900-9X5AD-0056-ST1 Nvidia 100 Gigabit Ethernet QSFP Connectx-5 PCI Express 3.0 X16 Network Card

Product Overview of the 100GBE Network Adapter

The Nvidia 900-9X5AD-0056-ST1 is a powerful 100 Gigabit Ethernet network card designed for modern data centers, cloud infrastructure, and high-performance computing environments. Built on the reliable ConnectX-5 architecture, this PCI Express network adapter delivers ultra-fast data throughput, low latency, and stable wired connectivity for enterprise-grade workloads.

General Information

• Brand: Nvidia
• Manufacturer Part Number: 900-9X5AD-0056-ST1
• Device Category: Network Interface Card (NIC)
• Product Line: ConnectX-5 Series

Technical Specifications

• 2 x 100 Gigabit QSFP28 ports
• Optimized for data center and cloud networking

Compatibility

The Nvidia 900-9X5AD-0056-ST1 network card is compatible with a wide range of enterprise servers and systems that support PCI Express 3.0 x16 slots.

• Rack and tower servers with available PCIe Gen 3.0 x16 slots
• Data center servers from major vendors such as Dell, HPE, Lenovo, and Supermicro
• High-performance computing (HPC) systems

Network Standards

This network adapter is compatible with multiple Ethernet speeds, ensuring backward compatibility and versatile deployment across different network setups.

• 100 Gigabit Ethernet
• 50 Gigabit LAN
• 40 Gigabit LAN
• 25 Gigabit LAN
• 10 Gigabit Ethernet
• Gigabit Ethernet

Data Transfer Speed

• Maximum data rate: up to 100 Gbps
• Ideal for high-performance computing and virtualization

The High-Performance 100 Gigabit Ethernet Networking

The category of 100 Gigabit Ethernet (100GbE) network interface cards is designed for environments where ultra-low latency, massive throughput, and advanced offload capabilities are mandatory. Products in this category, including the Nvidia 900-9X5AD-0056-ST1 100 Gigabit Ethernet QSFP ConnectX-5 PCI Express 3.0 x16 Network Card, are built to support modern data center architectures, cloud-scale workloads, and high-performance computing infrastructures. These network cards act as the backbone for data-intensive operations, enabling rapid data movement between servers, storage systems, and network fabrics while maintaining efficiency and reliability.

ConnectX-5 Architecture and Its Role in Modern Networks

The ConnectX-5 architecture represents a significant evolution in smart network adapter design. Network cards in this category integrate advanced hardware engines that handle packet processing, encryption, virtualization, and RDMA functions directly on the adapter. By offloading these tasks from the CPU, the overall system gains improved performance, reduced latency, and lower power consumption. The architecture is optimized for both Ethernet and converged workloads, making it suitable for data centers that rely on mixed traffic patterns.

Hardware Offload Capabilities

One of the defining traits of this category is extensive hardware offload support. Tasks such as checksum calculation, TCP segmentation, Large Receive Offload (LRO), and Receive Side Scaling (RSS) are executed directly by the network card. This allows host processors to focus on application logic rather than packet handling. The result is more predictable performance, especially under high network load conditions where software-based processing would otherwise become a bottleneck.

Scalability for Growing Network Demands

As data volumes continue to grow, network scalability becomes a critical requirement. 100GbE network cards based on the ConnectX-5 platform are engineered to scale horizontally across clusters and vertically within individual servers. Their ability to handle millions of packets per second ensures consistent throughput even as workloads increase. This scalability is particularly valuable in hyperscale data centers, research labs, and enterprise environments planning long-term infrastructure growth.

QSFP Connectivity and High-Speed Data Transmission

QSFP (Quad Small Form-factor Pluggable) connectivity is a cornerstone of this category. QSFP ports support high-density cabling and multiple signaling lanes, enabling 100 Gigabit Ethernet transmission over a single port. This design reduces cable clutter, simplifies network topology, and supports both short-range and long-range connections depending on the transceiver or cable used.

PCI Express 3.0 x16 Interface Advantages

The PCI Express 3.0 x16 interface provides ample bandwidth to support full 100 Gigabit Ethernet throughput without congestion. Network cards in this category are designed to take full advantage of the PCIe bus, ensuring that data flows efficiently between the adapter and system memory. This is essential for workloads that involve large data transfers, such as storage replication, real-time analytics, and distributed computing.

Compatibility with Enterprise Server Platforms

PCIe 3.0 x16 is widely supported across enterprise and data center server platforms. This broad compatibility allows organizations to integrate 100GbE network cards into existing infrastructure without requiring specialized hardware upgrades. The category supports deployment in rack-mounted servers, blade systems, and custom-built compute nodes.

RDMA

Remote Direct Memory Access (RDMA) is a key feature of the 100GbE network card category. RDMA allows data to be transferred directly between the memory of different systems without involving the CPU or operating system. This capability significantly reduces latency and CPU overhead, making it ideal for high-performance computing, machine learning, and large-scale database applications.

RDMA over Converged Ethernet (RoCE)

RoCE enables RDMA functionality over standard Ethernet networks. Network cards in this category support RoCE, allowing organizations to deploy low-latency RDMA applications without requiring a separate InfiniBand fabric. This convergence simplifies network design while still delivering the performance benefits of RDMA.

Virtualization and Cloud Readiness

Modern data centers rely heavily on virtualization and containerization technologies. The 100GbE network card category is optimized for these environments, offering features that enhance network performance and isolation in virtualized setups. These capabilities are essential for cloud service providers and enterprises running multi-tenant workloads.

High-Performance Environments

High-performance computing (HPC) clusters demand extremely fast and reliable interconnects. The 100GbE network card category is well-suited for these environments, providing the bandwidth and low latency required for parallel processing and large-scale simulations. Researchers and engineers rely on these network cards to move data efficiently between compute nodes.

Enterprise and Data Center Use Cases

Beyond HPC, the 100GbE network card category plays a vital role in enterprise and data center environments. Organizations use these network cards to support storage networks, virtualization platforms, and high-availability systems. Their reliability and performance make them a foundational component of modern IT infrastructure.

The 100GbE Network Card

The category of 100 Gigabit Ethernet QSFP network cards occupies a critical position in the networking market. These products bridge the gap between traditional enterprise networking and ultra-high-speed interconnects, offering a balance of performance, flexibility, and cost efficiency. They are suitable for organizations transitioning from lower-speed networks to next-generation infrastructure.