most of the time server cards will offer tcp function offloading - for 
reduced CPU load.  that doesn't necessarily make the server card faster 
than the desktop card, it just makes the CPU work less under heavy load 
- since the desktop card has to rely on the CPU to do most of the TCP 
stuff, like checksumming, etc.  also, if PXE boot is important, make 
sure the card has that, i don't recall if that is a server only feature 
or if it is typically on both types of cards.

Donovan wrote:
> I'm upgrading a network to gigabit and most of our servers already
> have gigabit NICs but a few will need an upgrade.  In looking at cards
> I see some billing themselves as "desktop" and "server" cards.  The
> only big differences I see are price and remote management features.
> If I don't require the extra remote management features is there
> anything else I'm missing if I go with the desktop card?
>
>