Seeking a 2.5GB network switch? Here are some suggestions.
Seeking a 2.5GB network switch? Here are some suggestions.
You'd need to travel back a long time to encounter storage speeds this slow. HDDs likely reached Gigabit speeds around the late 90s, while today's drives can hit 2.5Gbit or more. All SSDs should now exceed that. It seems there might be an issue with the drive itself or you're working with many tiny files—this is what old optical media performance looked like.
Yes, but the situation didn’t seem to involve a typical storage delay. In my experience, the main slowdown comes from network IOPS, which also depends on CPU performance. Transferring many tiny files over the internet is noticeably slower than using a USB stick. Copying between two network drives becomes extremely time-consuming. However, for big files, raw network speed becomes crucial, which aligns with what the OP was aiming to avoid. With my setup—SSDs and a 10Gbps connection—I minimize the risk of network bottlenecks. A HDD would cap performance at around 2.5Gbit, while NVMe could push it higher but often hits CPU limits too. Since the client is a Raspberry Pi, data movement is minimal, making this less relevant. The 2.5Gbit choice makes sense because the Pi can reach Gigabit and is most likely to face CPU constraints. Your points didn’t match the actual scenario.
Your computer might have a 2.5 gbps card, but it can only handle up to 1 gbps due to the limitations of your modem, router, or ISP device. If the connection only offers 1 gbps ethernet, the actual speed you get will match that limit. Purchasing a 2.5 gbps switch won’t increase your connection beyond 1 gbps, which is the maximum your ISP provides. For a 2.5 gbps setup, consider a more affordable option like the Netgear 5-port switch for around $15, or the TRENDnet 2.5GBASE-T model for higher speeds. If you need a 2.5 gbps link, investing in a 5 x 2.5G + 10G SFP+ setup can be worthwhile, especially for connecting NAS or multiple computers with fast transfers. More budget-friendly alternatives include the 4 x 2.5G + 2 x SFP+ 10G ports from various brands at lower prices.
I understand if it seems off; I’m actually compatible with older speed Ethernet ports and cables. My goal is to avoid bottlenecks, so I prefer investing more in switches rather than relying on slower devices. The speeds I’m seeing from my ISP are just under 2GBps, which is why I’m considering 2.5GB switches. Thanks for the suggestions! Regarding "TRENDnet," it doesn’t seem to be a well-known name—maybe it’s a lesser-known brand or just not widely advertised.
I've owned Trendnet switches for 15 years now. Servethehome has reviewed some of their 2.5G switches; you can check them out here:
- 5 port: https://www.servethehome.com/trendnet-te...ch-review/
- 8 port: https://www.servethehome.com/trendnet-te...ch-review/
Their videos are available in video format.