Cisco Nexus 9500 N9K-X9464TX vs N9K-X9716D-GX
Both are Nexus 9500 line cards, but they target different eras: the N9K-X9464TX is a 48-port 10GBASE-T copper access card, while the N9K-X9716D-GX is a 16-port 400G Cloud Scale card for high-speed spine and AI fabrics. If you are refreshing a Nexus 9500 for 100G/400G and modern Cloud Scale features like MACsec, move to the X9716D-GX.
Cisco Nexus 9500 N9K-X9464TX Line Card
First-generation 48-port 1/10GBASE-T copper line card for end-of-row and middle-of-row server access.
- 48 ports of 1/10GBASE-T copper plus 4x 40G QSFP+
- Designed for copper server access (EoR/MoR)
- 12 MB shared buffer
- Classic ASIC generation, no Cloud Scale MACsec
Cisco Nexus 9500 N9K-X9716D-GX Line Card
Cloud Scale 16-port 400G QSFP-DD line card for high-density spine, leaf-spine, and AI/ML fabrics.
- 16 ports of 400G QSFP-DD (also 40/100/200G)
- Cloud Scale LS6400GX ASIC with line-rate MACsec on all ports
- Up to 6.4 Tbps per slot with FM-G fabric modules
- Built for 100G/400G fabric and AI/ML east-west traffic
Cisco Nexus 9500 N9K-X9464TX Line Card vs Cisco Nexus 9500 N9K-X9716D-GX Line Card: spec comparison
| Spec | Cisco Nexus 9500 N9K-X9464TX Line Card | Cisco Nexus 9500 N9K-X9716D-GX Line Card |
|---|---|---|
| Front-panel ports | 48x 1/10GBASE-T + 4x 40G QSFP+ | 16x 400G QSFP-DD |
| Port media | Copper (RJ45) + QSFP+ | Optical / DAC (QSFP-DD) |
| Max port speed | 40 Gbps (uplink) | 400 Gbps |
| Per-slot bandwidth | Up to 480 Gbps line card capacity | Up to 6.4 Tbps with FM-G fabric |
| ASIC generation | Classic (pre-Cloud Scale) | Cloud Scale LS6400GX |
| Line-rate MACsec | No | Yes, on all front-panel ports |
| Primary role | Copper server access (EoR/MoR) | Spine / leaf-spine / AI fabric |
| Required fabric modules | First-gen FM | Cloud Scale FM-G fabric modules |
| Chassis compatibility | Nexus 9500 (classic FM) | Nexus 9504/9508/9516 (FM-G) |
Choose Cisco Nexus 9500 N9K-X9464TX Line Card if
Keep or choose the X9464TX only if you have a large installed base of 1/10G copper-attached servers and a Nexus 9500 still running classic fabric modules. For a copper-only legacy access tier it remains functional.
Choose Cisco Nexus 9500 N9K-X9716D-GX Line Card if
Choose the X9716D-GX when you are building or refreshing a 100G/400G fabric, need line-rate MACsec encryption, or are designing for AI/ML east-west traffic. It is the path to a modern Cloud Scale Nexus 9500.
Verdict
For a forward-looking Nexus 9500 refresh, the N9K-X9716D-GX is the clear choice: 400G density, Cloud Scale ASICs, and pervasive MACsec versus the copper-access, classic-ASIC X9464TX. Note the GX card requires FM-G fabric modules, so a chassis upgrade may be part of the migration. The X9464TX only makes sense to retain where copper server access is still the requirement.
Frequently asked questions
Can the N9K-X9716D-GX go into the same chassis as the N9K-X9464TX?
Both are Nexus 9500 line cards, but the X9716D-GX requires Cloud Scale FM-G fabric modules, while the X9464TX uses classic fabric modules. Mixing generations usually means a fabric-module upgrade.
Why move from 10GBASE-T copper to 400G optics?
Copper 10GBASE-T tops out at the access tier, while the X9716D-GX delivers 400G per port for spine and AI fabrics, plus line-rate MACsec encryption the older card lacks.
Does the X9716D-GX support speeds below 400G?
Yes. The 400G QSFP-DD ports support breakout and lower speeds including 40, 100, and 200 Gigabit Ethernet, so it can serve high-speed leaf roles too.
Is the N9K-X9464TX end of life?
It is a first-generation classic line card that has been superseded by Cloud Scale cards. Check the specific Cisco EoL bulletin for your part, and plan migration to current Cloud Scale line cards.
More Nexus comparisons
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