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MikroTik CRS305-1G-4S+IN vs TP-Link TL-SG1005LP

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 TP-Link TL-SG1005LP at 6.1/10.

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

The TP-Link TL-SG1005LP leads on noise and efficiency and poE.

The biggest difference is management, where the MikroTik CRS305-1G-4S+IN scores 9/10 to the TP-Link TL-SG1005LP's 5/10.

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

TL-SG1005LP

TP-Link TL-SG1005LP

6.1/10verdict: good, not the best

The TL-SG1005LP is for anyone who wants a small, unmanaged Gigabit switch that also powers a few PoE devices. It suits a desk, shelf or cupboard setup where silence matters and VLANs are not needed. It is less suited to anyone who needs management features, faster ports or fibre uplinks.

Typically about £29.99 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+INTP-Link TL-SG1005LP
Port speeds30%9/106/10
Management20%9/105/10
Port count and uplinks15%6/105/10
Noise and efficiency15%8/109/10
PoE10%5/107/10
Firmware and support10%7/105/10
Overall7.8/106.1/10

Specifications

SpecMikroTik CRS305-1G-4S+INTP-Link TL-SG1005LP
PortsFour SFP+ ports plus one 10/100/1000 Ethernet port5x 10/100/1000 Mbps RJ45; ports 1-4 are PoE+
Port speedsGigabit copper port; SFP+ cages support up to 10 Gbit per port; 1.25 Gbit SFP modules also supported10/100/1000 Mbps on all five ports; no 2.5GbE or 10GbE port listed
ManagementRouterOS or SwitchOS selectable via dual boot; configurable through WebFig or WinBoxUnmanaged, plug-and-play; no web UI, VLAN or SNMP listed
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 attachments802.3af/at on ports 1-4, up to 30 W per port, 40 W total budget
Uplinks (SFP/SFP+)Four SFP+ cages; modules not includedNone listed; all five ports are RJ45
Switching capacity82 Gbps switching capacity; 41 Gbps non-blocking throughputSwitch capacity 10 Gbps; MAC table 2K; packet buffer 1 Mbit; jumbo frame 9 KB (V4) or 16 KB (V3)
CoolingPassive, fanless, metal caseFanless; max heat dissipation 159.46 BTU/h

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 ›

TP-Link TL-SG1005LP

  • + Four PoE+ ports at up to 30 W each
  • + Fanless design
  • + Plug-and-play with no setup
  • − Gigabit only; no 2.5GbE or 10GbE
  • − 40 W total PoE budget is shared
  • − No web UI, VLAN or SNMP

Skip it if:

  • Buyers who need VLANs, a web UI or SNMP monitoring
  • Anyone who needs 2.5GbE, 10GbE or SFP uplinks
  • Buyers whose PoE devices draw more than 40 W combined
Read the full TP-Link TL-SG1005LP review ›

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