It's not that impressive, IMO. The 'optics' modules which go into SFP+ sockets on fibre cards can draw only 2.5W per module/socket/port. While easily doing 40/50/80/100Gbps, depending on the used fibre standard.
So that would be 5W for two ports.
That intel thing does up to 10Gbps per port, while not having to light up lasers. For two ports that may add up to maybe half a Watt.
Which would leave 600mW for the SOC driving that stuff and PCIe 4x4. IRL they'd saved some more somewhere else, on the PHYs, or something, giving maybe 1W for the SOC.
Nicely done, but not revolutionary.
ksec · 2h ago
Of course Optical Fibre will always be lower power.
If you look at the historic 10Gbps Copper Ethernet power usage, there was a point where we even celebrate 10W per port. And it wasn't that long ago. I can't wait for it to be low power and cheap enough to completely replace 1Gbps.
So that would be 5W for two ports.
That intel thing does up to 10Gbps per port, while not having to light up lasers. For two ports that may add up to maybe half a Watt.
Which would leave 600mW for the SOC driving that stuff and PCIe 4x4. IRL they'd saved some more somewhere else, on the PHYs, or something, giving maybe 1W for the SOC.
Nicely done, but not revolutionary.
If you look at the historic 10Gbps Copper Ethernet power usage, there was a point where we even celebrate 10W per port. And it wasn't that long ago. I can't wait for it to be low power and cheap enough to completely replace 1Gbps.