A QNAP Thunderbolt 3 to SFP+ Adapter configured for Copper (specifically the flagship QNAP QNA-T310G1S) is a compact adapter that equips Thunderbolt 3/4-enabled computers (Mac, Windows, or Linux) with a high-speed 10GbE network connection through an SFP+ port. ​
Copper Connectivity Options
​While the adapter natively features an SFP+ cage, copper media can be utilized through two primary methods:
1- ​Direct Attach Copper (DAC / Twinax) Cables: Connects directly from the adapter’s SFP+ port to a 10GbE SFP+ switch or QNAP NAS. ​Best for: Short distances (up to 5–7 meters). ​Advantages: Ultra-low power consumption, lowest latency, and no extra transceivers required. ​
2- 10GBASE-T RJ45 Copper Transceivers: Plugs an SFP+-to-RJ45 copper transceiver module into the cage. ​Best for: Connecting to standard Ethernet wall jacks or RJ45 switches using Cat 6A cabling (up to 30 meters). ​
Key Specifications & Features ​
ₒ Built-in Controller: Powered by the Aquantia/Marvell AQC100S chipset.
ₒ ​Bus-Powered: Runs directly off Thunderbolt power with no external power adapter required.
​ₒ Metal Thermal Design: Metallic enclosure with top dissipation grooves for silent passive cooling during heavy network loads.
ₒ ​ Plug-and-Play Setup: Native integration on macOS and easily installed network drivers for Windows/Linux.
​Primary Applications
ₒ ​High-Speed NAS Access: Enables laptops lacking built-in Ethernet to connect directly to 10GbE QNAP NAS storage arrays. ​4K/8K Media Workflows: Delivers real-world speeds over 1000 MB/s for smooth multi-stream video editing and fast media offloading.