Intel

Intel PWLA8492MT PRO/1000 MT Dual Port Server Adapter

3.9 (74 reviews)

Dual 1GbE ports with PCI-X throughput and Intel's SingleDriver suite make the PRO/1000 MT the proven workhorse for Gigabit server NIC migrations.

$122.99*
In Stock on Amazon.com
View on Amazon

*Price sourced from Amazon.com. Last updated:Jun 04, 2026.Price and availability are subject to change.

Affiliate Disclosure: Studio Supplies may earn a commission from qualifying purchases made through links on this page, at no additional cost to you. This helps support our editorial team.

Notice a mistake? Let Us Know

Overview

The Intel PWLA8492MT PRO/1000 MT Dual Port Server Adapter is a PCI-X dual-port Gigabit Ethernet NIC designed for cost-effective 10/100/1000Base-T migration in server environments. The dual-port design delivers two independent RJ-45 Gigabit connections over standard Cat-5 cabling from a single PCI-X expansion slot — an operational and density advantage in servers with limited expansion bays. PCI-X at 64-bit width and 133MHz frequency provides a theoretical bus bandwidth of approximately 1GB/s per direction, more than sufficient to sustain both ports at simultaneous 1Gbps full-duplex without bus saturation. Intel SingleDriver technology simplifies multi-card fleet management by consolidating driver packages across the PRO/1000 family, reducing the image management complexity that varied NIC inventories historically imposed.

This adapter belongs in the hands of a system administrator maintaining a legacy PCI-X server infrastructure — rack servers from the early-to-mid 2000s running Xeon Nocona, Irwindale, or Dempsey-generation processors. The PRO/1000 MT was Intel's enterprise Gigabit standard for that era and remains well-supported under the OS versions those servers typically run. For any deployment targeting current-generation PCIe servers, this card is architecturally incompatible and should not be purchased. For its intended environment — PCI-X slot expansion, 1Gbps infrastructure, link aggregation or failover via Intel ANS — the PRO/1000 MT Dual Port remains a proven, stable component with a long field history. The included low-profile bracket provides 1U rack deployment flexibility alongside the standard full-height configuration.

Key Features

Permits easy (plug-and-play), cost-effective 10/100/1000 migration over standard Cat-5 cabling

Provides multi-Gigabit scalability and increased uptime through advanced server features

Intel SingleDriver technology provides a common Gigabit Ethernet driver suite

Full-duplex capable; features Intel PROSet II utility and auto-negotiation

Includes optional-use low-profile bracket for high-density, rack-mounted servers

Specifications

Brand
Intel
Model
PWLA8492MT
Host Interface
PCI-X
Number of Ports
2
Port Type
2 x RJ-45
Network Technology
10/100/1000Base-T
Duplex
Full-duplex capable
Card Height
Low-profile and full-height (bracket included for both)
Form Factor
Internal (PCI-X)
Management Utility
Intel PROSet II
Dimensions
4.7" H x 6.6" W x 2.5" D

Pros & Cons

👍 Pros

  • Dual-port design provides two independent 1Gbps full-duplex links from a single slot — halving the PCI-X slot consumption of dual single-port adapters
  • PCI-X bus interface delivers sufficient bandwidth for both ports to sustain simultaneous Gigabit full-duplex operation without host bus contention
  • Auto-negotiation across 10/100/1000Base-T covers legacy, standard, and Gigabit Ethernet segments without manual speed configuration
  • Low-profile bracket included enables installation in 1U rack-mounted servers with reduced expansion slot height — dual form factor flexibility in a single package
  • Intel PROSet II utility provides link aggregation (802.3ad), failover bonding, and VLAN configuration through a unified management interface

👎 Cons

  • PCI-X interface is incompatible with PCIe slots — this card cannot be used in any server built after approximately 2006 that uses PCIe exclusively
  • Limited to 1Gbps per port maximum — does not address 10GbE or 25GbE requirements in environments that have outgrown Gigabit throughput
  • PROSet II utility and Intel Advanced Network Services (ANS) are legacy software with no active development — compatibility with current Windows Server and Linux distributions requires verification
  • This is an end-of-life product; Intel no longer sells or supports the PRO/1000 MT, and driver updates for current OS versions are not guaranteed
  • Duplex cards introduce a failure mode where a single card outage takes down two network links simultaneously — redundancy planning must account for this

Frequently Asked Questions

The PRO/1000 MT Dual Port uses a PCI-X interface. PCI-X is the predecessor to PCIe — it is compatible with PCI-X slots (32-bit and 64-bit, 66/100/133MHz variants) and backward-compatible with standard 32-bit PCI slots at reduced speed. It is not compatible with PCIe slots. Verify your server's expansion slot inventory before purchasing — most servers built after 2006 use PCIe exclusively.
Each port operates at up to 1Gbps full-duplex (1000Base-T). Both ports can operate simultaneously — PCI-X at 133MHz and 64-bit provides sufficient bus bandwidth (~8.5GB/s theoretical) to sustain dual 1Gbps full-duplex links without saturation at 10/100/1000 Ethernet speeds.
Intel SingleDriver provides a unified driver suite across the PRO/1000 product family. In practical terms, a single driver package supports multiple card variants, simplifying OS deployment, driver update management, and image creation for environments running diverse PRO/1000 adapter types. This was a meaningful operational advantage in heterogeneous server fleets.
The PRO/1000 MT supports jumbo frames (up to 9KB per frame) for reduced CPU overhead in high-throughput environments. IEEE 802.3ad link aggregation and AFT (Adapter Fault Tolerance) failover are supported via Intel's Advanced Network Services (ANS) through the PROSet II management utility.
For legacy servers with PCI-X slots, yes — it remains a reliable, well-supported Gigabit adapter. For any server built after approximately 2006 with PCIe slots, this card is not compatible. New server NIC procurement should target PCIe-based Intel i350 or Intel X550 adapters for modern deployments.