Broadcom 57414 vs ConnectX-5 Ex 100G
The Broadcom 57414 and the ConnectX-5 Ex 100G are both data centre network adapters we supply tested from Hong Kong, and the figures below are the same ones published on each product page. They share 2 listed specification rows and separate on ports, host interface, adapter, so the decision is less about "which is better" and more about which of those differences your platform or workload can actually use.
Nothing on this page is a price: used and refurbished hardware is repriced weekly, so both are quoted on request against confirmed stock with the date the quote holds until. If you are replacing a part, send the platform and we will confirm the population before you commit.
Side by side
Broadcom 57414 vs ConnectX-5 Ex 100G specifications
| Specification | Broadcom 57414 | ConnectX-5 Ex 100G |
|---|---|---|
| Ports | 2 × 25GbE SFP28 | 2 × 100GbE QSFP28 (Ethernet SKU; the VPI variant MCX556A-EDAT adds EDR InfiniBand — this listing is not the VPI part) |
| Host Interface | PCIe 3.0 x8 | PCIe 4.0 x16 |
| Part Number | not stated | MCX516A-CDAT |
| Network Offloads | RDMA over Converged Ethernet (RoCE), SR-IOV, overlay/tunnel offloads | RDMA over Converged Ethernet (RoCE), SR-IOV, overlay/tunnel offloads |
| Form Factor | not stated | PCIe adapter with full-height bracket |
| Condition | Pre-owned / refurbished tested pulls | Pre-owned / refurbished tested pulls |
| Adapter | Broadcom 57414 dual-port 25GbE SFP28 network adapter | Mellanox ConnectX-5 Ex 100GbE dual-port QSFP28 network adapter |
| Controller | Broadcom BCM57414 (NetXtreme-E) | not stated |
| Configuration | Dual-port 25GbE SFP28 SKU only — this page does not cover single-port variants | not stated |
| Cooling | Passively cooled — requires server chassis airflow | Passive heatsink — requires server chassis airflow |
Rows that differ are highlighted. Figures are the same ones published on each product page; where a figure is community-sourced rather than vendor-published it is stated on that page. Confirm every part against your build sheet when ordering.
Where they differ
- ·Ports — Broadcom 57414: 2 × 25GbE SFP28; ConnectX-5 Ex 100G: 2 × 100GbE QSFP28 (Ethernet SKU; the VPI variant MCX556A-EDAT adds EDR InfiniBand — this listing is not the VPI part).
- ·Host Interface — Broadcom 57414: PCIe 3.0 x8; ConnectX-5 Ex 100G: PCIe 4.0 x16.
- ·Adapter — Broadcom 57414: Broadcom 57414 dual-port 25GbE SFP28 network adapter; ConnectX-5 Ex 100G: Mellanox ConnectX-5 Ex 100GbE dual-port QSFP28 network adapter.
- ·Cooling — Broadcom 57414: Passively cooled — requires server chassis airflow; ConnectX-5 Ex 100G: Passive heatsink — requires server chassis airflow.
What they share
Network Offloads: RDMA over Converged Ethernet (RoCE), SR-IOV, overlay/tunnel offloads; Condition: Pre-owned / refurbished tested pulls.
Decision
Which one to buy
Network adapters are chosen by speed and slot budget, not by brand. Decide the end-to-end bandwidth you need per host (storage traffic, inter-node traffic, management), then check the PCIe generation and lane width of the card against the slots your platform has spare — a 100Gb card in a Gen3 x8 slot will not deliver line rate. Offload features (RoCE/RDMA, SR-IOV) matter for storage and AI fabrics; for simple uplinks they are optional. Cabling and optics usually cost more than the difference between two adapters, so plan them together.
Choose the Broadcom 57414 if
- ·Ports: 2 × 25GbE SFP28
- ·Host Interface: PCIe 3.0 x8
- ·Adapter: Broadcom 57414 dual-port 25GbE SFP28 network adapter
Choose the ConnectX-5 Ex 100G if
- ·Ports: 2 × 100GbE QSFP28 (Ethernet SKU; the VPI variant MCX556A-EDAT adds EDR InfiniBand — this listing is not the VPI part)
- ·Host Interface: PCIe 4.0 x16
- ·Adapter: Mellanox ConnectX-5 Ex 100GbE dual-port QSFP28 network adapter
Photos
What the two look like
Broadcom 57414
Photo from the Broadcom 57414 page. Every unit's label is read against your order before dispatch.
ConnectX-5 Ex 100G
Photo from the ConnectX-5 Ex 100G page. Every unit's label is read against your order before dispatch.
Frequently asked questions
How much do the Broadcom 57414 and the ConnectX-5 Ex 100G cost?
We do not publish prices for either: secondary-market hardware is repriced weekly. Send the quantity, the platform and the condition you want and we quote both against confirmed stock, with the date the figure holds until.
What is the main difference between the Broadcom 57414 and the ConnectX-5 Ex 100G?
Ports (Broadcom 57414: 2 × 25GbE SFP28; ConnectX-5 Ex 100G: 2 × 100GbE QSFP28 (Ethernet SKU; the VPI variant MCX556A-EDAT adds EDR InfiniBand — this listing is not the VPI part)); Host Interface (Broadcom 57414: PCIe 3.0 x8; ConnectX-5 Ex 100G: PCIe 4.0 x16); Adapter (Broadcom 57414: Broadcom 57414 dual-port 25GbE SFP28 network adapter; ConnectX-5 Ex 100G: Mellanox ConnectX-5 Ex 100GbE dual-port QSFP28 network adapter).
Can I use the Broadcom 57414 and the ConnectX-5 Ex 100G in the same system?
Each adapter occupies its own PCIe slot, so a server can carry both if you need two speeds — for example Broadcom 57414 for host management and ConnectX-5 Ex 100G for storage or inter-node traffic.
Which one should I buy?
Buy the one whose strong points match the job: see the "Choose" section above. If you are replacing an existing part, send the platform or the old part number and we will confirm compatibility before you order.
What condition are they in, and do you ship worldwide?
Both are supplied tested with a 1-year written warranty. Condition is stated line by line before you order — new, decommissioned pull or OEM tray — and we ship worldwide from the Hong Kong warehouse with full export documentation, typically 3–7 days by air.
Get a quote for either — or both
Tell us the quantity, the platform and the condition you need. We confirm stock and put a firm figure in writing with the date it holds until.
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