00:00If you're building a homelab and want serious bandwidth without the enterprise price tag,
00:0440GB networking has never been more affordable.
00:07I went hunting for the best deals out there and put together this top 5 40G network cards
00:12for homelab builds. Let's get into it.
00:16Starting with number 5, we've got the Intel XL710 single-port QSFP Plus card running the
00:22XL710 QDA1 chipset on PCIe 3.0 x8. This is a rock-solid, well-supported Intel option,
00:29and at just $69.94 with nearly 5,000 sold and a 4.9 rating, it's a no-brainer if
00:36you want Intel
00:36reliability in your rack. Drivers are everywhere, and it just works.
00:41At number 4, the CX314A from the Connect X3 Pro line.
00:46This dual-port 40G QSFP Plus adapter comes in at $44.77, and honestly, that's a steal for two
00:54ports of 40GB. With over 4,800 sold and a 4.8 rating, the homelab community clearly loves it.
01:02Mellanox cards are fantastic for cheap high-speed links, and this one delivers.
01:07Number 3 is the original Intel XL710 QDA1 single-port 40GB converged adapter at $166.23.
01:17Yes, it costs more, but this is the genuine Intel part with full validation and a 4.9 rating across
01:23thousands of units. If you're building something mission-critical and want guaranteed compatibility,
01:28this is the pick. You're paying for peace of mind.
01:32Number 2 is the XL710 QDA2 dual-port 40GB e-card at $167.96.
01:40Two QSFP Plus ports on a single PCIe slot makes this perfect for a storage server or a router
01:46handling multiple high-speed links. It's rated 4.9 with over 3,700 sold, so people are clearly happy.
01:55Dual 40GB in one card is a lot of bandwidth for your money.
01:59And my number 1 pick, the HP544 Plus FLR QSFP dual-port 1040GB adapter for Gen 8 and Gen 9
02:06servers.
02:07At just $22.44 this is the absolute best bargain on the list, with a perfect 5-star rating and
02:14over
02:143,000 sold. If you've got an HP server sitting around, grab this and you've got 40GB for the
02:20price of lunch. Unbeatable. All the links are down in the description so you can grab these deals
02:27yourself. If this helped you out, hit that like button and subscribe for more Homelab Gear Breakdowns.
02:34Thanks for watching, and happy building!
02:37Thank you twent Coalition!
