Cat 6a copper wire connected to a Gigabit unmanaged router
Cat 6a copper wire connected to a Gigabit unmanaged router
Cat 6a using a RJ45 port can fit into any switch, it just reaches the highest speed limit. A 24-port unmanaged switch will also function properly. You can opt for a budget model, as they generally perform similarly.
You're always constrained by the least efficient part of the setup. Whether you have a 10GbE NIC, Cat6a cable, and then a 1GbE switch, the connection will operate at gigabit speed. The same applies if both ends use 1GbE. The cable can manage higher speeds if your NIC and switch are compatible.