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Realtek is aiming to democratize high-speed networking by launching a comprehensive lineup of 10 Gbps Ethernet chips, showcased at this year’s Computex. The base model, RTL8127, provides data rates from 10 Mbps to 10 Gbps while maintaining sub-2-watt power consumption, making it suitable for a variety of desktops and consumer devices. Alongside, the RTL8127AP targets server environments with additional support for DASH 1.2 remote management, demonstrating Realtek´s strategy to address both ends of the networking spectrum.
In addition to these core models, Realtek introduced specialized variants to cater to diverse networking setups. The fibre-exclusive RTL8127ATF eschews support for legacy 10/100 Mbps rates but operates at over 1 watt, making it an efficient choice for high-performance fiber connections. The copper-based RTL8127AT shares similar speed limitations as the fiber version but is distinguished by its physical PCIe x2 interface, supporting PCIe Gen 3 x2 or Gen 4 x1. This design could restrict compatibility with certain motherboards as add-in cards, a consideration for system builders and upgraders.
Expanding beyond traditional internal NICs, Realtek´s RTL8159 brings 10 Gbps Ethernet connectivity to a USB 3.2 Gen 2×2 interface, supporting a comprehensive range of speeds from 10 Mbps to 10 Gbps. At the Computex event, Realtek presented various mockups of anticipated customer implementations, though the company noted that final commercial products may differ in design. This new product family signals a shift toward affordable, mainstream 10 Gbps networking, potentially transforming both desktop and server market dynamics later this year.
