It’s now possible to easily add two 10 Gbps SFP+ cages to a computer thanks to a USB4 to dual 10GbE adapter. Several options are available, including QNAP QNA-UC10G2SF ($549 on the QNAP store), a PUSOKEI model going for $218 on Amazon, and a cheaper ($110+) model on AliExpress. Let’s have a quick look at each adapter.
QNAP QNA-UC10G2SF USB4 to Dual 10GbE SFP+ adapter
Specifications:
- Chipset – Marvell AQtion AQC100S
- Host interface – USB4 port (40 Gbps)
- Networking
- 2x 10GbE SFP+ cages
- SMB Multi-Channel support
- Works with up to 300-meter cables
- Misc
- Link and Act LEDs for each port, power LED
- Fanless design
- Temperature Range – 0 to 35˚C
- Warranty – 2 years
The adapter ships with a 1-meter USB-C cable, a user manual, and two 10Gbps optical SFP+ transceivers. It’s compatible with Windows (except Arm-based systems), macOS, and Linux computers. You’ll find the drivers on the product page.
PUSOKEI 3gcdvm18rh-12
We have much less information about that one, and it’s probably an OEM model. We’re just told it’s a Thunderbolt 3/4/USB4 to dual 10Gbps SFP Fiber that works with Mac, Windows, and Ubuntu. The case is made of aluminum alloy for cooling, and it ships with a carrying case.
Its main benefit is that it’s much cheaper than the QNAP model, but there’s only a 90-day warranty from the manufacturer.
Low-cost USB4 to Dual 10Gbps Ethernet SPF+ adapter
But if you want something even more affordable, nothing beats the noname adapter sold on AliExpress for a little over $100.
Basic specifications:
- Chipset – Intel 82599ES
- Host Interface – USB4, compatible with Thunderbolt 3/4
- Networking – 2x SFP+ cages up to 10 Gbps
- Misc – LED indicator lights for link/activity/speed status.
- Temperature Range – Operating: 0°C to +55°C; storage: -40°C to +70°C
The adapter is said to be compatible with Windows 10/11, Server 2022, RHEL/CentOS 7.3/7.6/7.9/8.2/8.3, Deepin 15.11/20/20/20.6, and Ubuntu 16.04.3/18.04.5 and later releases.
We have a little more information about that model since NASCompare did a review, sadly video only, and no written review that I could find.
In summary, it does the job, but it gets quite hot under load (50°C), and SFP to Copper RJ45 adapters got really hot up to 70°C during a 10-minute iperf test. It worked fine on Windows 11, but they did not manage to compile the drivers for TrueNAS. The QNAP QNA-UC10G2SF looks more sturdy, and probably dissipates the heat much better, but you’d have to pay five times more for it, and the two optical transceivers included in the package don’t make up for the price difference.
Jean-Luc started CNX Software in 2010 as a part-time endeavor, before quitting his job as a software engineering manager, and starting to write daily news, and reviews full time later in 2011.
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Is this definitely USB4 compatible – or is it just leveraging the optional Thunderbolt support that some USB4 (but not all USB 4) implementations support? This aspect of USB4 is causing all sorts of confusion…
Just like usb-c, where the connector basically doesn’t say anything at all anymore. I’ve seen some appliances using 19V input through a usb-c connector.. it’s like the design department really want to increase support load by making things that will break due to incorrect input voltage..
He’s probably referring to something like that table that shows partial compatibility between USB4/TB4/TB3 is allowed: https://www.cnx-software.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Thunderbolt-4-vs-USB4.webp
It was more the PCI-E Tunnel aspect – which is core to Thunderbolt and optional for USB4 (and I think USB4 leverages TB4 for that when it implements it?)
I have a strong feeling this device leverages PCI-E tunnelling – which is optional on USB4 so is more ‘thunderbolty’ than USB?
> I think USB4 leverages TB4
USB4 relies on TB3 with some mandatory features of the latter becoming optional.
I guess my point is that USB4 marketing is a mess. If I read this right, people with USB4 ports on their computers who buy this USB4 device aren’t guaranteed that it will work if their computer’s USB4 port doesn’t support the optional TB3-related PCI-E tunnelling? (It’s almost better to market it has a Thunderbolt device?)
At least the mentioned chips are purely PCIe controllers. So I guess that this is leveraging the availability of PCIe lanes on the USB-C connector. I agree that it’s becoming really difficult to understand what devices works how nowadays. From a latency and performance perspective I’m happy that PCIe is finally accessible (reminds me of the old days of pcmcia then cardexpress), but from a security perspective, exposing PCIe to an external USB-C connector is a total disaster as we’ll quickly start to see $10 memory duplicators sold on aliexpress. Laptops will have to enable iommu then everyone will complain that everything has turned super slow and worse than USB3 before…
I’d love to grab the PUSOKEI model, but without knowing the chipset it’s a gamble.
Then why not the last one ? It’s half the price and runs the most commonly deployed 10G chip, 82599ES, which is certain to work since probably half of the 10G ports of the servers on the net have been running on it for more than 10 years.
I have a device that looks identical (was noname) but 25G one – it have cx4 lx inside and it is too hot chip for such case without a fan.
I’ve bought a device that looks like a “PUSOKEI” but claims to be 25G – inside there is a thunderbolt to OCP 2.0 adapter and mellanox connectx-4 lx nic. And main problem of that one is that it overheats if you plug fiber in it (I’ve tried with smf 25G one). They clearly have a spot to put a small blower fan, but there is nothing there. So if modded – it is actually a very nice device, as cx4 lx is a better nic (in terms of offloads) out there.
I also strongly believe that this 2x10G is exactly the same device but with 10G version of cx4 lx.