Ethernet Converged Network Adapter X540T2

UPDATED REVIEW (as of December 17, 2015): This NIC runs incredibly fast and stable when paired with a 10G switch and Cat-6 cables. The switch I used was the Netgear XS708E 8-Port 10G Ethernet Switch (http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00B46AEE6), which wsa the most affordable 10G switch I could find. When also coupled with a RAID 5 or 1/0 array of disks, I've seen network I/O more than double its previous performance, and that only being limited by the disk I/O performance at each end of the stream. Highly recommend this, or the related single-port NIC. (NOTE: this is an update review from the original post below that had been posted on May 12, 2015.) _____________________ Subject: Kind of Works -- But Very Finicky It can work, but has some issues with link speed. I haven't yet purchased the 10Gb switch, and have it connected to a 10/100/1000 D-Link switch. When I first installed it, it took a minute or so, but linked up at 1 Gbps speeds. However, any time I either temporarily unplug a cable, or power-cycle the switch, it sits at 100 Mbps for days on end before re-establishing a 1 Gbps link speed. And if I specify to use a 1 Gbps speed, it stops working altogether for some reason. This is the most finicky / temperamental NIC I've ever owned. I'm hoping that it will behave better once I invest in the 10 Gb switch from Netgear!

Got it for my Synology 1817+. Works as advertised. I’m also not an idiot so do with that what you will.

The company originally sent me the x520-DA and not the X540-T2 I had ordered. I returned it and waited for the new one to arrive. I was happy when the new one was the correct card and also genuine. I went to intel and grabbed the latest drivers. The ones from Win update are from 2016. I have added them to a team and they are getting expected speeds. Would rate the card A+

Effortless installation and configuration with my Synology NAS.

The X540T2 is rock solid with great driver support. However, be careful where you order. I ordered the Intel X540T2 from one of the marketplace sellers here, and instead received apparently used Dell OEM parts with active cooling and no brackets. The official Intel part comes in a sealed box with a half-height and full-height bracket, and is passively cooled as shown in the picture. Be very wary of marketplace sellers on items like this. I will say that the seller refunded my money no problem, but it wasn't worth the headache to save a few bucks.

I added this card into a 10gig set up, it was the only thing that changed. It's showing only one port 10gig and the other 100 base.

Beware. The photo shows a new-in-box item with a half height supplementary bracket. Came shipped in a static bag within an envelope. No half height bracket.

Bought this for a Synology DS3615xs. Only from Amazon; after seeing reviews and knowing from previous experience with 1 fulfillment by Amazon reseller, that resellers tend to not be exact in their description and it ends up being a dell part that has some dell firmware on it that won't work in anything that isn't dell. And, this is why I don't like Dell. Anyhow, this, coming from Amazon directly, is the real deal. Works great!