MikroTik CRS305-1G-4S+IN vs TP-Link LS1005G 5-Port Gigabit 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 TP-Link LS1005G 5-Port Gigabit Switch at 6.2/10.

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

They score the same on port count and uplinks, noise and efficiency and poE.

The biggest difference is port speeds, where the MikroTik CRS305-1G-4S+IN scores 9/10 to the TP-Link LS1005G 5-Port Gigabit Switch's 6/10.

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

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TP-Link LS1005G 5-Port Gigabit Switch

6.2/10verdict: good, not the best

The TP-Link LS1005G is for anyone who needs a few more wired Ethernet ports without any setup. It suits a desk, media cabinet or small homelab corner where gigabit is enough and VLANs are not needed. Buyers who want management features, PoE or faster links should look at other switches.

Typically about £9.99 in the UK when we researched itCheck price at 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	TP-Link LS1005G 5-Port Gigabit Switch
Port speeds	30%	9/10	6/10
Management	20%	9/10	6/10
Port count and uplinks	15%	6/10	6/10
Noise and efficiency	15%	8/10	8/10
PoE	10%	5/10	5/10
Firmware and support	10%	7/10	6/10
Overall		7.8/10	6.2/10

Specifications

Spec	MikroTik CRS305-1G-4S+IN	TP-Link LS1005G 5-Port Gigabit Switch
Ports	Four SFP+ ports plus one 10/100/1000 Ethernet port	5 x 10/100/1000 Mbps RJ45 ports, auto-MDI/MDIX
Port speeds	Gigabit copper port; SFP+ cages support up to 10 Gbit per port; 1.25 Gbit SFP modules also supported	10/100/1000 Mbps per port, auto-negotiation
Management	RouterOS or SwitchOS selectable via dual boot; configurable through WebFig or WinBox	Unmanaged, plug-and-play, no configuration needed
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
Uplinks (SFP/SFP+)	Four SFP+ cages; modules not included	None; RJ45 only, no SFP/SFP+ uplinks
Switching capacity	82 Gbps switching capacity; 41 Gbps non-blocking throughput	10 Gbps switching capacity, 7.4 Mpps packet forwarding rate
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 ›

TP-Link LS1005G 5-Port Gigabit Switch

+ Plug-and-play with no configuration
+ Fanless and reported as quiet
+ Two-year warranty from the UK seller
− Unmanaged: no VLANs or QoS
− Gigabit only, no SFP/SFP+ uplinks
− No PoE on any port

Skip it if:

Homelabbers who need VLANs, QoS or other management features
Buyers who want PoE for cameras or access points
Anyone who needs 2.5GbE, 10GbE or SFP/SFP+ uplinks

Read the full TP-Link LS1005G 5-Port Gigabit Switch review ›

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