Accortec Intel X520 DP 10Gb DA/SFP+ Server Adapter Low Profile

The Accortec Intel X520 DP 10Gb DA/SFP+ Server Adapter Low Profile is engineered for professionals who demand serious networking performance in compact server environments. Built around the Intel X520 dual-port Ethernet controller, this Low Profile NIC delivers dependable 10 Gigabit connectivity with flexible port options, enabling rapid data transfer, streamlined virtualization, and scalable network design. Ideal for 1U and compact racks, it fits into dense chassis without sacrificing bandwidth, giving IT teams a reliable foundation for high-throughput workloads such as virtualization, databases, storage networks, and clustered applications. The card balances raw speed with efficient CPU utilization through hardware offloads, robust driver support, and broad OS compatibility, helping you reduce latency, increase throughput, and simplify deployment in data centers, private clouds, and enterprise IT environments.

• Dual 10GbE connectivity with flexible SFP+ and DAC options: The X520 DP delivers two independent 10 Gigabit ports that can be connected via SFP+ fiber transceivers or Direct Attach Copper (DAC) cables, allowing you to tailor your network topology to fiber, copper, or mixed environments without changing hardware. This flexibility supports rapid scale-out, storage networking, and high-performance compute clusters while maintaining a simple procurement path for your data center.
• Low-profile form factor designed for dense server deployments: The low-profile (half-height) bracket is optimized for 1U servers and compact enclosures, enabling you to maximize rack density without compromising performance. The card installs into standard PCIe slots and ships with both low-profile and full-height brackets, making it adaptable to a wide range of server chassis.
• High-throughput performance with CPU-friendly offloads: Each port can sustain up to 10 Gbps, delivering substantial aggregate bandwidth with reduced CPU overhead thanks to hardware offloads such as Large Send Offload (LSO), Large Receive Offload (LRO), and Receive-Side Scaling (RSS). These features help boost throughput for large data transfers, virtualization workloads, and multi-VM environments while preserving server CPU resources for application processing.
• Broad OS and virtualization support with robust management: This NIC is supported by Intel PROSet and standard Linux drivers, providing reliable installation and ongoing management across Windows Server, Linux distributions, VMware ESXi, and Hyper-V environments. The card supports essential networking features for virtualization, including multi-queue processing to optimize CPU cores, improved NIC teaming, and consistent driver updates across platforms.
• Flexible, future-proof networking with PCIe compatibility: The X520 DP uses a PCIe bus interface suitable for modern servers, with forward- and backward-compatibility across PCIe generations. This ensures straightforward integration into existing infrastructure and future upgrades, allowing you to scale network performance as data center demands grow while maintaining compatibility with a broad ecosystem of transceivers, cables, and switch ports.

Technical Details of Accortec Intel X520 DP 10Gb DA/SFP+ Server Adapter Low Profile

• Model: Accortec Intel X520 DP 10Gb DA/SFP+ Server Adapter Low Profile (Dual-Port)
• Chipset: Intel Ethernet Controller X520-DA2
• Ports: 2 x 10 GbE SFP+ ports; supports Direct Attach Copper (DAC) via SFP+ cables and SFP+ fiber transceivers (modules not included)
• Form Factor: PCIe Low-Profile (half-height) card; includes both low-profile and full-height brackets
• Bus Interface: PCI Express (typically PCIe 2.0/3.0 compatible) x4-enabled
• Data Rates: Up to 10 Gbps per port; up to 20 Gbps total aggregate bandwidth
• Offloads and Features: Multiqueue support, Receive-Side Scaling (RSS), Large Send Offload (LSO), Large Receive Offload (LRO), PCIe Bus Mastering; hardware-assisted traffic handling for better scalability
• Management and Drivers: Broad OS support with Intel PROSet drivers; compatibility with Windows Server and Linux distributions; widely tested with virtualization platforms such as VMware ESXi and Microsoft Hyper-V
• Network Flexibility: Supports pooling and bridging capabilities, VLAN tagging, and standard Ethernet features necessary for data centers and private clouds

How to install Accortec Intel X520 DP 10Gb DA/SFP+ Server Adapter Low Profile

• Power down the server, disconnect power, and ground yourself to prevent static discharge before handling components.
• Open the chassis and identify a suitable PCIe slot (preferably PCIe x4 or higher) for the NIC; remove the slot cover as needed.
• Insert the NIC into the PCIe slot and secure the bracket with a screw; attach the appropriate bracket (low-profile or full-height) to fit your chassis.
• Connect the networking cables: insert SFP+ transceivers and fiber or attach a compatible DAC twinax cable for direct copper connections, depending on your network design.
• Power on the server and install the latest drivers: obtain the latest Intel/Accortec X520 drivers from the vendor or Intel support site, then complete the OS driver installation and reboot if required.
• Configure network settings in the operating system: assign IP addresses, set up VLANs, and configure NIC teaming or bonds if your environment requires high availability or aggregated bandwidth, validating link status on both ports through the OS network tools.

Frequently asked questions

• Q: What connectivity options does this NIC support? A: It provides two 10 GbE SFP+ ports that can be used with optical transceivers for fiber networks or Direct Attach Copper (DAC) cables for short, high-speed copper links.
• Q: Do I need special drivers? A: Yes. Install the recommended Intel/Accortec drivers for your operating system (Windows, Linux, VMware, etc.) to ensure full feature support and stability.
• Q: Is this card suitable for virtualization hosts? A: Yes. The dual 10 GbE ports with multi-queue support and standard offloads are well-suited for virtualized environments, enabling efficient VM networking, live migration, and storage networking.
• Q: Can I use it in a 1U server? A: Yes. The low-profile design is specifically intended for dense 1U chassis deployments, making it a common choice for data centers and hyperconverged infrastructures.
• Q: What should I consider when selecting cables or transceivers? A: Choose SFP+ transceivers matched to your network (e.g., 10GBASE-SR/LR or DAC cables) and verify compatibility with your switch ports and the Intel/Xor Accortec NIC. Always ensure supported modules are used to avoid performance or compatibility issues.