On Windows 11 with the proper Realtek driver, the WisdPi 10G Ethernet card for Framework laptops pushes 9.4 Gbps. On Linux you're stuck at 7 Gbps. And on some Framework 13 ports that claim USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 support, you won't even get that.
That's the mess Jeff Geerling uncovered testing WisdPi's $99 expansion card across multiple Framework machines. The culprit isn't the card itself - it's the chaos of USB-C's bandwidth variants and Realtek's driver saga.
USB-C's Gen 2x2 Bottleneck
The RTL8159 controller inside the WisdPi card demands USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 - a 20 Gbps link - to deliver its full 10 Gbps Ethernet throughput. But USB-C implementation on laptops is a patchwork. Framework's own port documentation for the AMD Ryzen AI 5 340 Framework 13 says ports 1 and 3 support Gen 2x2, yet Geerling's tests showed the card only connected at USB 3.2 Gen 2x1 (10 Gbps) on those ports, capping real-world throughput well under 8 Gbps.
On a Framework 12 with Intel 13th Gen, the port correctly reported 20 Gbps via lsusb. But iperf3 still only gave 7 Gbps - this time due to Linux driver problems, not hardware.
Driver Woes and Kernel Compatibility
Geerling tried to compile the Realtek driver on Ubuntu 26.04, but the build errored out. The 7.x kernel in that distro is too new for the vendor driver. So Linux users are stuck with the in-kernel driver, which leaves performance on the table. Windows 11, in contrast, installed the Realtek driver without hassle and delivered the promised 9.4+ Gbps.
The bidirectional test showed another asymmetry: 9 Gbps up, only 4-5 Gbps down. A clear sign that the driver or controller is asymmetrically handling the link.
Heat and Lap-Friendliness Considerations
After running iperf3 for a while, the module hit 70°C on its plastic surface. WisdPi says that's within IEC 62368-1 limits for short contact (under 10 seconds). But Geerling notes that's not great for a device you might rest on your lap. The card also sticks out a couple centimeters, making it incompatible with laptop sleeves.
His bottom line: stick with the $40 2.5 Gbps Ethernet card unless you absolutely need 10 Gbps and are willing to juggle Windows, avoid lap use, and accept variable performance.
The WisdPi 10G card is out of stock as of writing. For anyone who needs 10 Gbps on a Framework laptop today, an external USB-C dongle with active cooling might be the more reliable path until USB-C's bandwidth confusion gets sorted out.
Source: Framework's 10G Ethernet module exposes USB-C's complexity
Domain: jeffgeerling.com
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