{"product_id":"gigabit-dual-nic-intel-82576-pcie-x1-2-pack-high-stability","title":"Gigabit Dual NIC Intel 82576 PCIe x1 - 2 Pack High Stability","description":"\u003cp\u003eIn this review of the 2 Pack Gigabit Dual NIC with Intel 82576 chip, the bottom line is simple: this is a practical, no-frills network upgrade for users who need reliable 1 Gb connectivity and broad OS compatibility. The reviewer found the cards especially useful for small servers, desktop hosts running virtual machines, and workstations that require two independent RJ45 ports. Installation is straightforward with both low profile and full-height brackets included, and the original \u003cstrong\u003eIntel 82576 controller\u003c\/strong\u003e provides the kind of offload and QoS features that matter under sustained loads.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eKey Features\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eDual RJ45 ports:\u003c\/strong\u003e Two gigabit copper ports allow separate network paths or link aggregation to improve throughput and redundancy.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eOriginal Intel 82576 controller:\u003c\/strong\u003e The onboard controller supports intelligent offloads and QoS which help reduce CPU overhead and stabilize performance.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePCI Express 2.0 x1 interface:\u003c\/strong\u003e Compatible with x1, x4, x8 and x16 slots so the cards fit a wide range of desktop and server motherboards.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eLow profile and full-height brackets:\u003c\/strong\u003e Both bracket types are included for easy installation in standard and slim systems without parts hunting.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eBroad OS support:\u003c\/strong\u003e Works with a long list of Windows Server, desktop Windows and many Linux kernels as well as VMware ESX\/ESXi 5 and 6 for virtualization hosts.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eWho It's For\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis dual-port NIC is aimed at home labbers, small office servers, and workstation users who need dedicated 1 Gb Ethernet ports and prefer Intel silicon for driver maturity and offload capabilities. It is also a sensible choice for VMware ESXi 5\/6 hosts and Linux servers that match the supported kernels.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eUsers who need 10 Gb performance, built-in hardware encryption, or guaranteed support on the very latest ESXi 7.x should look elsewhere; similarly, those who require officially certified drivers for specialized enterprise distributions may want a part listed explicitly in their vendor compatibility matrix.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003ePros \u0026amp; Cons\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePros\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eReliable Intel 82576 chipset provides stable throughput and recognized driver support on many platforms.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eTwo ports on a single PCIe x1 card save expansion slots and enable link options like failover or aggregation.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eIncludes low profile and full-height brackets for flexible, tool-free fitting in various chassis types.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eGood value for a two-pack, especially for labs or multi-machine deployments.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCons\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMixed reports on compatibility and driver availability mean some setups may need manual driver downloads from Intel or extra troubleshooting.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eDoes not support VMware ESXi 7.0 or above, limiting use for hosts on the latest hypervisor releases.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eSpecifications\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003ctable\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eEthernet controller\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eIntel 82576\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eNumber of ports\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eDual RJ45\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eData rates\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e10\/100\/1000 Mbps, Cat5e up to 100m\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eInterface\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003ePCI Express v2.0 x1 (compatible x1\/x4\/x8\/x16)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eBracket\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eLow profile and full-height included\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSupported OS\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eWindows 7\/8\/10\/Vista\/XP, Windows Server 2003-2012 R2, Linux kernels 2.6\/3.x, VMware ESX\/ESXi 5\/6\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/table\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eOur Verdict\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFor buyers who want dependable 1 Gb Ethernet with the advantages of Intel silicon, this two-pack is a practical and cost-effective choice. It is best for home labs, small servers and workstations that need two ports and stable drivers; however, those on the latest ESXi 7.x hypervisors or seeking faster than gigabit links should consider other options.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eFrequently Asked Questions\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDoes this card work in small form factor PCs?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe package includes a low profile bracket so it can be installed in slim desktop and small form factor cases.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCan I get drivers directly for my OS?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eDrivers are available from Intel and the card supports many Windows Server, desktop Windows and common Linux kernel releases; some setups may require manual download.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eIs this compatible with VMware ESXi?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eIt is supported on VMware ESX\/ESXi 5 and 6 but it does not support ESXi 7.0 or above.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"H!Fiber.com","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":48177747198171,"sku":"B0DTT1GJLD","price":45.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0724\/1043\/1707\/files\/71yNksxtO5L._AC_SL1500.jpg?v=1769609620","url":"https:\/\/gearmusthave.com\/products\/gigabit-dual-nic-intel-82576-pcie-x1-2-pack-high-stability","provider":"GearMustHave","version":"1.0","type":"link"}