[Updated Oct. 29,2020, with a limitation that is bothering me the more I use this device.]
I’ve spent the last two weeks upgrading my server, network and Mac to support 10G Ethernet. 10G, which is short for 10 gigabit, is potentially ten times faster than the 1G network that is the default setting on most of our computers.
The problem is that all my Macs have only 1G Ethernet ports. While I needed the faster network speed, my Mac’s couldn’t deliver. I needed an adapter. So, I went out and bought this.
NOTE: Here’s an article that describes how I converted my entire network to 10G.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
About the size of two decks of cards, stacked, and very solidly built, the OWC Thunderbolt 3 10G Ethernet Adapter is the perfect adapter. You plug it in and it works. Bus-powered, it doesn’t need separate power. It works on Mac and Windows. It supports Ethernet speeds of 100M, 1G, 2.5G, 5G and 10G, automatically.
Wrapped in a rubber bumper to protect it when traveling, the fanless device is silent in operation. It supports data transfer speeds in excess of 900 MB/sec (read) with LEDs to indicate power and link status.
I connected this to my system two weeks ago and configured it in about five minutes. It’s worked invisibly with zero problems ever since.
UPDATE: After using this on two computers for a few weeks, the only limitation is that there is no second Thunderbolt port. On my iMac, I have 2 Thunderbolt ports. One drives an HDMI monitor and the other has a converter from Thunderbolt 3 to Thunderbolt 2 to connect to external storage. This means that to use this device, I either need to disconnect my storage, or my monitor. This may not be a problem for most users, but does restrict its use for me.
Manufacturer: OWC
Device: Thunderbolt 3 10G Ethernet Adapter
Website: https://eshop.macsales.com/item/OWC/TB3ADP10GBE/
Price: $149.00 (US)
OPERATION
To configure this adapter, connect it to any Mac with a Thunderbolt 3 connection. Then, connect a Cat6A cable – necessary for full 10G data transfer speeds – from the adapter to a 10G switch.
NOTE: You can use Cat5E in a pinch, but only for short cable lengths.
Go to System Preferences > Network and enable the adapter – it’s the Thunderbolt connection displayed in the sidebar on the left.
Be sure to leave the Configure IPv4 to Using DHCP unless your network/IP staff have told you something different.
Click the Advanced button at the bottom right.
Click the Hardware button at the top right, then make sure the Speed is set to 10Gbase-T
Finally, change the default MTU value to 9000, which is the correct setting for jumbo frames.
NOTE: If Jumbo frames are set to the default of 2,000, the speed of the Ethernet connection is cut by 2/3rds.
WHAT THE LIGHTS MEAN
There is one LED in the front and two in the back:
SPEED TESTS
The reason you upgrade to 10G is speed, pure and simple. Here are the results.
NOTE: Write speeds are always slower than read speeds on a server.
These tests were conducted with only one computer accessing the server through a 10G switch to determine maximum speeds. Your speed will vary depending upon:
SUMMARY
And that’s it.
Easy to connect, easy to use and extremely well-built. The OWC Thunderbolt 3 10G Ethernet Adapter works exactly as you would expect. And what higher praise is there?
11 Responses to Product Review: OWC Thunderbolt 3 10G Ethernet Adapter [u]
Dear Larry , I bough las month this Adapter. Works OK connecting my MacPro (Titan Ridge PCIe Thunderbolt 3) to my Synology Server (into USB ethernet 2,5gb) . So, I reached 300mb/s (good for me because until now I haven’t a 10G Card into Syno. BUT after three weeks working OPTION 10G Adapter OWC thunderbolt disappear ! – I’v ever never connect again. No more Thunderbolt 10G ethernet on MACPRO . I spent 2 weeks trying to find what hell had happened . I’m Stuck. Could you give a few TIPS ? the so much !!
Romana:
I’m not sure. Where is the connection broken:
* Can you see it on the Mac, but it doesn’t connect to the Synology?
* Or, can you not see it on the Mac.
If you see the connection, try changing the port you connect to the Synology, then make sure that the Synology hasn’t disable the port. (This would be a question for Synology support)
If you don’t see the connection, it means there’s a problem either with the macOS or the OWC unit. Contact OWC support for help.
Larry
Thk for answer Larry. Yes, I can see Thunderbolt Device working (as Bridge), but no more 10GTbase option. So, there are a lot of points where direct connection could fail, so I’ve send to OWC support this report. When setting up Mac against Synology by direct rj45 cable, I also couldn’t build a Home 10GNet without a Switch. I just want to report issues about this device.
Romana:
If you connect directly from a computer to a server, via Ethernet, you’ll need to use a “cross-over cable.” Pin-outs are designed to go to a switch, direct connect requires crossing some of the pins.
Switches are the best option, but for a single computer, change your cable.
Larry
Thk Larry for “coss-over-cable” , I didn’t know about. Seems this Device have a problem to cold starting. -Fortunately today I have received OWC solution, and Works again ! 10G and fast transferences return .
—
SMC Reset:
PRAM Reset:
Sincerely, / Ray E. / Customer Experience
What was the solution from OWC?
I think I’m having this issue.
Dan:
Please contact OWC Tech Support directly. I’ve always found them helpful and knowledgeable.
Larry
Be warned: this Adapter does not work anymore with OSX 11.3 (Big Sur). Apple changed somehow the driver, the Adapter is now just a brick. Support does not help although I still have warranty.
Never again OWC!
Istvan:
I think the problem is not with this unit. I just checked with OWC Tech Support, who told me: “There are no listed Incompatibilities with this adapter and Big Sur or the M1 Mac.”
Larry
Hi Larry
I’ve got mac mini 2018 with OWC Thunderbolt 3 10G Ethernet Adapter, but the transfer speed i getting is around 200MB/SEC,
i have set hardware options to 10gbbase-t , MTU to jumboo 9000, the synology NAS with 10gb adapter(i have set MTU to 9000 in that adapter as well),
In my room, Mac mini connected to QNAP 10GB ethernet switch QSW-1208-8C,Synology NAS DS2419+ 10GB adapter connected to that switch too. both using cat6 cable.
The QNAP Switch connected to wall socked port, home router using normal 100mb cable connected wall socked port.
i have search the google try to find out the reason why it still around 200MB per second.
Can you help about that. Thanks
Scott:
I don’t have a solution, but I think I can help you determine where you look. My setup is similar, but with a different switch.
200 MB/sec is what I would expect from a single hard drive. This is double the speed of 1 Gbps Ethernet, so you are getting some advantages already from your new system. This would indicate the settings on your Mac and the OWC unit are OK. As you have Cat 6 cables, that tends to rule out cabling.
With a fully loaded Synology, I would expect it to totally saturate a 10 Gbps connection – about 1,000 MB of data per second. You are getting 1/5 of that. Jumbo frames are correct.
I think the first place to look is the QNAP. My guess is that is where the slowdown is occurring. Contact their tech support.
Second, if the QNAP checks out, contact Synology. It took me a while to find all the settings I needed to change. Contact them second.
Let me know how this turns out.
Larry