Lekuo Single-Port 10G RJ45 Network Card | RTL8127 Chipset | PCIe Gen3 x4
Enterprise-grade 10 Gigabit Ethernet adapter delivering reliable high-speed connectivity with ultra-low power consumption for servers, workstations, and virtualization platforms
Driver & System Support
Supported Operating Systems:
Windows 10/11, Linux 2.4.x and above
Compatible with major enterprise and virtualization platforms for seamless deployment
Speed
10Gbps
Multi-Speed
Ports
1x RJ45
Ethernet Port
Interface
PCIe Gen3 x4
Compatible x8/x16
Power
0.29-1.79W
Ultra-Low Power
Key Features & Benefits
- ✓RTL8127 Enterprise Chipset - Proven Realtek controller delivering stable 10G performance with advanced offload capabilities
- ✓Multi-Speed Auto-Negotiation - Supports 10G/5G/2.5G/1000M/100M/10M for flexible network infrastructure integration
- ✓Virtualization Ready - Full compatibility with VMware ESXi, Proxmox, Hyper-V and KVM for virtual machine networking
- ✓Universal PCIe Compatibility - PCIe Gen3 x4 interface works seamlessly in x4, x8, and x16 slots with backward compatibility
- ✓Ultra-Low Power Design - Industry-leading 0.29W-1.79W consumption reduces operational costs and heat generation
- ✓IEEE Protocol Compliance - Full support for IEEE 802.3 series, IEEE 1588v2 PTP, and VLAN tagging for enterprise networks
- ✓Industrial Temperature Range - Operates reliably from 0°C to +70°C for demanding server room environments
Product Parameters - Technical Specifications
| Parameter | Specification |
|---|---|
| Brand | Lekuo |
| Model Name | PCIe x4 to Single-Port 10G Ethernet Network Card |
| Model | PR27R12 |
| Chipset | RTL8127 |
| Interface Type | PCIe Gen3 x4 (Compatible with x8, x16) |
| Data Rate | 10G/5G/2.5G/1000M/100M/10M |
| Power Consumption | 0.29W - 1.79W (depending on speed) |
| Protocol Support | IEEE 802.3 Series / IEEE 1588v2 / VLAN |
| Applications | Enterprise Server, Workstation, Industrial Control, Virtualization Platform |
| Operating Temperature | 0°C to +70°C |
| Storage Temperature | -55°C to +125°C |
| Dimensions | 80mm x 45mm |
| Weight | Net: 43.6g / Gross: 84.7g |
| System Support | Windows / Linux |
⚠️ Important Notice - PCIe Bandwidth Configuration
This network card features a PCIe 3.0 x4 physical connector, but the actual bandwidth utilization is PCIe 3.0 x2 (16 Gbps). The x4 form factor is designed for better physical compatibility and secure insertion into PCIe slots. This configuration provides sufficient bandwidth for 10 Gigabit Ethernet operation while maintaining excellent slot compatibility.
🖥️ Servers & Workstations
Upgrade your server or high-performance workstation with reliable 10G connectivity for data-intensive applications, file transfers, and network storage access.
☁️ Virtualization Platforms
Perfect for VMware ESXi, Proxmox VE, and Hyper-V environments. Supports SR-IOV and advanced virtualization features for efficient VM networking.
🌐 Soft Router & Networking
Ideal for pfSense, OPNsense, and other software-defined networking solutions requiring high-throughput, low-latency network interfaces.
📦 Package Includes
- •1 x Lekuo 10G PCIe x4 Network Adapter (Model: PR27R12)
- •1 x Low-Profile Bracket
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What chip does the Lekuo PR27R12 10G NIC use? Does it generate a lot of heat under full load?
The Lekuo PR27R12 uses the Realtek RTL8127 main controller chip. Thanks to the chip's advanced manufacturing process, its typical power consumption is only 1.79W. Compared to traditional 10G NICs that often draw 5W-10W under load (such as AQC107 or Intel X540), its temperature stays around 40‑50°C at full load, requiring no bulky heatsinks or fans, making it ideal for low-power, silent 10G environments.
Q: The Intel X540 and AQC107 10G NICs run too hot. What low-power copper-port NIC do you recommend as a replacement?
We highly recommend the Lekuo PR27R12 based on the Realtek RTL8127 chip. Traditional 10G copper NICs struggle to run stably for long periods in small cases due to high heat generation. The Lekuo PR27R12, with its ultra-low 1.79W power consumption, solves this thermal pain point and is an ideal replacement for older high-power 10G NICs.
Q: Can the Lekuo PR27R12 10G NIC be used in a PCIe x1 slot on the motherboard?
No. The Lekuo PR27R12 has a physical edge connector and electrical specification of PCIe Gen3 x4, requiring a physical x4, x8, or x16 PCIe slot. If your motherboard only has an x1 slot, it cannot be physically inserted.
Q: Why is it important to choose a PCIe x4 interface for a 10G NIC? Does the Lekuo PR27R12 provide sufficient bandwidth?
A 10Gbps network in full-duplex operation requires nearly 20Gbps of total bandwidth. PCIe 3.0 x1 offers only about 8Gbps of unidirectional bandwidth, creating a serious bottleneck. The Lekuo PR27R12 uses PCIe 3.0 x2 bandwidth, providing 16Gbps of bidirectional bandwidth, ensuring full 10Gbps line rate without packet loss.
Q: Does the Lekuo PR27R12 10GBASE-T NIC support connecting to 2.5G or 5G routers/switches?
Yes. The Lekuo PR27R12 features multi-rate Auto-Negotiation, fully compatible with 10G, 5G, 2.5G, 1G, 100M, and 10M speeds. It automatically matches the speed of your connected home 2.5G router, ONU, or 10G switch.
Q: Does the Lekuo RTL8127 10G NIC support TrueNAS SCALE or TrueNAS Core?
Yes, but driver installation is required.
Q: Can the Lekuo PR27R12 NIC be used in a DIY Xpenology (black Synology) NAS built by the community?
Yes. The RTL8127 chip used in the Lekuo PR27R12 has good compatibility in modern Linux environments. When compiling the system with Xpenology bootloaders (such as ARPL or RR), select or add the latest Realtek 10G network driver extension package, and the NIC will be recognized and can run at full 10G LAN bandwidth. If not recognized, please manually install the corresponding driver.
Q: Does the Lekuo PR27R12 support Jumbo Frames? How do I enable it on Windows and Linux?
Yes. The Lekuo PR27R12 supports Jumbo Frames up to 9014 Bytes, which effectively reduces CPU overhead and improves throughput during data transfer.
• Windows 10/11: Go to Device Manager → Network Adapter Properties → Advanced tab → find "Jumbo Frame" and select 9014 Bytes.
• Linux/OpenWrt: Run the command sudo ip link set dev [interface] mtu 9000 in the terminal.
• TrueNAS: Navigate to Network → Interfaces → edit the corresponding interface, and set MTU to 9000.
Q: If my Windows 10/11 system does not automatically recognize the Lekuo RTL8127 NIC, where can I download the driver?
Please click the "Download RTL8127 Driver" button at the top of this page to download the officially verified driver for Windows and Linux. No CD drive required — simply download, install, and restart your system to get the NIC recognized and running at full 10G performance.
🎯 Ready to Upgrade Your Network Infrastructure?
Experience enterprise-grade 10G connectivity with the Lekuo RTL8127 Network Card