Qnap: USB adapter for 10 Gbit/s Ethernet
Qnap is launching two USB adapters for particularly fast home networking. They transfer 10 Gbit/s via USB4 and Thunderbolt.
Qnap adapter with RJ45 connection.
(Image: Qnap)
10 Gbit/s Ethernet can be easily retrofitted to notebooks, MacBooks or (mini) PCs with adapters. Qnap is introducing two types of adapters that work with a USB-C port. The connection only needs to be compatible with USB4 or Thunderbolt from the third generation.
The QNA-UC10G1T variant is likely to be the more interesting one for most people: It uses an RJ45 socket at one end so that you can connect to a router or switch via Ethernet cable.
The second version, the QNA-UC10G1SF, replaces the RJ45 connection with an SFP+ (Small Form-Factor Pluggable Plus) slot. Interested parties can use all kinds of fiber optic modules, such as direct-attach cables for direct connection to a switch via fiber optics.
(Image:Â Qnap)
Both versions contain chips from the Marvell subsidiary Aquantia: the AQC113 in the RJ45 version and the AQC100S in the SFP+ version. Both chips require a PCI Express connection, which is why the adapters only work with USB4 or Thunderbolt 3 or higher and not with earlier USB versions.
The adapter housings are quite large. This helps to dissipate the chip waste heat via the aluminum – There are no fans. In the case of the SFP+ variant, the slot also requires a high minimum length.
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High price
Interested parties will have to dig deep into their pockets: Qnap sells both adapter types in its own online store for 285 euros each(RJ45 (starting from 265,51 €), SFP+ (starting from 268,63 €))
Meanwhile, there are hardly any alternatives for 10 Gbit/s Ethernet. OWC sells a similarly constructed adapter. It only gets much cheaper if you go for alternatives from no-name companies. Some of these are available on Aliexpress from China or on Amazon. However, Qnap is the first manufacturer to explicitly release its adapters for USB4. 5 Gbit/s adapters are even cheaper.
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(mma)
