Intel recently posted benchmarks of an 8-core Nehalem-based server with two dual-port NICs based on their next-gen 82599 10Gbps Ethernet chipset. Using IxChariot, Intel was able to demonstrate more than 50 Gbps of throughput bidirectionally on a single server. Intel's notes on the test setup... Performance result of a bandwidth intensive network benchmark (IxChariot). Network throughput was measured on 64KB I/O size transfers between the test system and multiple network targets. Intel pre-production system with two Quad-Core Intel® Xeon® processor 5500 series CPUs (2.93 GHz), 12 GB memory (6 x2GB DDR3 - 1066MHz) vs. Intel Production system with two Intel® Xeon® processors X5365 (3.0GHz, 1333MHz FSB), 8 GB memory (8 x 1 GB DDR 2 - 667). Windows Server 2008, stock unmodified installation.
[External Link] Need to Get the Most out of 10 Gigabit? Use Nehalem.