I have been following WisdPi’s improvement of varied 5 Gbps and 10 Gbps Ethernet adapters for the previous couple years.
They use newer Realtek Ethernet chips, which generally have efficiency quirks—most often encountered below Linux.
In immediately’s video, I examined the brand new WisdPi 10G Ethernet Enlargement Card for Framework computer systems. It matches in any out there Framework Enlargement slot—even on the Framework Desktop.
However Enlargement Playing cards use USB-C for his or her connection to the mainboard—and therein lies the rub…
The primary drawback is USB-C’s bandwidth complexity—particularly when paired with the Realtek RTL8159 Ethernet controller, which requires USB 3.2 Gen 2×2 (20 Gbps) to get the complete rated 10 Gbps speeds.
On many Framework laptops, you may wind up getting significantly lower than 10 Gbps (9.4 Gbps real-world max):
The above picture exhibits the common bandwidth I get on Home windows 11 on a Framework 13 with AMD’s Ryzen AI 5 340. Linux fares barely worse on that laptop computer, but it surely shocked me as a result of Framework’s personal port documentation for my laptop computer says it ought to assist USB 3.2 Gen 2×2—a minimum of on ports 1 and three!
The RTL8159 is bottlenecked on a many USB4 and all USB 3.2 Gen 2×1 connections. Sadly, that caps the bandwidth properly below 8 Gbps.
I examined on my Framework 12—with a slower Intel thirteenth Gen cell CPU—and I discovered it does assist USB 3.2 Gen 2×2 speeds as documented, and I ought to get nearer to 10 Gbps.
Besides—a minimum of in Linux—it did not. The port confirmed up as 20000 Mbps (20 Gbps) through lsusb, however iperf3 solely received me 7 Gbps. I attempted to obtain and compile the Realtek driver, but it surely errored out on Ubuntu 26.04, presumably as a result of the Linux kernel in that distro (7.x) is just too new.
So I switched to Home windows 11, and after confirming the port confirmed up as Gen 2×2 with USB Tree Viewer, I received the identical iperf3 efficiency as in Linux—a minimum of with the built-in driver.
On Home windows, although, the Realtek driver put in with no drawback, and I lastly received the 9.4+ Gbps I used to be on the lookout for:
Doing a bidirectional take a look at, I may get round 9 Gbps up, and 4-5 Gbps down, however after working these checks for some time, I bumped into a brand new subject. The module was getting extremely popular. Sufficient that I pulled out my thermal digicam to test on it:
That is getting near 70°C on the underside plastic floor, and whereas it will not offer you a direct contact burn, it might definitely offer you Toasted Pores and skin Syndrome—one thing I bear in mind listening to about again when MacBook Professionals would depart marks on customers’ legs!
I requested WisdPi about this, they usually stated the plastic floor temperatures is in compliance with IEC 62368-1 temperature security limits. So long as you do not maintain pores and skin involved with the floor for greater than 10 seconds, you are good to go.
However this can be a laptop computer. And I apply it to my lap often! Actually, I am penning this weblog submit on it from my sofa…
After all, 99% of the time I’ve it in my lap, I am on WiFi. Additionally, the module itself extends a pair cm out from the laptop computer, so it’s a must to take away it in the event you’re utilizing a laptop computer sleeve or have a snug-fitting bag.
So when it comes to warmth, my advice is to solely use this module in eventualities the place you will not be utilizing it in your lap.
And when it comes to getting the perfect efficiency, I’ve compiled the next chart, with bandwidth outcomes from WisdPi’s and my very own checks, exhibiting the perfect case situation for various Framework computer systems:
My advice for most individuals, then, is to think about the common ol’ Ethernet Enlargement Card, which is sweet for two.5 Gbps and prices about $40.
Should you want one thing quicker, and don’t desire an exterior USB-C dongle, then and solely then do you have to take into account the $99 WisdPi 10G Card. As of this writing, the cardboard was out of inventory.
The unit I examined was despatched to me by WisdPi for testing and overview.
