DTB3F11 vs DTB3F22: Is One 10GbE Port Enough, or Is Dual-Port Better?
The short answer: For most users, one 10GbE optical port is enough. The second port only really adds value in three situations: redundancy, network segmentation, and direct connections to multiple devices.
The single-port DTB3F11 keeps chip power consumption at just 1.79W and weighs around 115g, making it a more practical option for a surprisingly wide range of applications.
When upgrading to 10GbE, many people get stuck on the same question: single-port or dual-port?
The instinct is to think, "Having an extra port can't hurt." But after spending the extra money, you may find that the second port sits unused for most of the year.
This article breaks down the question: When is one port enough? When does dual-port actually make sense? And what do the DTB3F11's low power consumption and compact design solve in real-world use?
First, Let's Look at What a 10GbE Port Is Actually Doing
A 10GbE optical port can reach around 1.15GB/s in real-world internal network file transfers.
What does that mean?
A 50GB file can be transferred in a little over 40 seconds. Meanwhile, a single mechanical hard drive typically reads and writes at around 250MB/s, which cannot even fill a quarter of a 10GbE connection.
So the main value of the first port is simple: it moves the bottleneck away from the network.
The second port only becomes useful in three situations:
- Redundancy: If one connection goes down, the service can keep running.
- Network segmentation: Keep storage traffic and office traffic physically separated.
- Direct connections to multiple devices: For example, a workstation connected to both a NAS and a network switch.
If you cannot say what you would connect to the second port, it is probably going to spend most of its life as a spare.
DTB3F11: Making the Single-Port Design Work
1.79W: Less Power Means No Extra Power Adapter or Fan
At 10GbE typical operation, the chip consumes just 1.79W, while the entire adapter has a typical power consumption of around 3.9W.
That directly affects two things.
First, there is no external power adapter. The DTB3F11 is powered directly through USB4, so you only need a Type-C cable.
Second, there is no fan.
For comparison, the dual-port DTB3F22 has a typical system power consumption of 7.4W, requiring more power headroom and a larger enclosure.
With the single-port version, the 1.79W chip-level heat output can be handled by the enclosure itself. That makes it possible to build a device that can simply go into a backpack, plug in, and get to work.
Fanless and Silent, Thanks to the Aluminum Enclosure
The DTB3F11 uses a one-piece aluminum alloy enclosure. Heat from the chip is transferred directly to the enclosure and dissipated across the entire surface.
No fan means no fan noise, and there is no fan to collect dust or suffer from bearing wear over time.
For 24/7 operation, this also means one less mechanical component to worry about.
For recording studios, editing rooms, or anyone keeping a NAS in a bedroom, silent operation can matter more than benchmark numbers.
Linux Support Is Easy to Overlook
The supported systems include Linux and Windows 10/11.
This matters more than it may seem. Software routers, PVE, ESXi, self-built NAS systems, and home servers are often built around Linux, while some external network adapters can become complicated when it comes to driver support.
The DTB3F11 is designed to work with these environments without turning the network adapter into another troubleshooting project.
One important note: macOS is not included in the supported operating systems.
Mac users looking for a plug-and-play 10GbE optical connection should consider another model.
115g and Smaller Than You Might Expect
The DTB3F11 measures 99.5 × 48 × 29mm and weighs approximately 115g.
It is easy to carry between a server room, editing studio, or customer site. Unplug it, put it in your bag, and move to another machine.
This compact design is closely related to the low power consumption. With 1.79W chip power, there is no need for a cooling fan or a larger power system, allowing the enclosure to stay small.
Ports and Details That Are Easy to Miss
- USB4 40Gbps input, backward compatible with Thunderbolt 3/4/5: The host interface is an important requirement. A regular Type-C port may not support the required bandwidth or functionality.
- 16KB Jumbo Frames: A common jumbo-frame setting is 9KB. Larger frames can reduce the number of packets required for the same amount of data, helping reduce CPU interrupts and protocol overhead.
- Hardware checksum and segmentation offload, plus 802.3x full-duplex flow control: These features move part of the processing workload away from the CPU during heavy network traffic.
- Real-world internal network file transfer: Approximately 1.15GB/s.
- Important: The optical module and fiber cable are not included.
DTB3F22: Who Is the Dual-Port Version For?
The DTB3F22 uses the same RTL8127ATF chipset, the same USB4 40Gbps interface, and the same 16KB Jumbo Frame capability.
The difference is the second SFP+ 10GbE optical port.
The enclosure is also larger, measuring 152 × 95 × 29mm, with a net weight of approximately 355g. It supports USB4 and Thunderbolt devices and provides additional connectivity options.
It is designed for situations such as:
- Small teams that need dual-port redundancy or network segmentation
- Workstations that need to connect to both a NAS and a network switch
- Video production and post-production workflows with shared storage
- Environments where multiple network connections are required
Again, the rule is simple:
If you cannot say what the second port is going to connect to, the extra port may simply be money spent on a spare.
DTB3F11 vs DTB3F22
Three Simple Ways to Choose
Using it alone, prioritizing portability and silent operation, and running Linux or Windows? The DTB3F11 is likely the better choice.
Need redundancy, network segmentation, or direct connections to multiple devices? Go with the DTB3F22.
Using a Mac? Neither model is the right choice. Instead, look for a model with plug-and-play macOS support, such as the DTB3F25.
FAQ
Q1: Does the DTB3F11 need an external power supply?
No.
At 10GbE typical operation, the chip consumes 1.79W, and the adapter is powered through the USB4 interface. There is no power adapter in the package; a Type-C cable is enough.
Q2: Can I use it with a Mac?
No.
The supported systems are Windows 10/11 and Linux kernel 4.x or later. macOS is not on the supported list.
Mac users should consider the DTB3F25 instead.
Q3: What are 16KB Jumbo Frames used for, and how do I enable them?
For large file transfers, a single packet can increase from the standard 1500-byte MTU to up to 16KB.
This can significantly reduce the number of packets required to transfer the same amount of data, which can reduce CPU interrupts and protocol overhead.
Jumbo Frames need to be enabled on both the network adapter and the switch, and the MTU settings on both ends must match. Otherwise, packet loss or connectivity problems may occur.
DTB3F22 🛒：https://lekuo.shop/products/lekuo-usb4-dual-port-10g-sfp-plus-network-adapter
DTB3F25 🛒：https://lekuo.shop/products/usb4-dual-25g-sfp28-network-adapter-40gbps-thunderbolt-5-4-3