Getting the Realtek RTL8159 to Work in Windows 11
The Realtek RTL8159 chipset requires specific drivers for Windows 11. Out of the box, Windows may not automatically recognize the adapter, and you’ll need to install the appropriate drivers from XikeStor’s website or Realtek directly. If you have another NIC installed, you can plug the NIC in and then have Windows Update get you a working driver, but I would always suggest getting the latest from Realtek’s website.
In Device Manager, the adapter appears under Network adapters once properly recognized. Our test system showed the device functioning correctly after driver installation, with no conflicts or issues reported.
Likewise, getting new Linux drivers is usually a good step. On the Mac side, not only will you not (currently) get USB 3.2 20Gbps speeds, but sometimes you will see your Mac report other speeds. It works, and you can get over 5GbE speeds, but getting full 10Gbps on a Mac is not happening at the moment.
XikeStor SKN-U310GT Performance
We tested the adapter across multiple USB generations to understand how it performs under different host conditions. The results show the expected scaling based on USB bandwidth availability.
That is really the best-case scenario on a longer run, though. We did see a very slight increase in variability compared to a PCIe adapter. Here are a few peak data points on shorter runs, depending on the platform we were using:
- USB 3.2 Gen 2×2 x86: Measured maximum 9.5Gbps throughput (spec: up to 9.6Gbps)
- USB 3.2 Gen 2×1 x86 Measured 6.6Gbps throughput (spec: approximately 7Gbps)
- USB 3.2 Gen 2×1 Apple M4 MBP Measured 6.3Gbps throughput
- USB 3.2 Gen 1 x86: Measured 4.7Gbps throughput (spec: up to 5Gbps)
The measured performance roughly matches the specifications, with minor overhead from protocol encoding and system-level factors. On a USB 3.2 Gen 2×2 host, the adapter delivers near-line-rate 10GbE performance. Still, you want to be on an x86 machine.
XikeStor SKN-U310GT Power Consumption
We measured power consumption using a Power-Z USB-C power meter (Amazon affiliate link) to understand the adapter’s efficiency under load. We saw power in the 2.0-2.89W range depending on the platform.
The specified power consumption is 1.95W, and our measurements show slightly higher real-world values. Still, this is reasonable for a 10GbE adapter, and we did not get thermal throttling on our unit. One interesting data point is that when we test switches, we often see 1.6-1.8W of incremental power consumption by lighting up a 10Gbase-T port, so the Realtek RTL8159 is actually doing a phenomenal job.
Final Words
The XikeStor SKN-U310GT delivers solid 10GbE performance in a compact, well-built package. The Realtek RTL8159 chipset is a proven solution for USB-to-Ethernet adapters, and the aluminum enclosure provides both durability and effective passive cooling.
At a $89 or so street price, this adapter offers good value for users needing 10GbE connectivity on laptops or desktops without built-in multi-gig Ethernet. The driver situation requires attention, but once configured, the adapter performs as expected. For those upgrading to 10GbE networks or needing portable high-speed networking, the SKN-U310GT is a competent option worth considering.
Where to Buy
Here is an Amazon affiliate link to where we purchased our unit.
