Finding the BEST Cheap 2.5GbE Switch... by Testing 21 of Them

We did a MEGA roundup with 21 different cheap and fanless 2.5GbE switches that also have SFP+ and/ or 10Gbase-T for 10GbE networking. This is a massive undertaking, so thank you to our STH YouTube members for making this possible. In this edition, we cover a new port configuration, more PoE options including ones with internal power supplies, and more managed switches.

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Where to Find The Unit We Purchased
Note we may earn a small commission if you use these links to purchase a product through them as we participate in various affiliate programs.
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8-port 2.5GbE, 2-port SFP+ Switches

4-port 2.5GbE, 1-port 10Gbase-T, 1-port SFP+ Switches

4-port 2.5GbE, 2-port SFP+ Switches

5-port 2.5GbE, 1port SFP+

8-port 2.5GbE and 1-port SFP+ Switches

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Where to Find STH
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Other STH Content Mentioned in this Video
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Timestamps
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00:00 Introduction
00:13 Gigaplus GP-S250802
00:59 TRENDnet TEG-3102WS
02:14 MikroTik CRS310-8G+2S
02:59 Introducing the Ultimate 2.5GbE switch guide
03:44 Hasivo S600W-4GT-1SX-1XGT-SE
04:37 Hasivo S600WP-4GT-1SX-1XGT-SE
05:01 Mokerlink 2G04210GSMX
05:51 Updating the testing methodology to check for unsanctioned traffic
07:22 Mokerlink 2G040210GS
07:52 ienRon HG0402XG
09:01 ienRon HG0402XG-P
10:09 Nicgiga NIC-S250402
10:54 Nicgiga S25-0402P
11:51 Yuanley YS25-0402P
12:43 XikeStor SKS3200M-4GPY2XF
14:05 YuLinca 2G06110GS
14:35 Nicgiga S250501
15:00 Sodola SL-SWTG015AS-POE
16:31 Nicgiga S25-0501-M
17:36 How to pick one of these switches
18:29 keepLink KP9000-9XH-X
19:22 Real HD SW8-1-2G
20:26 Yuanley YS25-0801P
21:34 Davuaz Da-K9801WP
22:43 Key Lessons Learned
24:04 Wrap-up

[thatLion]

Can't wait until 2.5gbe becomes the new standard everywhere, nice review.

[andrewcook]

Thanks for addressing the security aspect - I watched the Hasivo video, but that was in the back of my mind the whole time. Glad to know you're monitoring for it!

[pyruvatepersonage]

Thank you so much for testing these switches for basic security vulnerabilities. There have been so many backdoors and exploits found in chinese networking hardware recently, so your testing definitely helps to assuage some fears

[RootSwitch]

Love these switches. Picked up two SODOLA models (4x2.5, 2xSFP+, and 5x2.5, 1xSFP+). They pair really nicely with my older Mikrotik CRS305 4x10G and CRS309 8x10G switches giving them 1Gb and 2.5Gb RJ45 without using -T transceivers.

[rafflesmaos]

Been using the 8 port version of the XikeStor ever since it came out. Managed 8 port for the price of unmanaged 8 port, and it comes with a UL listed power brick. Been rock solid with zero issues.

[Threadripperbourbon]

Patrick, Thanks for providing this great service of finding, testing and maintaining a list of the latest affordable home and small business switches (2.5Gb, 10Gb and above).

[jodajackson]

Nice, you guys went all out on the cheap 2.5GbE + a couple of 10GbE switches. Cheers!

[TheAlapalooza]

Are you doing a round of ~8port 10Gbit switches at some point?

[AlexBoneChannel]

I went into my attic and found a 2005 HP NC6120 laptop that had a 1gbe controller, basically 20 years later 1gbe is still the standard for most laptops and lower to mid range desktops.

[MaxCarponera]

Just received a pair of Xikes 8x2.5G + 1xSFP+ and work quite fine. Added a 2x2.5G PCIe card to my home server and now file transmission is base HDD speed of ~190MB/s. Cool stuff. Iperf is 2.35Gb/s. I'm waitng for a 10Gb cable to feed that SFP+ and pair with a Mikrotik router for connecting to 10Gb internet, that's quite cheap in my city.

[labcdel]

Appreciate you guys for making the ultimate switch guide. Been wanting to add another 2.5gbe switch. Can't wait

[hquest]

Seeing all mentions about switches taking about 5W of power makes my two 715W PSUs on my Cisco switch look like an aberration 😂

But I can totally snag some of these basic switches to act as layer 2 port extensions where I don’t need a Cisco 10Gb slot assigned to a port using less than the 100Mbps.

Much appreciated for the set of options, Patrick!

[imreloadin]

Really gotta be careful when saying the "Nicgiga" brand name...

[movaxh]

Great overview. A lot of rebrands of same stuff, but that is ok too. I personally do not use 2.5G, nor plan (already moved to 10, 25, 100), but the fact that there are so many and cheap switches, plus you got 1 or 2 10G ports, and some come with management is really good and generally welcome. Definitively networking at home and small office is finally transforming for real, after 20 years of staying in place at 1G. These switches now basically make 1G switches completely irrelevant for home or small office use. 1G switches might still have some use in rack mount settings (i.e. 48 port 1G switch with poe for things like cameras or other iot stuff, because you really do not need much bandwidth, and every cent of money spent switch or power usage is worth saving, if 2.5G will never be used. But in few years maybe even 1G 48-port rack switches will be also totally gone. For example for connecting things like small desktops and laptops in the bigger office, 2.5G is definitively a nice thing to have. Still many big brands do not have such switches in their offering. They just go straight to 10G (or in few small cases 5G with support for 2.5/1000/100), because that makes more sense as a long term investment these days.

Because these are fanless, and maybe are cheap capacitors, it would be interesting to test them at full load for few hours and probe temperature, especially close to electrolytic capacitors. If the heat is not managed well, these will be dying in few years time.

[scheimong]

Lol Nicgiga 😅

That's an awkward name if you know what I i mean

[alexhwang]

We will love to see more review on brand like Netgear, Qnap, TP Link, and D-Link. Also on the reliability as well since a lot of these "Cheap" multigig switches overheat and died within a year.

[TheDillio]

lol you guys rock. Thank you for this.

[zevindd]

Really glad you're doing exfilltration testing. Might be fun to do it with IP cameras, as every single one I've ever bought has shown some, and as such they sit on a non-routable vlan in my network

[FlipperWolf]

Thanks for this pretty thorough review!
I can't believe 2.5gb ports are finally getting this cheap! I feel like a year ago I was looking at some of them on Amazon and they were like AT LEAST double the price of the cheapest one... crazy

[Kraaketaer]

So, the main takeaway is that if you're just looking for a faster-than-gigabit switch for simple home use, literally anything will do the job well, and cheaper ones tend to use less power while not sacrificing meaningfully in terms of performance? Sounds good to me!