Two M.2 10GbE Network Cards Compared: One Fiber, One Copper
The MR27F12 installed in the M.2 slot of a B760M motherboard, with its SFP+ port brought out to the chassis bracket via a flexible cable.
The bottom line: The MR27F12 uses an SFP+ fiber interface, while the IO-M2F113-GLAN uses an RJ45 copper interface. Both cards are M.2 2280-sized, weigh approximately 53 g, use a flexible cable to route the network port to the chassis bracket, and draw power directly from the M.2 slot without an external power supply.
The difference isn't about which card is faster. It's about the cabling you already have, the equipment you're connecting to, and whether you need macOS compatibility.
1. The Verdict: Which One Should You Choose?
These cards aren't direct substitutes for each other. They support two fundamentally different networking approaches.
2. What They Have in Common: One Small Slot, Flexible Cabling
Both cards use the same basic design: a main card installed in the motherboard's M.2 slot, a daughterboard mounted at the chassis bracket, and a flexible cable connecting the two.
Why use a flexible cable instead of a rigid adapter?
Because cable routing is one of the biggest challenges in compact PC builds.
In ITX cases, NAS enclosures, and industrial PCs, the M.2 slot and rear expansion bracket often sit on different planes. A graphics card, drive cage, or CPU cooler may also obstruct the path. A rigid adapter can collide with other components or prevent the side panel from closing.
A flexible cable can bend and route around these obstacles, making installation much easier in space-constrained systems.
The remaining specifications are remarkably similar:
Both cards weigh only around 53 g — roughly the weight of a small battery. Their lightweight design places very little mechanical load on the motherboard.
The main card sits flat in the M.2 slot, while the included L-shaped bracket provides a practical way to bring a 10GbE port to the rear of a compact PC.
3. Key Difference #1: Copper vs. Fiber
This is the most fundamental difference between the two cards.
IO-M2F113-GLAN: RJ45 Copper
Connect a Cat6a Ethernet cable and you're ready to go. No optical transceiver, extra accessories, or changes to your existing cabling are required.
10GBASE-T can operate over Cat6a cabling for distances of up to 100 meters.
The card also supports backward-compatible speed negotiation at 5GbE, 2.5GbE, 1GbE, and 100Mbps. Connect it to a 2.5GbE switch, and it can negotiate the appropriate link speed.
MR27F12: SFP+ Fiber
You'll need a compatible 10GbE optical transceiver — SR for multimode fiber or LR for single-mode fiber — along with the appropriate fiber patch cable.
The additional components increase the overall cost, but fiber offers several advantages: longer transmission distances, immunity to electromagnetic interference, and lighter cabling.
If your rack switch already uses SFP+ ports, this is the more natural choice.
One important detail: the MR27F12 supports only 10GbE and 1GbE link speeds. It cannot negotiate a 2.5GbE connection. When connected to a 2.5GbE-only device, the link may fall back to 1GbE if the device supports that speed and the connection is compatible.
Check the supported link speeds of both devices before purchasing.
4. Key Difference #2: Both Run Cool, but RTL8127 Uses Less Power
Both cards are designed for low power consumption, which is particularly important when installing 10GbE networking in a compact enclosure.
- MR27F12 (RTL8127ATF): 0.29–1.79 W, with a typical power consumption of 1.79 W under 10GBASE-R full load.
- IO-M2F113-GLAN (AQC113): Approximately 2.5 W for 10GBASE-T, 1.5 W for 5GBASE-T, and 1 W for 1GBASE-T.
Both operate around the 2 W range, helping make an M.2-powered design possible without a separate power connector.
The copper card has another advantage: its power consumption decreases at lower link speeds, reaching approximately 1 W at 1GbE.
At 10GbE, the optical RTL8127 solution consumes about 29% less power than the AQC113 copper solution. Over long periods of continuous operation, this can reduce power consumption.
Thermal Imaging Test
In a separate test, the AQC113 solution with a heatsink recorded a maximum surface temperature of approximately 44°C.
These measurements were taken under different test conditions and at different ambient temperatures, so the absolute values should not be directly compared.
However, both tests support the same practical conclusion: neither card requires a fan, and both can operate at full speed within a normal temperature range without thermal throttling under the tested conditions.
5. Key Difference #3: macOS Compatibility
This is one of the easiest areas to overlook when choosing a card.
IO-M2F113-GLAN: AQC113
The AQC113 solution offers native macOS support according to the product specifications. The driver is included with the operating system, so no third-party driver installation, SIP disabling, or Recovery Mode configuration is required.
MR27F12: Realtek RTL8127ATF
macOS support for the RTL8127ATF arrived later and requires a sufficiently recent macOS version with the appropriate driver support.
Older systems may not recognize the card without the necessary driver support.
If you're using a Mac mini, a Hackintosh, or a Mac laptop with an external networking setup, the AQC113-based IO-M2F113-GLAN is the more straightforward choice, subject to compatibility with your specific hardware and macOS version.
One additional note: early AQC113 firmware versions had incomplete Apple compatibility. Later firmware updates addressed these issues. Before ordering, confirm the firmware version supplied with the card if macOS compatibility is essential.
6. Real-World Testing: Both Deliver Near-Line-Rate 10GbE Performance
The following results come from LEKUO's internal testing records.
MR27F12: 15 Hours of Continuous iperf3 Testing
During multithreaded traffic testing, aggregate throughput remained stable at 9.47–9.49 Gbit/s over 15 continuous hours, with zero interface error-counter increments reported at the end of the test.
IO-M2F113-GLAN: iperf3 Performance
The IO-M2F113-GLAN achieved a measured throughput of 9.82 Gbit/s in iperf3 testing.
For 10GbE Ethernet, the nominal line rate is 10 Gbit/s. After accounting for Ethernet framing, the preamble, and interpacket gaps, practical iperf3 throughput commonly falls in the approximate 9.4–9.8 Gbit/s range, depending on the test setup.
Both cards operate close to the practical limits of 10GbE.
The performance difference is therefore not about one interface being inherently faster than the other. The real decision comes down to the physical interface, cabling requirements, supported link speeds, and platform compatibility.
7. How to Choose — Four Things to Check Before Buying
Choose Based on Your Use Case
Four Things to Check Before Purchasing
1. Check the M.2 slot type
Both cards use an M.2 B+M Key connector.
They can be installed in a compatible B+M Key slot. An M Key slot may also work, provided the slot's PCIe connectivity, keying, and physical layout are compatible.
With PCIe 3.0 x2 connectivity, the theoretical bandwidth is approximately 15.75 Gbit/s in each direction — sufficient for a 10GbE network connection.
2. Make sure you have an available M.2 slot
The main card occupies an M.2 2280 slot. If all your M.2 slots are already occupied by SSDs, you'll need to free up a suitable slot before installation.
3. Account for the cost of optical accessories
The MR27F12 does not include an optical transceiver. A compatible 10G SR module and fiber patch cable must be purchased separately.
The IO-M2F113-GLAN only requires an Ethernet cable, ideally Cat6a for a 10GbE connection over the intended distance.
4. Check the daughterboard position and chassis bracket
Both cards include short and alternative L-shaped or U-shaped bracket options, depending on the package configuration.
Check the chassis opening and available mounting space before installation to ensure the daughterboard fits correctly.
Final Thoughts
Both cards use a single M.2 slot, weigh approximately 53 g, connect to a separate network-port daughterboard through a flexible cable, and operate without an external power supply.
From the first specification to the final test, the main decision comes down to one question:
Do you want to use copper or fiber?
Copper is affordable, widely compatible, and supports multiple link speeds. Fiber offers longer-distance connectivity and immunity to electromagnetic interference.
Before comparing every specification on the datasheet, take a look at the ports on your switch. The shape of the port may tell you more about which card you need than any benchmark.
LEKUO — Network • Storage • Serial Expansion Solutions
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IO-M2F113-GLAN🛒：https://lekuo.shop/products/m2-10g-ethernet-adapter-aqc113
MR27F12🛒：https://lekuo.shop/products/lekuo-m2-10g-sfp-plus-nic-rtl8127atf-nas-server