Choosing an SPI Ethernet Chip: W5500 vs ENC28J60 vs DM9051
When adding wired networking to an MCU, the W5500, ENC28J60, and DM9051 are three common SPI options. This article compares hardwired TCP/IP versus a software stack, their specs and best-fit scenarios, plus shortage alternatives and sourcing.
The key difference: hardwired TCP/IP vs a software stack
When choosing an SPI Ethernet chip, the key fork is who handles the protocol stack. The WIZnet W5500 has a hardwired TCP/IP stack done entirely inside the chip, so the MCU does not run a software stack or need an RTOS — saving a lot of Flash/RAM and CPU cycles.
By contrast, the Microchip ENC28J60 and DAVICOM DM9051 are MAC+PHY Ethernet controllers that do not include a full stack; they need a software stack such as lwIP or uIP running on the MCU. That route is flexible and the chip cost can be lower, but it consumes MCU resources and adds firmware complexity.
Spec comparison of the three chips
W5500 (WIZnet): hardwired TCP/IP, 8 independent hardware sockets, 32KB TX/RX buffer, integrated 10/100 PHY, SPI up to about 80MHz — ideal when you do not want to maintain a stack yourself.
ENC28J60 (Microchip): 10Mbps, MAC+PHY, 8KB buffer, no socket engine, needs a software stack — a long-established, cost-sensitive choice.
DM9051 (DAVICOM): 10/100M, MAC+PHY over SPI, 16KB on-chip SRAM with TCP/IP checksum offload, needs a software stack; it has an official ESP32 reference design and ESP-IDF driver and is common in ESP32 wired-network projects.
How to choose for your project
If your MCU is resource-constrained, you do not want to maintain a stack, or you need a rock-solid industrial link, the W5500's hardwired TCP/IP is the simplest path — firmware just sends and receives via a socket API.
If you already run Linux or an RTOS with lwIP and want 10/100M while controlling the stack yourself, the DM9051 is a good fit, especially for ESP32 projects with official driver support.
The ENC28J60 suits existing uIP designs where 10Mbps is enough and cost is critical; for a brand-new design, also evaluate more modern options like the W5500 or DM9051.
Shortage alternatives and sourcing
If your ENC28J60 is short or discontinued, you can move to the W5500 (hardwired TCP/IP, saves MCU resources) or DM9051 (10/100M, software stack) depending on your design. If you run the older W5100S and want IPv6, consider the pin-compatible W6100.
JLink Technology is an authorized distributor for both WIZnet and DAVICOM, supplying the W5500, W6100, W5100S, and DM9051. Send us your part number and volume and we will reply with stock, pricing, and lead time, plus help with selection and reference circuits.
Products mentioned
W5500 Hardwired TCP/IP Ethernet Controller
W5500 is WIZnet's flagship Ethernet controller with a unique hardwired TCP/IP stack, enabling direct network connectivity without software TCP/IP implementation. Connects to the host MCU via SPI, features 32KB TX/RX buffer, supports up to 8 sockets — the most widely adopted Ethernet chip in the Arduino/Raspberry Pi ecosystem.
DM9051 SPI Interface 10/100M Ethernet Controller
DM9051 is a DAVICOM single-chip 10/100M Fast Ethernet controller with an SPI interface, eliminating the need for 8/16-bit parallel bus and greatly simplifying hardware design. Features 16KB SRAM TX/RX buffer, full-duplex flow control, and native Linux kernel driver support — ideal for network expansion on ARM or RISC-V MCU systems.
W6100 IPv4/IPv6 Dual-Stack Hardwired TCP/IP Controller
The W6100 is an advanced successor to the W5500, distinguished by supporting both IPv4 and IPv6 dual stacks entirely in hardware. It integrates a 10/100 MAC and PHY with 8 hardware sockets and is pin-compatible with the W5100S — an ideal choice when devices must migrate to IPv6.
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