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MikroTik CRS305-1G-4S+IN vs NETGEAR GS108 8-Port Gigabit Unmanaged Switch

Researched, not hands-on tested.How we review ›

all judged against network switches at a similar price

The MikroTik CRS305-1G-4S+IN scores 7.8/10 overall, ahead of the NETGEAR GS108 8-Port Gigabit Unmanaged Switch at 6.3/10.

The MikroTik CRS305-1G-4S+IN leads on port speeds, management and port count and uplinks.

The NETGEAR GS108 8-Port Gigabit Unmanaged Switch leads on noise and efficiency.

They score the same on poE and firmware and support.

The biggest difference is port speeds, where the MikroTik CRS305-1G-4S+IN scores 9/10 to the NETGEAR GS108 8-Port Gigabit Unmanaged Switch's 6/10.

MikroTik CRS305-1G-4S+IN

MikroTik CRS305-1G-4S+IN

7.8/10verdict: buy

The MikroTik CRS305-1G-4S+IN is for homelabbers and sysadmins who need a few 10G SFP+ links on a small, silent switch. It suits anyone who wants to link a server, NAS or workstation at 10G and is happy to configure RouterOS or SwitchOS. It is not aimed at buyers who need many ports, PoE output or fast routing for a gigabit internet connection.

Typically about £121.19 in the UK when we researched itSearch Amazon UK (opens in a new tab, affiliate link)

Affiliate link. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Details

NETGEAR 8-Port Gigabit Ethernet Unmanaged Switch (GS108)

NETGEAR GS108 8-Port Gigabit Unmanaged Switch

6.3/10verdict: good, not the best

The NETGEAR GS108 is for anyone who needs eight more wired Gigabit ports with no configuration. It suits a desk, a media cabinet or a small lab where quiet running matters. It does not suit buyers who need VLANs, PoE or ports faster than Gigabit.

Typically about £24.99 in the UK when we researched itCheck price at Amazon UK (opens in a new tab, affiliate link)

Affiliate link. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Details

Scores, criterion by criterion

CriterionWeightMikroTik CRS305-1G-4S+INNETGEAR GS108 8-Port Gigabit Unmanaged Switch
Port speeds30%9/106/10
Management20%9/106/10
Port count and uplinks15%6/105/10
Noise and efficiency15%8/109/10
PoE10%5/105/10
Firmware and support10%7/107/10
Overall7.8/106.3/10

Specifications

SpecMikroTik CRS305-1G-4S+INNETGEAR GS108 8-Port Gigabit Unmanaged Switch
PortsFour SFP+ ports plus one 10/100/1000 Ethernet port8 Gigabit RJ-45 copper ports
Port speedsGigabit copper port; SFP+ cages support up to 10 Gbit per port; 1.25 Gbit SFP modules also supported10/100/1000 Mbps on each port
ManagementRouterOS or SwitchOS selectable via dual boot; configurable through WebFig or WinBoxUnmanaged, no VLANs
PoE budgetNo published PoE output budget; accepts PoE (802.3af/at) input on its Gigabit port with 12–57 V input; maximum consumption 18 W, or 10 W without attachmentsNone (PoE ports n/a, PoE budget n/a)
Uplinks (SFP/SFP+)Four SFP+ cages; modules not includedNone listed; Gigabit copper only, no SFP or SFP+ port
Switching capacity82 Gbps switching capacity; 41 Gbps non-blocking throughput16 Gbps
CoolingPassive, fanless, metal caseFanless

Strengths and weaknesses

MikroTik CRS305-1G-4S+IN

  • + Four SFP+ cages with up to 10 Gbit per port
  • + Fanless metal case; owners praise silent, low-power running
  • + Choice of RouterOS or SwitchOS via dual boot
  • − Only five ports, and SFP+ modules are not included
  • − Owners report weak routing for gigabit internet
  • − Copper SFP+ modules reportedly run hot in the fanless case

Skip it if:

  • Buyers who need PoE output to power cameras or access points
  • Anyone who wants to route a gigabit internet connection
  • Buyers who need many ports or copper multi-gig without SFP+ modules
Read the full MikroTik CRS305-1G-4S+IN review ›

NETGEAR GS108 8-Port Gigabit Unmanaged Switch

  • + Fanless, with acoustic noise listed as 0
  • + Plug-and-play setup with nothing to configure
  • + Limited lifetime warranty and 90 days of support
  • − Gigabit only, with no 2.5GbE, 10GbE or SFP uplink
  • − Unmanaged, so no VLANs
  • − Owners report failures in older revisions after a few years

Skip it if:

  • Buyers who need VLANs or any switch management
  • Anyone powering access points or cameras who needs PoE
  • Users with 2.5GbE or 10GbE devices, or who want an SFP uplink
Read the full NETGEAR GS108 8-Port Gigabit Unmanaged Switch review ›

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