MikroTik CRS305-1G-4S+IN vs QNAP QSW-1105-5T

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 QNAP QSW-1105-5T at 5.8/10.

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

The QNAP QSW-1105-5T leads on noise and efficiency.

They score the same on poE.

The biggest difference is management, where the MikroTik CRS305-1G-4S+IN scores 9/10 to the QNAP QSW-1105-5T's 3/10.

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

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

QNAP QSW-1105-5T

5.8/10verdict: good, not the best

This switch is for people who want to move a small wired network from gigabit to 2.5GbE without any setup. It suits a desk, a home office or a homelab corner where noise matters and VLANs are not needed. Buyers who want management features, PoE or extra uplinks need a different model.

Typically about £93.14 in the UK when we researched itSearch Amazon UK

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

Scores, criterion by criterion

Criterion	Weight	MikroTik CRS305-1G-4S+IN	QNAP QSW-1105-5T
Port speeds	30%	9/10	7/10
Management	20%	9/10	3/10
Port count and uplinks	15%	6/10	5/10
Noise and efficiency	15%	8/10	9/10
PoE	10%	5/10	5/10
Firmware and support	10%	7/10	5/10
Overall		7.8/10	5.8/10

Specifications

Spec	MikroTik CRS305-1G-4S+IN	QNAP QSW-1105-5T
Ports	Four SFP+ ports plus one 10/100/1000 Ethernet port	5 ports
Port speeds	Gigabit copper port; SFP+ cages support up to 10 Gbit per port; 1.25 Gbit SFP modules also supported	2.5GbE on all five ports; standards include 100BASE-T, 1000BASE-T and 2.5GBase-T
Management	RouterOS or SwitchOS selectable via dual boot; configurable through WebFig or WinBox	Unmanaged
PoE budget	No 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 attachments	None; not a PoE switch
Uplinks (SFP/SFP+)	Four SFP+ cages; modules not included	not listed
Switching capacity	82 Gbps switching capacity; 41 Gbps non-blocking throughput	Switching capacity 25Gbps; non-blocking throughput 12.5Gbps
Cooling	Passive, fanless, metal case	Fanless

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 ›

QNAP QSW-1105-5T

+ 2.5GbE on all five ports
+ Fanless, and owners praise how quiet it is
+ Plug-and-play, with no configuration needed
− Unmanaged, so no VLANs or traffic control
− No PoE and no separate uplink ports listed
− Owners complain about cost per 2.5GbE port

Skip it if:

Buyers who need VLANs or other management features
Anyone who needs PoE for access points or cameras
Homelabbers who want more than five ports or faster uplinks

Read the full QNAP QSW-1105-5T review ›

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