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Green circuit board with silver QSFP+ port and gold PCIe x8 edge connector, full-height bracket installed

STARTECH

STARTECH PEX40GQSFPI 40Gbps QSFP+ network card

SKU CH-ZVHG-GR2VS MPN PEX40GQSFPI

Adds a 40Gbps QSFP+ port to a PCIe 3.0 x8 slot for high-bandwidth fiber connectivity

  • External connectors1 - QSFP+ Female
  • Internal ports1 - PCI Express x8 Male
  • Supported standardsIEEE 802.3ba 40GBASE-SR4 IEEE 802.3ba 40GBASE-LR4 PCI Expres
  • Transfer speed40 Gbit/s
  • Supported operating systemsWindows 7, 8, 8.1, 10 (64-bit Only) Windows Server 2008 R2,
  • Product typeQSFP+ Server Network Card
  • Adds 40Gbps server connectivity through a single QSFP+ port
  • Supports multimode and single-mode fiber for flexible deployments
  • Intel XL710-BM1 chipset provides virtualization technology for efficient workloads
  • PCIe 3.0 x8 interface delivers full 40Gbps bandwidth to the system
  • Low-profile bracket included for standard or compact chassis fit

40 Gbps QSFP+ server adapter

This PCI Express card adds a single 40 Gbps QSFP+ port to a server or workstation. It uses the Intel XL710-BM1 chipset and installs in an x8 or larger slot. The board supports multimode and single-mode fiber links and is compatible with 64-bit Windows 7 through 10, Windows Server 2008 R2 through 2016, and Linux kernels 2.6.24 to 4.11.x LTS.

Thermals and power in normal use

The standard-profile bracket fits full-height chassis and a low-profile bracket is included for slim enclosures. No active cooling is fitted so airflow through the server chassis handles heat dissipation. Power is drawn solely from the PCI Express 3.0 x8 interface without auxiliary connectors.

Build quality and day-to-day connectivity

A QSFP+ female cage accepts standard transceiver modules for fiber patch cables. Link and activity LEDs on the bracket give immediate visual status. Auto MDIX removes the need for crossover wiring. The card measures .80 by 4.80 by 7.10 inches and weighs 4 oz.

How it compares

Measured against everything we stock in Ethernet Cards & NICs, at today’s prices. Recalculated every night.

Price $288.99
Pricier than about 76% of the 1,505 comparable items (median $90.99).

Specifications

Product
Brand nameStarTech.com
Model namePEX40GQSFPI
Product typeQSFP+ Server Network Card
Performance
Transfer speed40 Gbit/s
Connectivity
Supported standardsIEEE 802.3ba 40GBASE-SR4
IEEE 802.3ba 40GBASE-LR4
PCI Express Rev 3.0, using PCIe x8 (or higher) slot
Ports & slots
External connectors1 - QSFP+ Female
Internal ports1 - PCI Express x8 Male
Size & build
Product dimensions0.8 in × 4.8 in × 7.1 in
Product weight4 oz
Shipping weight0.24 kg
Package size207 × 114 × 38 mm
Compatibility
Supported operating systemsWindows 7, 8, 8.1, 10 (64-bit Only)
Windows Server 2008 R2, 2012, 2012 R2, 2016 (64-bit Only)
Linux 2.6.24 to 4.11.x (64-bit Only)< LTS Versions only
In the box
In the box1 x Network Card
1 x Low-Profile Bracket
1 x Quick-Start Guide

Questions about this item

How do I install the PEX40GQSFPI card in a PCI Express x8 slot and what step is often missed?

Insert the card into a PCIe 3.0 x8 or higher slot, secure the bracket, then attach the QSFP+ transceiver and fiber cable before powering on; the step often missed is installing the Intel XL710-BM1 driver for your 64-bit OS first.

What maintenance or replacement will the PEX40GQSFPI need over time?

The card itself has no moving parts; plan to replace the QSFP+ transceiver module or fiber patch cable if link errors appear, and keep the Intel XL710-BM1 driver updated on Windows Server 2016 or Linux 4.11 LTS.

What limit appears first on the PEX40GQSFPI under sustained 40 Gbps loads?

The PCIe 3.0 x8 bus caps sustained throughput near 40 Gbps, and the 9K jumbo frame ceiling can become the bottleneck before the Intel XL710-BM1 chipset reaches its thermal ceiling.

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