{"id":443,"date":"2025-08-26T22:40:11","date_gmt":"2025-08-26T22:40:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.cablesandkits.com\/learning-center\/?p=443"},"modified":"2025-09-11T19:56:12","modified_gmt":"2025-09-11T19:56:12","slug":"how-to-choose-a-network-card","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.cablesandkits.com\/learning-center\/how-to-choose-a-network-card\/","title":{"rendered":"Choosing the Right Network Card"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

How to Choose a Network Card<\/h1>\n\n\n\n

When you think about networking, there\u2019s a lot of focus on switches, panels, racks, cables, and the backbone infrastructure that makes it all work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s easy to forget about devices that enable individual networking components to function. One such case is a network interface card (NIC), often referred to as a network card. These essential components allow your computerized devices to connect to the network efficiently. Many devices have NICs built into them, which is why they are easy to overlook. But, there are times when you need to purchase NICs. When that happens, this guide will help you choose the right option.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Choose the Bus<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The first step is selecting the right bus for your NIC. For the most part, there are four bus options: PCI, PCI-X, PCIe, and USB. USB is the primary option for externally connected NICs. If you\u2019re doing an internal connection, then it will be one of the other three.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

To figure out what kind of bus your network card needs, check the device that will house the network interface card (usually a server or computer workstation). You can open up the device to see what bus connections are available, or you can look up that information in a fact sheet about the specific device.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Regardless, the device will dictate which bus you need. If your device supports multiple bus types, then you can compare performance and price options across all compatible NICs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Check NIC Speeds<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Once you know your bus, then you can look at speeds. Bus types can limit the NIC\u2019s capabilities. In general, if you aren\u2019t connecting rather old legacy devices, then you can get up to 1G speeds pretty easily.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The challenge comes when you need higher speeds. Modern networks can support 10G, 25G, and even 40G connections for individual devices. You\u2019ll want to make sure the NIC you choose can keep up with the speeds you need.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Count the Ports<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Each network card will have its own number of ports, ensuring seamless connectivity for your networked devices. Many NICs just have one port, but for a specialized server or workstation, you might want to consider additional ports. It\u2019s either a feature that means nothing to you, or it’s indispensable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Look at Your Connection Types<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Even when you have found a NIC with the right bus connection and appropriate performance, you\u2019ll need to think about how your device will connect to the network.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For lower speeds, Ethernet is very common. Both cat5e and cat6 cables connect via Rj45. For those networks, that\u2019s the connection port (or ports) you will need on the NIC.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For faster networks, you\u2019ll see a whole lot of different connection types, most of them related to fiber optics. Here are a few common connections that you might need to consider:<\/p>\n\n\n\n