Cisco Nexus 3524-X vs 93180YC-FX3
The Nexus 3524-X (N3K-C3524P-10GX) is an end-of-life ultra-low-latency 24-port 10G switch; for almost every refresh the modern replacement is the Nexus 93180YC-FX3, which delivers 48 ports of 1/10/25G plus 100G uplinks, roughly 7.5x the switching capacity, and current NX-OS support. Migrate unless you specifically need sub-microsecond Algo Boost latency for HFT, in which case look at the Nexus 3550-T instead.
Cisco Nexus 3524-X
Compact 1RU ultra-low-latency 24-port 10G SFP+ switch built on Algorithm Boost ASIC, now end of sale and end of life.
- 24 fixed SFP+ ports at 1/10G in a 1RU chassis
- Ultra-low ~250 ns Algo Boost latency aimed at HFT and HPC
- 480 Gbps switching capacity, up to 360 Mpps forwarding
- End of sale Jan 31, 2022; running on legacy NX-OS releases
Cisco Nexus 93180YC-FX3
Current 1RU leaf switch with 48 ports of 1/10/25G plus six 40/100G uplinks, full NX-OS and ACI support, and precision timing.
- 48x 1/10/25G SFP28 downlinks plus 6x 40/100G QSFP28 uplinks
- 3.6 Tbps switching capacity and up to 1.2 Bpps
- Runs current NX-OS standalone or Cisco ACI mode
- SyncE and PTP boundary clock for telco and timing-sensitive edge
Cisco Nexus 3524-X vs Cisco Nexus 93180YC-FX3: spec comparison
| Spec | Cisco Nexus 3524-X | Cisco Nexus 93180YC-FX3 |
|---|---|---|
| Form factor | 1RU | 1RU |
| Downlink ports | 24x SFP+ (1/10G) | 48x SFP28 (1/10/25G) |
| Uplink ports | Shared in 24x 10G | 6x QSFP28 (40/100G) |
| Switching capacity | 480 Gbps | 3.6 Tbps |
| Forwarding rate | Up to 360 Mpps | Up to 1.2 Bpps |
| Latency | ~250 ns (Algo Boost) | Low microsecond (cut-through) |
| MAC table | Up to 64,000 | Up to 256,000 |
| Operating modes | NX-OS standalone | NX-OS standalone or ACI |
| Precision timing | PTP, 1-PPS | PTP boundary clock, SyncE, PTP telecom profiles |
| Power supplies | Dual redundant hot-swap | Dual redundant hot-swap |
| Lifecycle status | End of sale / end of life | Current, actively sold |
Choose Cisco Nexus 3524-X if
Keep the 3524-X only if you have an existing ultra-low-latency 10G fabric that is fully amortized and you cannot yet fund a refresh, or if a niche workload was tuned around its Algo Boost latency profile and 25G is not needed.
Choose Cisco Nexus 93180YC-FX3 if
Choose the 93180YC-FX3 for any new or refreshed leaf deployment that needs 25G server connectivity, 100G uplinks, current NX-OS or ACI support, and a hardware platform that is still under Cisco software and security maintenance.
Verdict
For a standard data-center refresh, migrate from the 3524-X to the 93180YC-FX3: you gain double the port count, 25G access, 100G uplinks, far higher capacity, and a switch that is still supported. The only reason to defer is a sub-microsecond trading or HPC use case that depended on Algo Boost, and even then the right modern answer is the Nexus 3550-T, not staying on EOL hardware.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Cisco Nexus 3524-X end of life?
Yes. The Nexus 3524-X (N3K-C3524P-10GX) reached end of sale on January 31, 2022, and is past its last order date. Plan a migration to a supported platform such as the Nexus 93180YC-FX3 before support milestones lapse.
What is the modern replacement for the Nexus 3524-X?
For general data-center leaf use the Nexus 93180YC-FX3 is the standard replacement. If you specifically relied on the 3524-X for sub-microsecond latency in trading or HPC, the modern low-latency successor is the Nexus 3550-T.
Does the 93180YC-FX3 support 25G when the 3524-X was only 10G?
Yes. The 93180YC-FX3 downlinks auto-negotiate to 1, 10, or 25G per port, so you can connect legacy 10G servers today and move to 25G as you refresh hosts, all on the same switch.
Can I run the 93180YC-FX3 in ACI mode?
Yes. The 93180YC-FX3 runs either standalone NX-OS or as a leaf in a Cisco ACI fabric, which the older Nexus 3524-X could not do.
More Nexus comparisons
Specs are for planning and may change; Uniqcli confirms the current Cisco bill of materials and pricing on your quote. Cisco, Catalyst, Nexus, Meraki, and Firepower are trademarks of Cisco Systems, Inc.; Uniqcli LLC is an independent authorized Cisco partner.