F5F Stay Refreshed Power Users Networks So, which brands make great networking switches lately?

So, which brands make great networking switches lately?

So, which brands make great networking switches lately?

Pages (2): 1 2 Next
A
arrowwhed
Junior Member
3
09-06-2026, 10:26 PM
#1
Long ago, Trendnet, TP-Link, and Netgear were the top choices for networking gear. But what are they like now? If you want to pick one up, should I look at switches?
A
arrowwhed
09-06-2026, 10:26 PM #1

Long ago, Trendnet, TP-Link, and Netgear were the top choices for networking gear. But what are they like now? If you want to pick one up, should I look at switches?

C
CryptPvP
Junior Member
15
09-22-2026, 12:34 AM
#2
So which one is this? Is it for home use, commercial stuff, or are you asking about a router?
C
CryptPvP
09-22-2026, 12:34 AM #2

So which one is this? Is it for home use, commercial stuff, or are you asking about a router?

P
PommeVerte
Member
122
09-22-2026, 01:33 AM
#3
Here is a rewrite using simpler words while keeping your first-person perspective:

Each one of them is just for everyday use and isn't really top-notch compared to what you'd see in a professional setting.
P
PommeVerte
09-22-2026, 01:33 AM #3

Here is a rewrite using simpler words while keeping your first-person perspective:

Each one of them is just for everyday use and isn't really top-notch compared to what you'd see in a professional setting.

C
clecle23
Junior Member
49
09-22-2026, 06:38 AM
#4
My goal is to link my NAS unit to two separate computers using a fast, local network inside our house so everything can talk quickly to each other.
C
clecle23
09-22-2026, 06:38 AM #4

My goal is to link my NAS unit to two separate computers using a fast, local network inside our house so everything can talk quickly to each other.

U
UniversalPixel
Junior Member
7
09-22-2026, 09:20 AM
#5
Ten Gigabit network gear is still too expensive for just home use. 2.5 Gbps might work at a low price, but getting to 10 Gbps usually means paying more and using managed switches that cost in the hundreds of dollars. Here are some links to look at: one from QNAP and another from TRENDnet
U
UniversalPixel
09-22-2026, 09:20 AM #5

Ten Gigabit network gear is still too expensive for just home use. 2.5 Gbps might work at a low price, but getting to 10 Gbps usually means paying more and using managed switches that cost in the hundreds of dollars. Here are some links to look at: one from QNAP and another from TRENDnet

V
voetbalboy1998
Member
144
09-24-2026, 08:46 PM
#6
Thanks! If I don't mind manually unplugging and plugging cables into different computers, can a 2x10G switch work for me? My NAS has 10G ports. Two PCs also have 10G speeds, but maybe I only need to connect one PC to the NAS at a time when doing fast backups. For future proofing, it might be better to get three 10G ports. Why are most switches, especially those from QNAP, with three or more 10G ports in SFP+ format? Some only offer one SFP+/RJ45 combo port?
V
voetbalboy1998
09-24-2026, 08:46 PM #6

Thanks! If I don't mind manually unplugging and plugging cables into different computers, can a 2x10G switch work for me? My NAS has 10G ports. Two PCs also have 10G speeds, but maybe I only need to connect one PC to the NAS at a time when doing fast backups. For future proofing, it might be better to get three 10G ports. Why are most switches, especially those from QNAP, with three or more 10G ports in SFP+ format? Some only offer one SFP+/RJ45 combo port?

K
Kaisetsu
Senior Member
651
09-24-2026, 09:06 PM
#7
tplink makes a 5 port 10gbit switch for about $250. It is still rare that any home application can use 10gbit. It takes careful design because it is far more than just the network to get really fast speeds. You need the disk and file system on both ends of the connection. This tends to be very expensive to do correctly so you pretty much only see in in business installation that can justify the costs. If you are using it only for backup is it really worth the costs. Does the backup complete using 1gbit ports say while you are in bed sleeping, does it really matter if it completely faster.
K
Kaisetsu
09-24-2026, 09:06 PM #7

tplink makes a 5 port 10gbit switch for about $250. It is still rare that any home application can use 10gbit. It takes careful design because it is far more than just the network to get really fast speeds. You need the disk and file system on both ends of the connection. This tends to be very expensive to do correctly so you pretty much only see in in business installation that can justify the costs. If you are using it only for backup is it really worth the costs. Does the backup complete using 1gbit ports say while you are in bed sleeping, does it really matter if it completely faster.

B
BubbaNitro
Member
160
09-25-2026, 01:30 AM
#8
This completely breaks down the idea of a network.
B
BubbaNitro
09-25-2026, 01:30 AM #8

This completely breaks down the idea of a network.

S
samsampp
Member
114
10-04-2026, 02:45 AM
#9
I bought a Netgear switch from their pro line around six or seven years ago and it's still working fine. So maybe Netgear's pro stuff is worth my recommendation. I wish the same was true for their consumer items too. There is no point in getting to 10Gbps if your gear isn't actually used for that. For example, unless you run a NAS with big SSDs, you won't hit 10Gbps limits on anything but really dumb stuff like an 8-way RAID setup.
S
samsampp
10-04-2026, 02:45 AM #9

I bought a Netgear switch from their pro line around six or seven years ago and it's still working fine. So maybe Netgear's pro stuff is worth my recommendation. I wish the same was true for their consumer items too. There is no point in getting to 10Gbps if your gear isn't actually used for that. For example, unless you run a NAS with big SSDs, you won't hit 10Gbps limits on anything but really dumb stuff like an 8-way RAID setup.

J
julien190901
Member
192
10-04-2026, 10:51 AM
#10
J
julien190901
10-04-2026, 10:51 AM #10

Pages (2): 1 2 Next