Considering the upgrade to a 10GBASE-T network.
Considering the upgrade to a 10GBASE-T network.
I'm evaluating a network upgrade to a 10GBASE-T setup to boost speeds between my main PC and Windows File server. It's mainly for transferring large files efficiently. The planned gear includes the NETGEAR GS110EMX-100UKS, with GBE cards to be sourced later. Is this a worthwhile investment?
It depends on your needs. Will it enhance your workflow or hinder it? Any financial impact from delays should be weighed against the benefits.
He clarified his points clearly. The upgrade does offer quicker speeds, but it mainly enhances processing speed rather than significantly reducing production time. Whether it adds value depends on your specific needs in the final stage of play.
Can your Windows server manage moving files quickly enough to justify the investment? You should test copying data to things like a dead device or a RAM disk to check if the actual storage speed is sufficient—if it's only 100-200 MB per second, then upgrading to a 10Gbps network wouldn't be worthwhile.
Thanks for your feedback. It seems the idea of future-proofing isn't as clear-cut as I thought. I should definitely check RAM and disk performance to confirm any real advantages. Since the drives are mechanical, I’ll be constrained by their read/write speeds. I’ve already addressed my own question.
You wouldn't see any advantage. Mechanical drives reach about 150MB/s for reads in a standard RAID configuration, and even fewer for writes. It makes more sense to wait until you can take full advantage of 10Gbit, as costs are likely to have dropped by then.
I've noticed Seagate Ironwolf drives reaching 200MB/s writes, which makes it seem worthwhile since it's double what Gigabit can achieve. The server also caches and buffers transfers in any free RAM, so more memory speeds up how quickly files appear to transfer. For large files, a small boost in speed can noticeably cut down transfer time. You should also think about transferring between multiple mechanical drives, as this can offer extra benefits depending on your usage habits.
The only reason I’d consider future-proofing for 10Gbps is if you’re installing permanent cabling. As tech lovers we sometimes act on impulse rather than necessity, especially for personal projects. However, offering 10Gbps today would be expensive—pricing it now would require at least $500AU just to connect two machines with two 10Gbps NICs and a switch with two 10Gbps ports. In reality, the cost would likely rise even more because my NAS isn’t upgradeable for networking upgrades, so I’d need to purchase or build a new one. And for what benefit? Copying a Blu-ray would take about 10 seconds instead of roughly 2 minutes—definitely impressive, but probably not worth hundreds of dollars. I’d find more enjoyment in higher-end access points, security cameras, or other network enhancements. The value for “fun” is likely minimal.