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Yes, I know there is a solution available from Apple for Thunderbolt. Yes, I know there is a solution available from Apple for USB 2.0 to fast Ethernet (10/100).

I am looking for an adapter to plug into a USB 3.0 port, providing me Gigabit (10/100/1000) LAN capability via wired ethernet.

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USB 3 is just too new, and no one has developed a Gigabit USB 3 NIC yet? Looks like it will be a waiting game. – MrDaniel Jun 19 '12 at 14:09
In the same boat here. Loving the new 2012 Macbook Air, but I use an external monitor at work, and I'd like to use Gigabit Ethernet as well (on a Avid ISIS). Either a Thunderbolt splitter cable (or hub) or a USB 3 to Gigabit Ethernet and we'd be all set. Buying a 27" Apple Thunderbolt monitor is lovely, but not a cheap solution. – user24210 Jun 19 '12 at 17:23
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See also: this Super User question. – CajunLuke Jun 19 '12 at 19:36
I can say the new thunderbolt gigabit ethernet adapter is working very well for me despite the allure of having the thunderbolt port free when I care to use a DP display. – bmike♦ Jun 27 '12 at 18:09

2 Answers

up vote 4 down vote

It's not USB 3.0, but the Belkin F5D5055 USB 2.0 Gigabit Ethernet adapter is supported out the box by 10.7 (haven't checked 10.6) and delivers better performance than the Apple 10/100Mbps adapter. I can get speeds of around 35MB/s with my mid-2011 i7 Air.

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up vote 4 down vote

StarTech makes the USB31000S, which is a USB 3.0 to Gigabit Ethernet adapter with support for VLANs, jumbo frames and checksum offloading. List price is about USD 55.

These are based on the ASIX AX88179 chip, which has drivers for OS X 10.6 - 10.8 available (bottom of previous link). Any other product using this chip would also work.

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I have 10.8.2 and the drivers (even 1.3) are a bit finicky for the AX88179... but I can get it to work. – y3sh Jan 24 at 19:39

protected by bmike♦ Jul 17 '12 at 15:07

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