Intel is bringing 2.5Gbps Ethernet and WiFi 6 to the desktop with its AX201 and AX200 modules for Wi-Fi Alliance Certified Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) networks.
2.5Gbps Ethernet Appears
After over a decade of 1 Gbps Ethernet, Intel is now moving to a 2.5GbE PHY with its i225-V Ethernet controller, codenamed Foxville. Phoronix was first to discover Foxville in 2018 via Linux kernel patches, and the chip is now expected to be integrated into new LGA2066 motherboards for the recently announced Cascade Lake-X high-end desktop (HEDT) processors.
While HEDT is a very small portion of the market, TechPowerUp expects the chips will also find their way to the 400-series chipsets that Intel will launch with the upcoming 10th-Gen Comet Lake-S desktop processors.
Realtek, Broadcom, and multi-gigabit Ethernet leader Aquantia have already launched their 2.5GbE PHYs, so Intel isn’t the only brand with 2.5GbE PHY by any means. However, Intel’s move to this faster generation is likely to speed up the mainstream adoption, including potentially more mainstream multi-gigabit switches.