TP-Link 2.5GB PCIe Network Card (TX201) – PCIe to 2.5 Gigabit Ethernet Network Adapter, Supports Windows 11/10/8.1/8/7, Win Server 2022/2019/2016, Linux

The on-board network connection on my computer was slowing down. I have Xfinity Gigabit service and was only getting 92K. So I purchased this card. Now, I get 930Mbps. I'm happy.I'd like to make a comment about ratings. I rarely look at negative ratings. There is ALWAYS someone who isn't happy for one reason or another. On this unit, someone said "It doesn't go 2.5Gbps". Do they know that if they only have 1 gig coming in, that's all they are going to get? Another said "It isn't wireless." Well, if they read the description, nowhere does it say "wireless". Also, someone said it didn't fit the computer. Did they check to see what edge connection they needed? You can't blame the product for that. This card is for a PCI-e slot.Or, "It didn't work." Did they use the latest drivers? Maybe the problem was the network cable. I commend people for trying to do things, but when they fail, they can't (necessarily) blame the product.Some negative responses were from people who seem to know what they are doing (fiber, IP4, Dynamic, and other impressive words). I do believe the card didn't live up to their expectations. However, people who need this type of sophistication should not be purchasing a board that costs under $30. If they want the best, they need to spend the money.When I look at ratings, I just add the 5-star and 4-star ratings. If those add up to 80% or more, I'm willing to take the risk. On this product, those two added up to 90% so I bought it.

There was a time when I would only use Intel NIC cards/chips. They always worked, no questions asked. Wouldn't touch Realtek because they rarely worked, and if they did work they died quickly. Well, that was a long time ago. I just now put this TP-Link adapter in my system that came with an onboard Intel NIC. The on-board Intel NIC was not good above 1.0Gb/s, and sometimes would just act funny even at 1.0Gb/s. This new TP-Link card worked perfectly at 2.5 Gb/s right out of the box. I plugged it into the last PCI slot in my machine (usually the slowest port) and tested a full 2.5 Gb/s throughput. No skips, no jumps, no issues whatsoever. I'm officially no longer an Intel fan! (P.S. this machine I did this in was an AMD machine.)

Easy install, and FAST!Saw that I was the next stop for delivery on the Amazon app, so opened the computer case and pulled the slot cover off. Package was delivered, opened and installed in the slot in just two minutes. Instructions implied that I'd need to load the drivers off in the included CD (???) or go to the website to download the drivers, but the system was already booted, connected to the internet, and showing a solid 2.5g connection. I went to the website anyway in case there was a new driver - installed it, and it worked the same, so not entirely sure I needed the driver, or if Windows 11 already found it. Either way, it doubled the speed of my motherboards onboard ethernet port.

UPDATE!: After the 3rd reboot the card started benchmarking at 2.5GB speeds and has continued to do so.Not sure what is going on, by testing a new 2.5GB card I ordered to replace the TP-Link one and my onboard 2.5GB card before it fixed itself they all seemed to benchmark at below 1GB speeds!? 3rd reboot after all my troubleshooting a few days later just magically fixed it all.Changing to 4 stars.I run a computer tech business so this isn't my first day on the job. I'm having a hard time figuring out what is going on here. Did TP-Link get scammed with a bunch of cheap 1GB chips flashed as 2.5GB?I thought I would buy something a little more for potentially get a better product. Like many others, this doesn't even get the speed 1GB NICs get.Of course I thought, ok the drivers are from 2021 I'll just go to the Realtek drivers website and get the latest 2024 version. No change. Ok I'll set in the NIC driver settings to force 2.5GB, turn off power saving and green stuff. Windows shows it's connected at 2.5GB but still slower than even the cheapest 1GB NIC.Next I went to the TP-Link official website and got their drivers it look like it installed like 4 different drivers?? No change at all. Very frustrated. Going to need to return it and get a generic Chinese brand that will prob work out of the box at 2.5GB. I also tried different slots in my high-end gaming computer (they are all fully powered) no change.Almost forgot I also have an 8port TP-Link 2.5GB switch that just breaks my network randomly and goes offline. It gets really hot so I'm guessing it just overheats? I just purchased a couple of cheap Chinese 4port 2.5GB switches and they work perfectly and have 2x 10GB if I ever upgrade. Amazing.....TP-Link PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS!!! I want to recommend you to clients as a trusted brand but this is beyond the pale.

Good performer, easy installation and full functional right out of the box. Only time will tell on performance and reliability, but so far it's good value for the money. Installed in a Dell XPS 8930, recognized, no driver ask, just works as advertised. Recommended.

great item, got it for a pc that's had dual ethernet ports but was starting to fail.great add on for an aging pc (11 years old) to get it to last a while longer.can't comment on the 2.5gb speed as my network is limited to 1gb

Was able to get this working for pfSense 2.7. You have to install the Realtek package. Try to do this prior to installation of the card or it’ll be impossible to get the packages (you need a working WAN port).1. Enable secure shell in Advanced settings and SSH as admin to your firewall management address2. Select 8 for shell and run “pkg install realtek-re-kmod” (the package installer will instruct you to do the following)3. Edit boot “ee /boot/loader.config”4. Add the two lines if_re_load=“YES”if_re_name=“/boot/modules/if_re.ko”5. Save file by pressing ESC and answering leave editor and save5. Reboot by typing reboot