Realtek introduced the RTL8127 10GbE to PCIe NIC at Computex 2025 last May as a low-power, low-cost 10Gbps Ethernet solution for PCIe and M.2 networking cards with an estimated price of around $30 to $40.
The good news is that 10GbE PCIe and M.2 cards are now available for sale, just not always at the expected price points. Let’s have a look at some of the options available.
Auvidea M20E M.2 10GbE module
The first RTL8127 device that came to our attention last month was the Auvidea M20E M.2 10GbE module.
Auvidea M20E specifications:
- Chipset- Realtek RTL8127
- Ethernet – 10-pin PicoBlade connector for RJ45 or M12 Xcode adapter
- Host interface – M.2 Key-E (PCIe Gen4 x1) edge connector
- Compatible with NVIDIA Jetson Orin NX/AGX and others
- Power Supply
- Via edge connector
- Optional PoE via 4-pin JST-GH
- Power Consumption – < 1.5W
- Dimensions – 22 x 42mm; suitable for 2242 or 2230 sockets.
The company provides Linux and Windows drivers for the module. It’s all great until we check the price: 99.99 to 112.99 Euros. The cheaper version is the M.2 module only, while the more expensive kit also features an RJ45 Ethernet adapter board and cable. There are also other Ethernet adapters, either with an IP67-rated waterproof RJ45 jack or an M12 X-Code connector, but those are not for sale online.
A Japanese user got one and tested it at up to about 7,400 Mbps over Google Fiber. He mentions there were no issues like packet jams or loss he experienced with a Marvell AQC107 card, and the RTL8127 runs pretty cool, consuming just 1.95W, against 6W for the Marvell chip. He used Windows drivers from the Realtek website.
Realtek RTL8127 10GbE PCIe card
I could not find a cheaper RTL8127 M.2 module at this stage, but a more affordable OEM RTL8127 10GbE PCIe card is sold on Alibaba ($35) and AliExpress ($51.62 shipped), prices that are closer to expectations.
There’s not much in the way of specifications. The model number is “TXA401”, a thin heatsink covers the Realtek RTL8127 chipset, and it is equipped with a JXD TG2481S transformer. All you need is a free PCIe slot on our motherboard or SBC.
One user left a review on AliExpress, which seems to confirm the review of the M.2 module, mentioning good stability of the card compared to the AQC107:
I was happy to see the rtl8127 on aliexpress and this seller was one of the first ones to sell it. It arrived to canada in about 1.5 weeks. My motherboard came with the realtek 2.5gbe and I ensured the latest drivers were installed. After installing the rtl8127, my computer recognized it right away and I had internet access. I’m seeing no issues with network stress tests. So far, the rtl8127 is more stable than the aqc107 and it uses less power. Highly recommended so far.
That’s a good start, and we should soon see more RTL8127 PCIe cards and M.2 modules, as well as cheaper 10GbE-capable mini PCs, SBCs, motherboards, etc…
Thanks to TLS for the tip.
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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Great, let’s keep an eye on this!
Won’t the it overheat without a heat sink on such a small form factor?
Why would it? The RTL8127 is putting out less than 2 W of heat.
Did you consider the RTL8127 is sandwiched between the mainboard and the M.2 PCB? I would assume obstructed air flow unless the chip is mounted on the top side. (And even then the air flow might not be optimal).
So? It’s a sub 2 W chip, it doesn’t need a heatsink at all.
The manufacturer claims 1.5 W power consumption in the specs.
Using a M.2 wifi adapter you already see the temperature rising when the chip is mounted on the outside. Here the chip is mounted between the PCB’s and it consumes 4 times as much energy!
Encapsulated between PCB’s hardly seems an efficient way to keep an IC cool.
I would like to see some practical test of this option. I don’t think I’d like to use an RTL8127 myself in a tight casing without a solid forced air flow (burning multiple times more energy than the “efficient” adapter saves).
Please explain why an IC has to be cool? They’re designed and made to work within a certain temperature range and if that isn’t exceeded, there won’t be any issues. So many people are fixated with things running hot, it’s not a problem as long as the operating range isn’t exceeded. The only exception is NAND flash, which ideally shouldn’t get too hot.
Realtek doesn’t list operating temperatures for their networking ICs, but Intel has a temperature range of 0-70 degrees C and I can guarantee that you won’t hit 70 degrees C with a <2 W chip.
I have an original Aquantia AQC107 card in my NAS and PC and the card in my NAS has been almost constantly on for seven years, idling at 70-80 degrees C, never had any issues.
Hope to also see cheaper and cooler running 10Gb Ethernet USB adapters too
They are coming too, but the chip to monitor is the Realtek RTL8159.
First Adapters are in Alibaba, will bei available in the next weeks/months on AliExpress and Others too.
https://www.alibaba.com/product-detail/10GbE-USB-C-Ethernet-Adapter-USB3_1601486617235.html
The Realtek guys I spoke with at Computex, didn’t think that design was ideal from a thermal perspective, but I also talked to a company that claimed to be the ones behind that housing design and they said it was fine…
That and the SFP+…
期待一下rtl的全万兆交换机
For people who prefer a 10GbE SFP+ PCIe card, I’ve been pointed to the TechPlus-Link GBP8127-1010F0-ZZ on X:
https://www.techplus-link.com/pcie01.html
It’s currently for sale on Shopee Taiwan: https://shopee.tw/product/5801322/42705997628
Shopee is like Ebay or something along those lines, so don’t trust things on there too much.
We have Shopee in Thailand, and I buy a lot of goods from there. If there’s a problem with the products, they usually favor the buyer. They handle return shipping, and we get a full refund.
Finally cheap and low power (~2 watts) 10Gbe ethernet adapters! Almost 20 years after the 802.3an spec we have commodity level 10GBASE-T devices.
Anyone know when we’ll get cheap and lower power 10Gbe switches too? Realtek announced the RTL8261C chip for switches at the same time, but haven’t found any available today. On the 5Gbe front, I feel like it was almost a year after the RTL8126 was available did we get matching 5Gbe switches with Realtek chips.
You can find low-power and cheap 10G switches if you don’t need many ports. I bought a 4×2.5 + 2×10 on Ali last year for $120. It’s the size of a small 8 ports switch, totally fanless of course. If you need more ports, it quickly becomes complicated as it often turns to enterprise-grade switches with many ports, fans and heat (and $$).
$120 for such desktop switch is way too much today. I got those from ali for about $35. Recently they added POE, managed, vlan versions as well as different ports variants 4/6/8×2.5G+0/1/2x10SFP+
For now it’s easy to build 2.5G home network with 10G fiber uplink between devices.
In my case it’s all RJ45 + manageable, which are more expensive than single-port SFP+ for example (which I agree is around the price you indicate). But I have no doubt that prices are falling.
I wouldn’t expect those until next year, at least based on what I was told at Computex.
There’s only a single company that has a 5 Gbps switch afaik and I talked to that company at Computex too and they didn’t seem to have high expectations, but it should be easy for them to use that design to create a 10 Gbps switch using the RTL8261C.
https://www.techpowerup.com/337215/the-worlds-first-5-gbps-ethernet-switch-on-display-at-computex-2025
AQC107 it 8 years old now, any comparison makes no sense.
If you want to compare with aquantia you compare with AQ113
I guess you missed the point that it was a quote from someone that previously owned an AQC107 card and not an AQC113 card?