PCIe Gen4 enabled on ConnectX-5 network cards
A firmware patch tool and write-up for unlocking Gen4 speeds on the cards.
Earliest dated source:
The full story
Mellanox ConnectX-5 EN network cards ship running at PCIe Gen3. The author released an open-source tool that patches their firmware to enable Gen4, with a full write-up on the ServeTheHome forum.
The binary analysis, firmware reverse engineering and the patching tool were done with Claude, and the author tested the results on physical cards. Every byte the tool changes is documented.
The author asks readers to report errors, since AI-assisted work can contain mistakes. Patching network card firmware carries a risk of bricking the card.
How it was done
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Sources
From a short post by the maker, so the details are as they tell them.
- Reddit: Enabling PCIe Gen4 on ConnectX-5 EN Cards — Firmware Patch Tool & Full WriteupPublished
The author's post in r/homelab accompanying the ServeTheHome write-up, with an AI disclosure.
If it disappears: archived copy of Reddit: Enabling PCIe Gen4 on ConnectX-5 EN Cards — Firmware Patch Tool & Full Writeup (opens in a new tab)