used in the new Mac Mini M1, with a reported x1 link width, which would necessitate PCIe 4.0 to reach 10GbE bandwidth.

Site also claims 10Mbps support but doesn't elaborate.

 

[newtekie1]

Aside: an 113 variant is also used in the new Mac Mini M1, with a reported x1 link width, which would necessitate PCIe 4.0 to reach 10GbE bandwidth.

Yeah, but I wouldn't put it past Apple to use a PCI-E 3.0 x1 link.

 

[Caring1]

I'm confused, I thought Gigabyte rebranded Vision to Aero recently?

 

[Sandbo]

I will still choose pick from eBay a used X550-T2 or the like any day.

 

[jeremyshaw]

Yeah, but I wouldn't put it past Apple to use a PCI-E 3.0 x1 link.

Why would think Apple used PCIe3.0x1 for 10GbE? PCIe3.0x1 is can only serve <8Gbps bandwidth and the M1 10GbE has already shown to be faster than that.

I tried SO HARD to break this… - M1 Mac Mini 10-gig Ethernet - YouTube
8Gb M1 MacMini 10Gbps Network Speed Test : homelab (reddit.com)

 

[efikkan]

It's funny how they manage to claim support for Cat 7 Ethernet with RJ45 plugs, a standard which doesn't exist.
Real Cat 7 uses special datacenter plugs like Tera or GG45, the latter of which is RJ45 compatible, but the "advantage" of these plugs over Cat 6(A) requires it to operate in GG45 mode.
Anyhow, pretty much any "Cat 7" cable you might find in stores is actually not Cat 7 at all, just a Cat 6A cable with a higher price, so don't waste your money.

In all fairness, these things don't get that hot, but they do need a decent size heatsink.
This is what my "ugly" cards look like.

View attachment 206990

As network cards often sit in a place with less air circulation (even in most servers), it's actually smart to have an "overkill" heatsink.

I will still choose pick from eBay a used X550-T2 or the like any day.

Even new X550-T1/T2 go for ~$120 on eBay regularly, and used ones much cheaper. So if it's from a serious seller, why buy anything else at that price considering it's the "gold standard" for 10G Ethernet?