Intel® Ethernet Network Adapter E810-2CQDA2: Dual-Port 100GbE for Next-Gen Data Centers
Overview of the E810-2CQDA2 Adapter
The Intel® Ethernet Network Adapter E810-2CQDA2 delivers dual-port 100 Gigabit Ethernet (100GbE) performance over PCIe Gen 4.0 x16, making it one of Intel’s most powerful network adapters. Designed for bandwidth-intensive applications like artificial intelligence (AI), cloud computing, high-performance computing (HPC), and software-defined networks (SDN), this adapter provides exceptional throughput, reliability, and scalability.
Key Specifications
| Essentials |
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| Product Collection |
100GbE Intel® Ethernet Network Adapter E810 |
| Marketing Status |
Launched |
| Launch Date |
Q1'21 |
| Vertical Segment |
Server |
| Cabling Type |
QSFP28 - DAC | Optics | and AOC's |
| Bracket Height |
Full Height |
| Supported Operating Systems |
View now |
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| Supplemental Information |
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| Datasheet |
View now |
| Description |
Up to 200Gbps for bandwidth-intensive workloads. |
| Product Brief |
View now |
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| Networking Specifications |
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| Port Configuration |
Dual |
| Data Rate Per Port |
100/50/25/10GbE (200GbE when ports bifurcated) |
| Intel® Virtualization Technology for Connectivity (VT-c) |
Yes |
| Speed & Slot Width |
16 GT/s x 16 lanes |
| Controller |
Intel Ethernet Controller E810 |
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| Package Specifications |
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| System Interface Type |
PCIe 4.0 (16GT/s) |
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| Intel® Virtualization Technology for Connectivity |
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| On-chip QoS and Traffic Management |
Yes |
| Flexible Port Partitioning |
Yes |
| Virtual Machine Device Queues (VMDq) |
Yes |
| PCI-SIG* SR-IOV Capable |
Yes |
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| Advanced Technologies |
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| iWARP/RDMA |
Yes |
| RoCEv2/RDMA |
Yes |
| Intel® Data Direct I/O Technology |
Yes |
| Intelligent Offloads |
Yes |
| Storage Over Ethernet |
iSCSI | NFS |
Built for Performance-Driven Environments
The E810-2CQDA2 is engineered for next-gen infrastructure and performance-critical workloads such as:
- Cloud-scale infrastructure and hyperscalers
- Virtualized data centers and NFV deployments
- AI/ML training clusters and inference engines
- Storage area networks using NVMe over Fabrics (NVMe-oF)
- Disaggregated architectures with massive east-west traffic
Advanced Networking Capabilities
✅ Application Device Queues (ADQ)
Optimizes application-specific traffic by dedicating queues, ensuring minimal jitter and consistent latency.
✅ Dynamic Device Personalization (DDP)
Enables customizable protocol parsing and classification to offload specific workload traffic.
✅ RDMA Support (iWARP & RoCEv2)
Delivers low-latency, high-throughput direct memory access between devices—crucial for HPC and storage workloads.
✅ Virtualization & Overlay Support
- SR-IOV: Up to 512 virtual functions
- VXLAN, GENEVE, NVGRE offloads
- Support for VMware NetQueue and Microsoft VMQ
Security Features
Security is essential in data center networking. The E810-2CQDA2 offers:
- MACsec (IEEE 802.1AE): Link-layer encryption
- Secure Device Onboarding (SDO)
- Signed firmware updates and secure boot
- IEEE 1588 Precision Time Protocol (PTP): For synchronized operations in telecom and financial sectors
Power Efficiency and Reliability
Built on Intel’s advanced process design, the E810-2CQDA2 includes:
- Dynamic power management
- Thermal-aware design for consistent performance under heavy loads
- Robust driver support and firmware resiliency
Compatibility and Ecosystem
The E810-2CQDA2 integrates seamlessly with Intel’s ecosystem:
- Certified for Intel® Select Solutions
- Fully compatible with 3rd-party transceivers and DAC/AOC cables
- Backed by Intel’s Driver & Support Assistant (DSA) and scalable firmware updates
Comparison with E810-CQDA2 and Other Models
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Feature
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E810-2CQDA2
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E810-CQDA2
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E810-CQDA1 (OCP 3.0)
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Ports
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2 x 100GbE
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1 x 100GbE
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1 x 100GbE
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Form Factor
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PCIe Low-profile
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PCIe Low-profile
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OCP 3.0
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Interface
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PCIe 4.0 x16
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PCIe 4.0 x16
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PCIe 4.0 via OCP slot
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Ideal Use
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Hyperscale, HPC, AI
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General purpose
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Cloud/OCP rack servers
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Bandwidth
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Up to 200Gbps
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Up to 100Gbps
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Up to 100Gbps
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Why Choose Intel® E810-2CQDA2
With unmatched I/O throughput, advanced offloads, and hardened security, the Intel® Ethernet Network Adapter E810-2CQDA2 is a strategic enabler for modern IT infrastructure. Whether you're managing a containerized Kubernetes cluster or building a petabyte-scale data lake, this adapter ensures you're not limited by your network.
Conclusion: Future-Proof Your Network Edge
The Intel® E810-2CQDA2 is more than just a network card—it's a critical building block for scalable, secure, and high-performance infrastructure. As enterprise networks evolve to meet AI, big data, and multi-cloud demands, investing in dual-port 100GbE adapters like the E810-2CQDA2 ensures you stay ahead of the curve