Buying Server NICs in Volume: ConnectX and Intel E810 Checklist

By All Chip Supply · Published Oct 24, 2026

Ordering one network adapter for a lab is easy. Ordering fifty identical cards for a rack build is where part-number details matter. This checklist is for buyers purchasing NVIDIA ConnectX-6 Dx, ConnectX-7 or Intel E810 adapters in volume, including the fields that most often cause returns or delayed installs.

For a family-level comparison of speed and PCIe generation, see ConnectX-6 Dx vs ConnectX-7 vs Intel E810 once that article is live on the site.

Lock the exact ordering part number (OPN)

Do not RFQ "ConnectX-7" or "E810" alone. Each OPN encodes ports, speed, form factor and sometimes crypto features.

Examples from our catalog:

• ConnectX-7 MCX75310AAS-HEAT — single-port 200GbE / NDR200 class adapter
• ConnectX-7 MCX755106AS-HEAT — dual-port 200GbE / NDR200
• ConnectX-7 MCX75310AAS-NEAT — higher-speed ConnectX-7 variant (confirm cage and speed against your switch)
• ConnectX-6 Dx MCX623106AN-CDAT — dual-port 100GbE SmartNIC class card
• Intel E810-CQDA2 — dual-port 100GbE Ethernet adapter

If your server vendor ships a branded OPN (Dell, HPE, Lenovo and others), say whether you need that OEM card or a retail NVIDIA/Intel OPN. Firmware and support paths can differ.

Ports, cages and optics

Before you place the volume order, confirm:

1. Port count and speed your leaf/spine or storage fabric actually runs
2. Cage type (SFP28, QSFP28, QSFP56, QSFP112, OSFP)
3. Optics or DAC/AOC part numbers that match both ends of the link
4. Breakout needs (for example 100GbE to 4x25GbE), which depend on switch and optic support

Adapters and optics are often quoted separately. Put both on one RFQ so lead times line up. Related optics appear under networking.

PCIe generation, slot and bracket

• ConnectX-7 200/400Gb/s designs typically expect PCIe 5.0 x16
• ConnectX-6 Dx and many E810 cards are commonly PCIe 4.0
• Confirm stand-up PCIe vs OCP 3.0; they are not interchangeable
• State full-height or half-height brackets for every line in the PO

A dual-port card can still be limited by the PCIe slot. Match slot generation and lane count to the aggregate bandwidth you need.

Crypto, Secure Boot and feature SKUs

NVIDIA and Intel sell feature variants that look similar in a spreadsheet. On ConnectX cards, crypto-enabled and crypto-disabled SKUs are different OPNs. Secure Boot variants also exist on some ConnectX-6 Lx lines. Put the exact OPN on the RFQ and ask the supplier to confirm the feature set on the quote, not only the marketing name.

Condition: new vs pulled-and-tested

For volume server builds, most teams specify new cards. If refurbished or pulled cards are acceptable for a lab or spare pool, say so explicitly and require:

• Loopback or traffic test at rated speed
• Bracket height confirmed
• Firmware version disclosed
• Any OEM lock or license state disclosed

Do not mix new and pulled cards in the same production image without a written exception.

Firmware, drivers and OS support

Ask the supplier (or your internal platform team) for:

• Minimum firmware version required by your OS or NVIDIA/Intel support matrix
• Driver package version for your kernel or Windows Server build
• Whether cards will ship with a standard bracket and documentation set

For AI or GPU servers, also confirm the adapter choice against the GPU node's fabric plan. See AI and data center GPUs and server CPUs when the NIC is part of a full node quote.

Volume RFQ template (NIC-specific)

| Field | Example | |---|---| | OPN | MCX755106AS-HEAT | | Qty | 48 | | Condition | New | | Form factor | PCIe HHHL, half-height bracket | | Features | Crypto disabled (this SKU) | | Optics | List optic/DAC MPNs or "none" | | Firmware | State required minimum if known | | Delivery | Country, date, Incoterms | | Spares | Extra brackets / pull tabs if needed |

Send the same table for every OPN in the rack standard. For a combined server BOM, use a bulk quote.

How to compare NIC quotes

• Exact OPN match (not a "compatible" family member)
• Bracket and form factor
• Lead time for the full quantity, not a sample
• Optics included or priced separately
• Warranty and DOA process
• Landed cost to the delivery country

Independent distributors may clear allocation faster; franchised channels may be clearer on factory sealed packaging. Many buyers dual-source critical OPNs the same way they dual-source CPUs and memory.

Bottom line

Volume NIC buying succeeds when the OPN, cage, PCIe slot, bracket and feature SKU are fixed before pricing. Use this checklist with ConnectX-6 Dx, ConnectX-7 and Intel E810 lines so the cards that arrive match the servers and switches already on order.