QNAP makes two kinds of network adapter. QXG cards fit a PCIe slot in a QNAP NAS or a desktop PC: 2.5GbE (QXG-2G1T-I225, QXG-2G2T-I225, QXG-2G4T-I225), 10GbE RJ45 (QXG-10G1T, QXG-10G2T, QXG-10G2T-X710), 10GbE SFP+ (QXG-10G2SF-X710, QXG-10G2SF-NXE) and 25GbE SFP28 (QXG-25G2SF-E810, QXG-25G2SF-CX6). QNA adapters plug into a USB4 or Thunderbolt 3/4 port on a laptop or Mac: QNA-UC10G1T and QNA-UC10G2T (10GbE RJ45) and QNA-UC10G1SF (10GbE SFP+). RJ45 uses Cat 6 class copper; SFP+ uses a direct attach cable (DAC) or an optical transceiver.
Quick pick: 2.5GbE NAS or PC with a PCIe slot → QXG-10G2T; SFP+ switch or NAS → QXG-10G2SF-X710 with a CAB-DAC30M-SFPP cable; laptop or Mac → QNA-UC10G1T; virtualisation or 25GbE → QXG-25G2SF-E810. ARC IP Networks is an authorised QNAP reseller and supplies genuine QNAP from Australian stock with a GST tax invoice.
QNAP network cards and adapters at a glance
| Adapter | In one line | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| QXG-2G1T-I225 | 1 x 2.5GbE RJ45, Intel I225-LM, PCIe Gen2 x1 | Adding 2.5GbE to a PC or NAS cheaply |
| QXG-10G1T | 1 x 10GbE RJ45 (5 speeds), PCIe 3.0 x4 | One 10GbE link from a PC or NAS |
| QXG-10G2T | 2 x 10GbE RJ45 (5 speeds), Marvell AQtion AQC107, PCIe 3.0 x4 | A 2.5GbE NAS that needs 10GbE over copper |
| QXG-10G2T-X710 | 2 x 10GbE RJ45, Intel X710, SR-IOV, PCIe 3.0 x4 | Virtual machines on the NAS |
| QXG-10G2SF-X710 | 2 x 10GbE SFP+, SR-IOV, PCIe Gen3 x8 | SFP+ switches and fibre runs |
| QXG-10G2SF-NXE | 2 x 10GbE SFP+, Broadcom BCM57412, SR-IOV, iSER | SFP+ with iSCSI over RDMA |
| QXG-25G2SF-E810 | 2 x 25GbE SFP28, Intel E810-XXVAM2, PCIe Gen4 x8 | 25GbE servers and NAS |
| QXG-25G2SF-CX6 | 2 x 25GbE SFP28, NVIDIA Mellanox ConnectX-6 Lx, RoCE | VMware and RDMA workloads |
| QXG-ES10G1T | E1.S module, 1 x 10GbE RJ45 | The TS-H765EU-8G only |
| QNA-UC10G1T | USB4/Thunderbolt 3/4 to 1 x 10GbE RJ45, Marvell AQC113 | Laptops and Macs on copper |
| QNA-UC10G1SF | USB4/Thunderbolt 3/4 to 1 x 10GbE SFP+, Marvell AQC100S | Laptops and Macs on an SFP+ switch |
Summarised from QNAP's specifications for each adapter.
Popular QNAP 10GbE and 25GbE adapters compared
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| Spec | QXG-10G1T | QXG-10G2T | QXG-10G2SF-X710 | QXG-25G2SF-E810 | QNA-UC10G1T |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Connection | PCIe 3.0 x4 | PCIe 3.0 x4 | PCIe Gen3 x8 | PCIe Gen4 x8 | USB4 / Thunderbolt 3/4 |
| Ports | 1 x RJ45 | 2 x RJ45 | 2 x SFP+ | 2 x SFP28 | 1 x RJ45 |
| Speeds | 10G/5G/2.5G/1G/100M | 10G/5G/2.5G/1G/100M | 10G/1G | 25G/10G | 10G/5G/2.5G/1G/100M |
| Controller | Not stated (see note) | Marvell AQtion AQC107 | Not named by QNAP | Intel E810-XXVAM2 | Marvell AQtion AQC113 |
| Cable | CAT-6 class | CAT-6 class | SFP+ DAC (1.5, 3, 5 m) or optical | SFP28 DAC or optical | Cat 6a recommended |
| SR-IOV | Not listed | Not listed | Yes | Not listed | n/a |
| QNAP NAS OS | QTS / QuTS hero | QTS/QuTS 5.0.1.2430 or later | QTS 5.1.0 / QuTS hero 5.1.0 or later | QTS / QuTS hero | Not listed |
| PC OS (QNAP lists) | Windows 11 25H2, Windows Server 2022/2025, Ubuntu 20.04/22.04 | Windows 10/11, Linux 3.10 and higher | Windows 11, Windows Server 2022, Ubuntu 20.04/22.04 | Windows 10/11, Windows Server 2022, Ubuntu 22.04 | Windows 11, macOS 12.7 to 15.4, Ubuntu 22.04 |
| QNAP warranty | 3 years | 3 years | 3 years | 3 years | 2 years |
Source: QNAP hardware specifications. Windows and Linux need a driver. QNAP's QXG-10G1T pages name two different controllers, which suggests a hardware revision, so we leave it out. "Not listed" means QNAP's specification does not mention it.
PCIe card or USB4/Thunderbolt adapter?
Use a QXG PCIe card in a QNAP NAS with a free PCIe slot or in a desktop PC or server. QNAP's compatibility line for every QXG card is "models with PCIe slot(s), 1 free slot required". Each card ships with a low-profile bracket fitted and a full-height bracket in the box. Many current QNAP NAS list 10GbE as "optional via PCIe expansion card", including the TS-464-8G, TS-264-8G, TS-664-8G and TS-462-4G (one PCIe Gen 3 x2 slot each) and the TS-473A-8G and TS-673A-8G (two PCIe Gen 3 x4 slots). Slot bandwidth matters: QNAP notes that the TS-832PX-4G's PCIe Gen 2 x2 slot limits 10GbE performance. Check QNAP's compatibility list for your exact NAS, or ask us before you order.
Use a QNA adapter on a laptop, a Mac or any computer without a spare slot. The QNA-UC10G1T, QNA-UC10G2T and QNA-UC10G1SF connect to a USB4 or Thunderbolt 3/4 port with the included USB4 C to C cable. QNAP notes that they do not work through a Thunderbolt 2 to Thunderbolt 3 adapter. In QNAP's testing, the QNA-UC10G1T reached 1,181 MB/s read and write over SMB on one 10GbE link, and the dual-port QNA-UC10G2T reached up to 2,328 MB/s read across both 10GbE ports.
RJ45 or SFP+?
10GbE RJ45 (10GBASE-T) uses ordinary copper network cable and drops to 5G, 2.5G, 1G or 100M to match whatever is on the other end, so it works with a 2.5GbE switch today and a 10GbE switch later. QNAP specifies CAT-6 class cable for its QXG RJ45 cards and recommends Cat 6a for the QNA adapters. Pair it with an RJ45 10GbE switch such as the QSW-2104-2T-R2 or QSW-L3208-2C6T.
10GbE SFP+ takes a plug-in cable or module instead of a fixed socket. It is what the SFP+ ports on the TS-432X-4G, TS-632X-4G, TS-435XEU-4G and TS-832PX-4G need, and what the SFP+ ports on QNAP switches take. The QXG SFP+ cards run at 10G or 1G only. For more on choosing a switch, see our QNAP 10GbE and 2.5GbE switch guide.
SFP+ cables and transceivers: DAC or fibre?
- Direct attach cable (DAC) for short runs inside a rack or across a desk. QNAP's SFP+ 10GbE twinaxial cables come in 1.5 m, 3.0 m and 5.0 m. QNAP lists them as optional accessories for the QXG-10G2SF-X710 and QXG-10G2SF-NXE cards, the QNA-UC10G1SF adapter and the QSW-L3208-2C6T switch, and the cards' specifications name the same 1.5, 3 and 5 m lengths.
- TRX-10GITSFPP-SR: a 10GbE SFP+ optical transceiver with 850nm SR optics for links up to 300m, rated for industrial temperatures from -40 to 85°C. Use one at each end when the NAS is in a comms room and the workstation is down the corridor.
- TRX-25GSFP28-SR: a 25GbE SFP28 optical transceiver with LC-LC connectors and 850nm SR optics for up to 100m, listed by QNAP for the QXG-25G2SF-E810 and QXG-25G2SF-CX6. QNAP also lists SFP28 DAC cables for the 25GbE cards; ask us for these.
Controllers, SR-IOV and RDMA: do they matter?
For file sharing, any card here does the job. The controller matters for virtualisation and storage networks:
- Intel X710 (QXG-10G2T-X710): SR-IOV with 128 virtual functions (64 per port), so virtual machines on the NAS get their own network resources. QNAP also lists the QXG-10G2SF-X710 with SR-IOV.
- Broadcom BCM57412 (QXG-10G2SF-NXE): SR-IOV and iSER, which combines iSCSI and RDMA to reduce response times. It needs QTS 5.2.1 / QuTS hero h5.2.1 or later.
- NVIDIA Mellanox ConnectX-6 Lx (QXG-25G2SF-CX6): SR-IOV, RoCE for lower latency in VMware environments, iSER and NFS over RDMA with QTS 5.2.6 or QuTS hero h5.2.6 or later.
- Intel E810-XXVAM2 (QXG-25G2SF-E810): 25GbE with three FEC modes; QNAP suggests combining it with built-in 25GbE ports and SMB Multichannel for 50Gb/s or more to clients.
- Intel I225-LM (QXG-2G1T-I225, QXG-2G2T-I225, QXG-2G4T-I225): 2.5GbE over CAT-5 class cable, with teaming, VLAN and 9k jumbo frames. Wake-On-LAN is not supported in QTS.
- Marvell AQtion AQC107 (QXG-10G2T): two 10GbE RJ45 ports, up to 20Gbps with SMB Multichannel (QTS 5.1/QuTS hero 5.1 or later) or port trunking.
If you also want M.2 SSD caching from the same slot, the QM2-2P2G2T combines two M.2 NVMe slots with two 2.5GbE ports on one card; see our SSD cache and M.2 guide. The QXG-ES10G1T is a special case: an E1.S module that QNAP lists only for the TS-H765EU-8G, with no driver needed in QTS or QuTS hero.
Which operating systems does QNAP support?
- QNAP NAS: every QXG card in this guide lists QTS, and most list QuTS hero too. Some need a minimum version, for example QTS 5.1.0 for the QXG-10G2SF-X710 and QTS 5.2.1 for the QXG-10G2SF-NXE. QuTS hero support is not stated for the QXG-10G2T-X710. Update the NAS first.
- Windows and Linux PCs: QNAP lists Windows and Ubuntu (or other Linux) for each QXG PCIe card, with a driver required. The exact versions differ by card; check the product page.
- Mac: QNAP lists macOS 12.7 to 15.4 for the QNA-UC10G1T, QNA-UC10G2T and QNA-UC10G1SF. macOS is not listed for the QXG PCIe cards.
For best throughput on the QNA adapters, QNAP recommends Jumbo Frames (MTU 9000) on all devices and the High Performance power mode on the computer.
Which QNAP adapter for which job?
ARC IP Networks suggestions, based on QNAP's specifications.
| You want to | Choose | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Move a TS-464-8G or TS-473A-8G to 10GbE over copper | QXG-10G2T | Two 10GbE RJ45 ports, 5 speeds, 20Gbps with SMB Multichannel |
| Connect a NAS to an SFP+ switch in a rack | QXG-10G2SF-X710 + CAB-DAC30M-SFPP | SFP+ with SR-IOV; DAC for short runs |
| Give a Melbourne or Sydney video editor 10GbE on a MacBook | QNA-UC10G1T | USB4/Thunderbolt 3/4, macOS 12.7 to 15.4, Cat 6a |
| Reach a NAS in a comms room over fibre | TRX-10GITSFPP-SR pair | 850nm SR, up to 300m |
| Run VMs or iSCSI storage on the NAS | QXG-10G2T-X710 or QXG-10G2SF-NXE | SR-IOV; iSER on the NXE |
| Build a 25GbE storage network | QXG-25G2SF-E810 or QXG-25G2SF-CX6 | PCIe Gen4 x8; RoCE on the CX6 |
| Add 2.5GbE to an older office PC | QXG-2G1T-I225 | Low-profile card, CAT-5 class cable |
Why buy QNAP from ARC IP Networks
- Authorised QNAP reseller: genuine QNAP sourced through authorised Australian distribution, never grey import.
- Australian stock shipped Australia-wide.
- Manufacturer's warranty and local pre-sales help choosing bays, drives, networking and expansion.
- Every product page backed by QNAP's own specifications, with the exact warranty for each model.
- GST tax invoice on every order, with trade and project pricing for installers and integrators.
See the full range on our QNAP Australia hub, or read where to buy QNAP in Australia. Questions? Call 1300 100 440 or email info@arcip.com.au.
Shop QNAP network cards, adapters and cables
Live Australian pricing (inc. GST) is on each product page. See every model in the QNAP accessories and options category.
Common questions
Straight answers from the ARC IP Networks team. Last reviewed October 2026.
For copper cabling, the QNAP QXG-10G2T (two 10GbE RJ45 ports, 10G/5G/2.5G/1G/100M). For an SFP+ switch, the QXG-10G2SF-X710 with an SFP+ DAC cable. Both need a free PCIe slot; check QNAP's compatibility list for your NAS.
Yes, if it has a PCIe slot. QNAP lists 10GbE as optional via a PCIe expansion card on models such as the TS-464-8G, TS-264-8G and TS-473A-8G.
Use a QNAP QNA adapter on a USB4 or Thunderbolt 3/4 port: the QNA-UC10G1T for RJ45 or the QNA-UC10G1SF for SFP+. QNAP lists macOS 12.7 to 15.4, Windows 11 and Ubuntu 22.04.
RJ45 (10GBASE-T) uses copper network cable and steps down to 5G, 2.5G, 1G or 100M. SFP+ takes a direct attach cable or optical transceiver and suits SFP+ switches, SFP+ NAS ports and fibre runs.
A direct attach cable has SFP+ connectors fixed to both ends of a twinaxial cable. QNAP's CAB-DAC15M-SFPP, CAB-DAC30M-SFPP and CAB-DAC50M-SFPP are 1.5 m, 3.0 m and 5.0 m 10GbE SFP+ DAC cables.
Yes. QNAP lists Windows support for each QXG PCIe card in this guide, with a driver required. The supported versions differ by card.
The QXG-10G2T-X710, QXG-10G2SF-X710, QXG-10G2SF-NXE, QXG-25G2SF-CX6 and the 100GbE QXG-100G2SF-CX6 list SR-IOV.
QNAP lists 3 years for the 10GbE, 25GbE and 100GbE QXG cards, 2 years for the 2.5GbE QXG-I225 cards and the QNA adapters.
ARC IP Networks is an authorised QNAP reseller and supplies genuine QNAP from Australian stock with a GST tax invoice. Order at arcip.com.au or call 1300 100 440.
Not sure which card fits your NAS?
Send us your NAS model and what you are connecting. ARC IP Networks will check the PCIe slot, match the card, cables and switch, and quote trade pricing for installers and IT providers. Call 1300 100 440 or email info@arcip.com.au.