Your old PC already supports 10 Gigabit Ethernet (you just need one cheap upgrade)

Do you have an old computer that you want to use 10 Gigabit Ethernet on? You actually can probably take advantage of the faster networking standard without having to replace your system. Here's why your old PC probably supports 10 Gigabit Ethernet.

We've had the ability to move data at 10Gb/s for many years

All the way back to USB 3.1 Gen 2 in 2013

It might surprise you, but we've had the ability to move data at 10Gb/s (or 1.25GB/s) for about 13 years now. When I think of 13 years ago, I think of my little Compaq laptop that only had USB 2.0, not a system capable of moving a 1GB file in a second.

Regardless, we've had the tech for years. What does this mean? Well, if you want to use 10 Gigabit Ethernet, you very likely have the technology to do so already on your computer. If your system has a USB 3.1 Gen 2 port, or a USB 10Gb/s port, then you have what it takes.

There is a slight caveat to that though. Ethernet is what's called full-duplex, while not all USB is rated for the exact same measure of bandwidth. What this means is 10 Gigabit Ethernet can move data at 10Gb/s in both sending and receiving at the same time, while some USB 10 Gb/s platforms have additional overhead which can leave not quite enough bandwidth for 10 Gigabit Ethernet to run at full speed in both directions.

This won't be a huge factor in your usage, because it's not often when you will be fully saturating 10Gb/s in both directions simultaneously. But, it is something to keep in mind.

Thunderbolt or USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 is a safer bet

Thunderbolt 3 is over 10 years old

Now, going with a standard like Thunderbolt 3, Thunderbolt 4, Thunderbolt 5, USB 3.2 Gen 2x2, or USB4 is a safer bet—but these technologies are only on newer computers.

Thunderbolt 3 does go back nearly 10 years though, as it was available first in the 2016 MacBook Pro. What Thunderbolt 3 and up offers is 40Gb/s of bi-directional transfer capabilities, which means you can easily leverage it for 10 Gigabit Ethernet.

USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 is a much newer tech, but it's 20Gb/s, so it can also handle 10 Gigabit Ethernet with ease, too.

If you have one of these higher bandwidth standards, then you are completely golden for 10 Gigabit Ethernet on your computer. Especially with something like Thunderbolt.

Thunderbolt is really what your target should be for 10 Gigabit Ethernet on an older computer. You can find Thunderbolt 3 on both Mac and Windows PCs going back a decade, and you might not even realize that your computer has it.

The best thing to do is look for a little Lightning bolt like you see in the picture above. That lightning bolt is the Thunderbolt symbol, and so long as the port is both USB-C and has that Thunderbolt logo, it supports at a minimum of 20Gb/s, but up to 120Gb/s, which would make it compatible with 10 Gigabit Ethernet adapters.

All it takes is a simple USB adapter

Your networking upgrades don't have to require changing out PCIe cards or getting a new computer

So long as you have that USB 3.1 Gen 2 port or faster, you can run 10 Gigabit Ethernet on your older computer! So, how do you actually run it?

All it takes is a little USB adapter. I use a cheap USB adapter to bring 2.5 Gigabit Ethernet to my MacBook Pro, and it works fantastically. There are a number of USB adapters out there and they come in all shapes, sizes, and price ranges.

It's technically possible to find 10 Gigabit Ethernet adapters for USB 3.1 Gen 2, but they're fairly few and far between since it doesn't technically have the full speed with overhead the same way that faster standards do.

Thunderbolt 3 10 Gigabit Ethernet adapters are actually quite common, so your 10-year-old computer can easily handle the more modern Ethernet standard with the right adapter.

Of course, newer USB4 adapters and USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 adapters are quite easy to find—though they are newer.

Your best shot on an older computer for using 10 Gigabit Ethernet is with Thunderbolt 3 in order to take full advantage of bi-directional 10Gb/s transfers.

---

Using 10 Gigabit Ethernet with your old computer is easier than you might think

While you might be thinking that you'd have to add a new PCIe card to get 10 Gigabit Ethernet, or maybe completely replace your computer, it's actually super simple to just use a USB adapter to upgrade your system without breaking the bank.