Network Cards under $300

2 network cards under $300 from Intel, StarTech.com and Synology. Prices run $253 to $295.

FebSmartSpec score 9.1

100 Speed, 2 Ports, PCIe, QSFP

+Two 100 Gbps QSFP28 fiber ports

+PCIe x16 interface for high bandwidth

+SR-IOV support for virtualization

−Requires a PCIe x16 slot

$295.99

as of 11/04/2026 03:07 PST - Details

LpxlqklypSpec score 7.8

40 Speed, 2 Ports, PCI, QSFP

+40 Gbps speed for high-throughput server links

+Two QSFP+ ports for dual connections

+Intel XL710 chipset

−Requires QSFP+ transceivers or cables to connect

$253.09

as of 11/04/2026 09:09 PST - Details

Compare specs

network card	Speed	Ports	Interface	Port type	Controller	Spec score	Price
	100	2	PCIe	QSFP	Mellanox	9.1	$295.99 as of 11/04/2026 03:07 PST - Details
	40	2	PCI	QSFP	Intel	7.8	$253.09 as of 11/04/2026 09:09 PST - Details

Spec scores, pros and cons, and prices are explained in the How it works section of the About page.