TP-Link TX201 2.5 Gigabit PCIe Network Adapter
PRODUCT DESCRIPTION
TP-Link 2.5 Gigabit PCIe Network Adapter (TX201) - 3 Years Local Warranty
The TX201 adds a 2.5GBASE-T port to a desktop over a single PCI Express 2.1 lane. It is the low-cost way past the Gigabit ceiling on a machine whose motherboard port tops out at 1 Gbps — useful the moment a multi-gigabit switch, a 2.5G NAS or a faster broadband service is on the other end of the cable.
2.5 Gigabit Over the Cabling You Already Have
The card negotiates 2.5GBASE-T, 1000BASE-T and 100BASE-TX, so it works with existing Cat5e and Cat6 runs rather than requiring a recabling exercise. That is the point of the 802.3bz multi-gigabit standard: two and a half times Gigabit throughput over copper already in the wall, which is why 2.5G has become the default step up for desktops and small servers.
A Single PCIe Lane Is Enough
TP-Link specifies a PCI Express 2.1 x1 interface, and a single lane carries 2.5 Gigabit comfortably. That means the card will go into almost any free slot in a desktop, including the short x1 slots that are usually left empty, without competing for the x16 slot a graphics card occupies. Published standards support covers IEEE 802.3, 802.3u, 802.3ab, 802.3bz and 802.3x flow control.
Standard and Low-Profile Brackets
Both brackets are supplied, so the card fits a full-height tower or a slim small-form-factor machine out of the same box. LED indicators report link and activity for 2.5 Gbps, 1 Gbps and 100/10 Mbps, so the negotiated rate can be read at the back panel — handy when the question is whether a run is actually linking at 2.5 Gigabit or quietly falling back.
Broad Windows Server Coverage
TP-Link publishes driver support for Windows 11/10/8.1/8/7, Windows Server 2022/2019/2016/2012 R2/2012/2008 R2 and Linux — a notably longer server list than the TX401's. That makes the TX201 a practical choice for older small-business servers that need a faster link without a hardware refresh. Current drivers are on TP-Link's Singapore download page, linked below; the card also ships with a Resource CD.
Ideal For
Singapore buyers getting more out of a multi-gigabit switch or NAS: home and small-office workstations, shared-storage clients, small servers on older Windows Server builds, and anyone on a faster broadband plan whose desktop is still capped at Gigabit. Supplied by SourceIT with local Singapore warranty and a GST invoice.
TX201 Datasheet — Technical Specifications
General
| Model | TX201 |
| Official Product Name | 2.5 Gigabit PCIe Network Adapter |
| Brand | TP-Link |
| Warranty | 3 Years Local Warranty (Singapore) |
Specifications
| Standards and Protocols | IEEE 802.3, IEEE 802.3u, IEEE 802.3ab, IEEE 802.3bz, IEEE 802.3x |
| Interface | 1x PCI Express 2.1 x 1, 1x RJ45 Gigabit/Megabit Port |
| Network Media | 2.5GBASE-T/1000BASE-T/100BASE-TX |
| Data Rates | 10Mbps, 100 Mbps, 1 Gbps, 2.5 Gbps for Half-Duplex mode, 20Mbps, 200 Mbps, 2 Gbps, 5 Gbps, for Full-Duplex mode |
| LED | 2.5 Gbps, 1 Gbps, and 100/10 Mbps Link/Act |
| Flow Control | 802.3x |
| Dimensions (W x D x H) | 120.8 x 98.2 x 21.5 mm (4.8 x 3.9 x 0.8 in) |
| Operating Temperature | 0 C~40 C (32 F~104 F) |
| Operating Humidity | 10%~90% non-condensing |
| Storage Humidity | 5%~90% non-condensing |
| Certification | FCC, CE, RoHS |
| Package Contents | 2.5 Gigabit PCIe Network Adapter (TX201), Standard/Low-Profile Brackets, Quick Installation Guide, Resource CD |
The interface row is reproduced exactly as TP-Link publishes it, reading "1x RJ45 Gigabit/Megabit Port" on a card whose network-media row lists 2.5GBASE-T; the media and data-rate rows describe the port's actual capability. The full-duplex figures are aggregate (send plus receive) rates. TP-Link publishes no storage-temperature row, no weight, no chipset and no jumbo-frame or wake-on-LAN row for this model, so none is claimed here. TP-Link publishes the same 120.8 x 98.2 x 21.5 mm dimensions for the TX401.
Compatibility & Software Support
| Operating Systems | Windows 11/10/8.1/8/7, Windows Servers 2022/2019/2016/2012 R2/2012/2008 R2, Linux |
| Slot Required | PCI Express 2.1 x1 (fits a x1 slot or any wider slot) |
| Cabling | Cat5e or better for 2.5GBASE-T; no cable is supplied with this model |
| Brackets | Standard and low-profile brackets both supplied |
| Drivers | Download the current driver from TP-Link Singapore support |
TP-Link publishes no macOS support for this adapter, so none is claimed here.
Package Contents & Ordering Information
What's in the Box
| Package Contents | 2.5 Gigabit PCIe Network Adapter (TX201), Standard/Low-Profile Brackets, Quick Installation Guide, Resource CD |
Ordering Information
| Model | TX201 |
| SourceIT SKU | TX201 |
| Warranty | 3 Years Local Warranty (Singapore) |
| Dependency | Requires a free PCI Express slot and a 2.5G-capable switch, router or NAS at the far end |
Datasheet & Downloads
Frequently Asked Questions — TX201
Do I need new cabling for 2.5 Gigabit?
Usually not. 2.5GBASE-T was designed to run over existing Cat5e and Cat6 cabling, which is the main reason to choose 2.5G over 10G for an upgrade of an existing site.
What is the difference between the TX201 and the TX401?
The TX201 is 2.5 Gigabit on a single PCIe 2.1 lane and supports a longer list of Windows Server versions. The TX401 is 10 Gigabit, needs a PCIe 3.0 x4 slot and includes a 1.5 m Cat6a cable. Both use the same card dimensions and both ship with standard and low-profile brackets.
Will it fit a small-form-factor PC?
Yes, a low-profile bracket is supplied. Check that the chassis has a free PCIe slot of any width.
What warranty does SourceIT provide?
Three years local Singapore warranty. Every TX201 sold by SourceIT comes with a GST invoice.
Can SourceIT quote adapters and a switch together?
Yes. Tell us how many machines need 2.5G and we will quote the adapters with matching multi-gigabit switching and cabling.
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