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Tuning Throughput Performance for Intel® Ethernet Adapters

Content Type: Install & Setup   |   Article ID: 000005811   |   Last Reviewed: 02/06/2025

What should I do for adapter installations?

  • Install the Intel® Network Adapter in a slot that matches or exceeds the bus width of the adapter.
    • Example 1: If you have a 32-bit PCI adapter, put it in a 32-bit or 64-bit PCI or PCI-X* slot.
    • Example 2: If you have a 64-bit PCI-X adapter, put it in a 64-bit PCI-X slot.
    • Example 3: If you have an x4 PCIe* adapter, put it in an x4, x8, or x16 PCIe* slot.
    Note Some PCIe* slots are physically wired with fewer channels than the dimensions of the slot would indicate. In that case, a slot that matches an x8 dimensions would have the functionality of an x4, x2, or x1 slot. Check with your system manufacturer.
     
  • For PCI and PCI-X*, install the Intel Network Adapter in the fastest available slot.
    • Example 1: If you have a 64-bit PCI adapter, put it in a 66 MHz 64-bit PCI slot.
    • Example 2: If you have a 64-bit PCI-X adapter, put in a 133 MHz (266 or 533 if available) 64-bit PCI-X slot.
    Note The slowest board on a bus dictates the maximum speed of the bus. Example: When a 66MHz and a 133 MHz add-in card are installed in a 133 MHz bus, all devices on that bus function are at 66 MHz.
     
  • Try to install the adapter in a slot on a bus by itself. If add-in cards share a bus, they compete for bus bandwidth.

How should I optimize my driver settings?

  • For Intel® Ethernet 10 Gigabit Converged Network Adapters, you can choose a role-based performance profile to automatically adjust driver configuration settings.
  • Reduce Interrupt Moderation Rate to Low, Minimal, or Off:
    • Also known as Interrupt Throttle Rate (ITR).
    • The default is Adaptive for most roles.
    • The low latency profile sets the rate to off.
    • The storage profiles set the rate to medium.
    Note Decreasing Interrupt Moderation Rate increases CPU utilization.
     
  • Enable Jumbo Frames to the largest size supported across the network (4KB, 9KB, or 16KB).
    • The default is Disabled.
    Note Enable Jumbo Frames only if devices across the network support them and are configured to use the same frame size.
     
  • Disable Flow Control.
    • The default is Generate & Respond.
    Note Disabling Flow Control can result in dropped frames.
     
  • Increase the Transmit Descriptors buffer size.
    • The default is 256. Maximum value is 2048.
    Note Increasing Transmit Descriptors increases system memory usage.
     
  • Increase the Receive Descriptors buffer size.
    • The default is 256. Maximum value is 2048.
    Note Increasing Receive Descriptors increases system memory usage.
     

What should I do for TCP settings?

  • Tune the TCP window size (applies to Windows* Server editions before Windows Server 2008*).
    Notes

    Optimizing your TCP window size can be complex as every network is different. Documents are available on the Internet that explain the considerations and formulas used to set window size.

    Before Windows Server 2008*, the network stack used a fixed-size receive-side window. Starting with Windows Server 2008, Windows provides TCP receive window auto-tuning. The registry keywords TcpWindowSize, NumTcbTablePartitions, and MaxHashTableSize are ignored starting with Windows Server 2008.

     

What are the best things I should do for performance testing?

  • When copying a file from one system to another (1:1) using one TCP session, throughput is significantly lower than doing multiple simultaneous TCP sessions. Low throughput performance on 1:1 networks is because of latency inherent in a single TCP/IP session. A few file transfer applications support multiple simultaneous TCP streams. Some examples are: gFTP* and FDT*.

    performance benefit of using multiple TCP streams

    This graph is intended to show (not guarantee) the performance benefit of using multiple TCP streams. These are actual results from an Intel® 10 Gigabit CX4 Dual Port Server Adapter, using default Advanced settings under Windows 2008* x64.

     
  • Direct testing of your network interface throughput capabilities can be done by using tools like: iperf* and Microsoft NTttcp*. You can configure these tools to use one or more streams.
  • When copying a file from one system to another, the hard drives of each system can be a significant bottleneck. Consider using high RPM, higher throughput hard drives, striped RAIDs, or RAM drives in the systems under test.
  • Systems under test should connect through a full-line rate, non-blocking switch.
  • Theoretical Maximum Bus Throughput:
    • PCI Express* (PCIe*) Theoretical Bi-Directional Bus Throughput.
      PCI Express Implementation Encoded Data Rate Unencoded Data Rate
      x1 5 Gb/sec 4 Gb/sec (0.5 GB/sec)
      x4 20 Gb/sec 16 Gb/sec (2 GB/sec)
      x8 40 Gb/sec 32 Gb/sec (4 GB/sec)
      x16 80 Gb/sec 64 Gb/sec (8 GB/sec)
       
    • PCI and PCI-X Bus Theoretical Bi-Directional Bus Throughput.
      Bus and Frequency 32-Bit Transfer Rate 64-Bit Transfer Rate
      33-MHz PCI 1,064 Mb/sec 2,128 Mb/sec
      66-MHz PCI 2,128 Mb/sec 4,256 Mb/sec
      100-MHz PCI-X Not applicable 6,400 Mb/sec
      133-MHz PCI-X Not applicable 8,192 Mb/sec
       
      Note You can check the PCIe* link width in Windows* through adapter properties. Select the Link Speed tab and click the Identify Adapter button. Intel® PROSet for Windows* Device Manager must be loaded for this utility to function.

 

 

Related Products

This article applies to 215 products.
Intel® Ethernet Controller X710 Intel® Ethernet Network Adapter E810-CQDA2 Intel® Ethernet Network Adapter X710-DA2 for OCP 3.0 Intel® Ethernet Controller X710-BM2 Legacy Intel® Killer™ Ethernet Products Intel® PRO/10GbE SR Server Adapter Series Intel® Ethernet Server Adapter I210 Series Intel® Ethernet Controller XL710-BM1 Intel® Ethernet Controller X550-AT2 Intel® 82578DC Gigabit Ethernet PHY Intel® Gigabit ET Quad Port Server Adapter Intel® Ethernet Converged Network Adapter X520-LR1 Intel® PRO/100 VM Adapter Series Intel® Ethernet Converged Network Adapter X520-DA2 NetEffect™ Ethernet Mezzanine Cluster Adapter -H Intel® Ethernet Network Adapter XXV710-DA2 Intel® Ethernet Network Adapter X710-T4L for OCP 3.0 Intel® 10 Gigabit CX4 Server Adapter Series NetEffect™ Ethernet Adapters Intel® Ethernet Network Adapter X722 Intel® Ethernet Controller X540 Intel® PRO/1000 F Server Adapter Series Intel® 82566MC Gigabit Ethernet PHY Intel® PRO/100 ISA Adapter Series Intel® Ethernet Converged Network Adapter X550-T2 Intel® 82579LM Gigabit Ethernet PHY NetEffect™ Ethernet Server Cluster Adapter DA Intel® Ethernet Converged Network Adapter X550-T1 Intel® Ethernet Converged Network Adapter X520 Series Intel® Gigabit CT Desktop Adapter Intel® 10 Gigabit XF SR Dual Port Server Adapter Intel® Ethernet Converged Network Adapter X710 Intel® 82566MM Gigabit Ethernet PHY Intel® Ethernet Converged Network Adapter X540-T2 Intel® Gigabit EF Server Adapter Series Intel® 10 Gigabit AT Server Adapter Series Intel® Ethernet Network Adapter XXV710 Intel® Ethernet E810 Network Adapters (up to 100GbE) Intel® Ethernet Converged Network Adapter X540-T1 Intel® Ethernet Controller I226 Series NetEffect™ Ethernet Server Cluster Adapter DA2 Intel® PRO/1000 PM Adapter Series Intel® PRO/10GbE LR Server Adapter Series Intel® Killer™ Ethernet E3000 2.5 Gbps Intel® Ethernet Server Adapter X710-DA2 for OCP Intel® Ethernet Network Adapter E810-XXVDA2 Intel® Ethernet Controller XL710-AM2 Intel® Ethernet Server Adapter X520 Intel® Killer™ Ethernet E3100 2.5 Gbps Intel® 82577LC Gigabit Ethernet PHY Intel® PRO/1000 CT Network Connection Intel® 82578DM Gigabit Ethernet PHY Intel® PRO/1000 MT Desktop Adapter Series Intel® Killer™ Ethernet Controller Intel® Ethernet Server Adapter X520-DA1 for Open Compute Project Intel® Ethernet Network Adapter XXV710-DA1 for OCP Intel® Gigabit CT Desktop Adapter Series Intel® Ethernet Network Adapter I350-T4 for OCP 3.0 Intel® 82577LM Gigabit Ethernet PHY Intel® Ethernet Controller XL710 Intel® PRO/1000 PM Network Connection Intel® 82578 Gigabit Ethernet PHY Intel® Ethernet Network Adapter XXV710-DA1 Intel® PRO/1000 PF Dual Port Server Adapter Intel® PRO/1000 GT Desktop Adapter Intel® Ethernet Converged Network Adapter X710-DA2 Intel® Ethernet Converged Network Adapter X520-SR1 Intel® Ethernet Server Adapter I210-T1 Intel® Killer™ Ethernet E2600 Intel® 82579V Gigabit Ethernet PHY Intel® 10 Gigabit XF LR Server Adapter Intel® Ethernet Server Adapter X520-DA2 for Open Compute Project NetEffect™ Ethernet Server Cluster Adapter CX4 Intel® Gigabit VT Quad Port Server Adapter Series Intel® Ethernet Converged Network Adapter XL710-QDA1 Intel® Ethernet Network Adapter I350 Series Intel® Ethernet Converged Network Adapter X710-T4 Intel® Ethernet Server Adapter I340 Series Intel® PRO/100 S Management Adapter Series Intel® PRO/1000 PF Quad Port Server Adapter Xircom® Networking & Modem Adapters Intel® PRO/1000 MT Server Adapter Series Intel® 10 Gigabit XF Server Adapter Series Intel® 10 Gigabit AF DA Dual Port Server Adapter Intel® Ethernet Controller X710-AM2 Intel® Ethernet Controller I225 Series Intel® Ethernet Server Adapter I340-F4 Intel® Ethernet Network Adapter X722-DA4 Intel® Ethernet Converged Network Adapter X520-T2 Intel® Gigabit ET Dual Port Server Adapter Intel® PRO/1000 XT Server Adapter Series Intel® PRO/100 VM Network Connection Intel® Ethernet Network Adapter X722-DA2 Intel® Ethernet Server Adapter I350-F2 Intel® PRO/1000 CT Adapter Series Intel® PRO/1000 PT Server Adapter Intel® Ethernet Controller XL710-AM1 Intel® PRO/1000 Gigabit Server Adapter Series Intel® 10 Gigabit AF Server Adapter Series Intel® Ethernet Connection I219 Series Intel® 82579 Gigabit Ethernet Controller NetEffect™ Ethernet Server Cluster Adapter SFP+ SR Intel® 10 Gigabit AT2 Server Adapter Intel® Killer™ Ethernet E2500v2 Intel® PRO/1000 PF Server Adapter Series Intel® PRO/1000 GT Server Adapter Series Intel® Ethernet Network Adapter X710-DA4 for OCP 3.0 Intel® Gigabit EF Dual Port Server Adapter Intel® Ethernet Server Adapter X520-DA2 Intel® Ethernet Controller X540-AT2 Intel® PRO/100 M Desktop Adapter Series Intel® PRO/100 Smart Adapter Series Intel® PRO/100+ Management Adapter Series Intel® Ethernet Converged Network Adapter X540 Intel® 82566DC Gigabit Ethernet PHY Intel® 82566DM Gigabit Ethernet PHY Intel® Ethernet Server Adapter I350-T2 Intel® Gigabit ET2 Quad Port Server Adapter Intel® Ethernet Network Adapter X710-T2L Intel® Gigabit ET Server Adapter Series Intel® Ethernet Server Adapter I340-T4 Intel® 10 Gigabit CX4 Dual Port Server Adapter Intel® 10 Gigabit XF SR Server Adapter Intel® PRO/1000 PT Server Adapter Series Intel® Ethernet Controller X550 Intel® Ethernet Server Adapter I350 Series Intel® Ethernet Controller XL710-BM2 Intel® PRO/1000 PT Quad Port Server Adapter Intel® PRO/1000 PT Dual Port Server Adapter Intel® Ethernet Network Adapter X710 Intel® PRO/100B Adapter Series Intel® Ethernet Network Adapter X710-T2L for OCP 3.0 Intel® 82567 Gigabit Ethernet Controller Intel® PRO/1000 T Server Adapter Series Intel® Ethernet Network Adapter X710-T4L NetEffect™ Ethernet Server Cluster Adapter SFP+ SR2 Intel® PRO/100 S Desktop Adapter Series Intel® Ethernet Controller X550-BT2 Intel® PRO/1000 GT Desktop Adapter Series Intel® PRO/1000 T Desktop Adapter Series Intel® Ethernet Converged Network Adapter XL710-QDA2 Intel® Ethernet Network Adapter E810-CQDA1 Intel® PRO/1000 MF Server Adapter Series Intel® Ethernet Converged Network Adapter X710-DA4 Intel® Ethernet Converged Network Adapter X520-SR2 Intel® PRO/1000 PT Desktop Adapter Series Intel® Ethernet Server Adapter I350-F4 Intel® Ethernet Server Adapter I350-T4 Intel® PRO/1000 XF Server Adapter Series Intel® PRO/100 VE Network Connection Intel® Ethernet Converged Network Adapter X550 Intel® PRO/1000 MT Server Adapter Intel® PRO/1000 PF Server Adapter Intel® 82566 Gigabit Ethernet PHY Intel® Ethernet Converged Network Adapter X520-QDA1 Intel® Ethernet Controller X550-AT Intel® PRO/100 VE Adapter Series Intel® Ethernet Network Adapter E810-XXVDA4 Intel® 82577 Gigabit Ethernet PHY Intel® PRO/1000 GT Quad Port Server Adapter Intel® Ethernet Network Adapter XXV710-DA1 for OCP Intel® Ethernet Converged Network Adapter XL710 NetEffect™ Ethernet Mezzanine Cluster Adapter -I

Discontinued Products

Intel® PRO/1000 PT Quad Port Low Profile Server Adapter Intel® PRO/100+ Dual Port Server Adapter Series Intel® PRO/100+ Dual Port Server Adapter Intel® PRO/100 S Desktop Adapter Intel® PRO/1000 XF Server Adapter Intel® PRO/100 S Server Adapter Series Intel® PRO/1000 MF Server Adapter Intel® PRO/100 S Server Adapter Intel® PRO/100 S Mobile Adapter Intel® PRO/100 VE Desktop Adapter Intel® PRO/100 M Desktop Adapter Intel® PRO/100 LAN+Modem56 PC Card Adapter Intel® NetportExpress™ 10 and 10/100 Print Servers Intel® PRO/10GbE LR Server Adapter Intel® PRO/100 Intelligent Server Adapter Series Intel® PRO/100+ Management Adapter Intel® PRO/10GbE CX4 Server Adapter Intel® PRO/1000 MF Dual Port Server Adapter Intel® PRO/1000 Gigabit Server Adapter Intel® PRO/1000 T Server Adapter Intel® PRO/100 PC Card Adapter Intel® PRO/100 LAN+Modem56 CardBus II Adapter Intel® PRO/100 ISA Adapter Intel® PRO/100 SR Mobile Adapter Intel® PRO/1000 XT Server Adapter Intel® PRO/1000 MT Quad Port Server Adapter Intel® PRO/1000 XT Low Profile Server Adapter Intel® NetportExpress™ PRO and PRO/100 Print Servers Intel® PRO/100+ Server Adapter Intel® PRO/100B Adapter Intel® PRO/100 S Management Adapter Intel® PRO/100 Smart Adapter Intel® PRO/1000 MT Desktop Adapter Intel® PRO/100 CardBus II Adapter Intel® PRO/100 CardBus Adapter Intel® PRO/1000 PT Desktop Adapter Intel® PRO/1000 MF Server Adapter (LX) Intel® PRO/100 S Combo Mobile Adapter Intel® PRO/100+ Adapter Intel® PRO/1000 T Desktop Adapter Intel® PRO/10GbE SR Server Adapter Intel® PRO/100 Intelligent Server Adapter Intel® Gigabit VT Quad Port Server Adapter Intel® PRO/100 LAN+Modem56 CardBus Adapter Intel® NetportExpress Print Servers Intel® 10 Gigabit AT Server Adapter Intel® PRO/1000 MT Dual Port Server Adapter Intel® PRO/100 Mobile Adapter Series Intel® PRO/100 SR Combo Mobile Adapter Intel® PRO/100 S Dual Port Server Adapter Intel® PRO/100+ Server Adapter Series Intel® PRO/1000 F Server Adapter