StarTech.com 1 Port PCI Express PCIe Gigabit NIC Server Adapter Network Card - Low Profile

Product Overview

AI-generated summary

At £18.55 ex-VAT, this StarTech 1‑port PCIe gigabit NIC is the definition of “small, cheap, and gets the job done.” If you’ve got a server or mini PC that’s missing a working network port (or you’re swapping out a dead one), a single-port gigabit card is often all you need—especially in UK offices where most internal networks are already firmly in gigabit territory. StarTech is usually decent on compatibility and generally avoids the gotchas you sometimes see with no‑name cards, so it’s a sensible backup/spares item.

That said, I wouldn’t buy it if you need anything beyond straightforward wired LAN. One port means no redundancy/teaming out of the box, and you’re not getting the sort of feature set you’d expect from more modern server networking cards (or from multiport NICs). Also, double-check you actually have an open PCIe slot and that “low profile” fits your chassis—those form-factor mismatches are the most common reason cheap NICs turn into refunds. If you’re replacing or adding a single gigabit Ethernet connection with minimal fuss, this is good value. If you’re trying to build anything resilient or performance-sensitive, look at a multiport and/or managed/enterprise-oriented alternative.