Skip to content
sudopicks
esc

MikroTik CRS310-8G+2S+IN vs NETGEAR GS308E

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

all judged against network switches at a similar price

The MikroTik CRS310-8G+2S+IN scores 7.2/10 overall, ahead of the NETGEAR GS308E at 6.2/10.

The MikroTik CRS310-8G+2S+IN leads on port speeds, management, port count and uplinks and firmware and support.

The NETGEAR GS308E leads on noise and efficiency.

They score the same on poE.

The biggest difference is noise and efficiency, where the NETGEAR GS308E scores 9/10 to the MikroTik CRS310-8G+2S+IN's 3/10.

MikroTik CRS310-8G+2S+IN

MikroTik CRS310-8G+2S+IN

7.2/10verdict: buy

The MikroTik CRS310-8G+2S+IN is for homelabbers and small-office admins who want 2.5GbE access ports with 10G SFP+ uplinks. It suits people who are happy to configure VLANs, link aggregation and ACLs in RouterOS. It is a poorer fit for anyone who needs PoE or wants a low-power, set-and-forget switch.

Typically about £185.57 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 GS308E

NETGEAR GS308E

6.2/10verdict: good, not the best

The NETGEAR GS308E is for people who want a small, silent eight-port Gigabit switch with basic VLAN support. It suits homes, bedrooms and desks where a fan would be a nuisance and plug-and-play setup matters. It is a poor fit for anyone who needs PoE, faster than Gigabit ports or deep Layer 3 management.

Typically about £24.97 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

Scores, criterion by criterion

CriterionWeightMikroTik CRS310-8G+2S+INNETGEAR GS308E
Port speeds30%9/106/10
Management20%9/107/10
Port count and uplinks15%8/105/10
Noise and efficiency15%3/109/10
PoE10%5/105/10
Firmware and support10%5/104/10
Overall7.2/106.2/10

Specifications

SpecMikroTik CRS310-8G+2S+INNETGEAR GS308E
Ports8 x 2.5GbE RJ45 plus 2 x SFP+, and one USB type-A port8 x Gigabit RJ45, no 10G port
Port speedsRJ45 ports 2.5G; SFP+ cages support 1G, 2.5G and 10G8 x 1G ports, auto-negotiating; no 2.5G or 10G ports
ManagementRouterOS v7 or SwitchOS; VLANs, link aggregation and ACL rules on RouterOSWeb-managed Easy Smart interface; VLAN, QoS, cable health check and loop prevention
PoE budgetnot listedNone (PoE ports and PoE budget N/A)
Uplinks (SFP/SFP+)2 x SFP+not listed
Switching capacityNon-blocking Layer 1 capacity 80000 Mbps; Layer 2 about 78,959.7 Mbps at 1518-byte frames16Gbps bandwidth
Cooling1 fanFanless (0 fans, 0 dBA at 25°C)

Strengths and weaknesses

MikroTik CRS310-8G+2S+IN

  • + Eight 2.5GbE ports plus two 10G-capable SFP+ cages
  • + RouterOS offers VLANs, link aggregation and ACL rules
  • + Wide 18–57 V DC input and -40°C to +60°C range
  • − One fan, and owners report higher power draw than expected
  • − Owners report 2.5G link negotiation problems
  • − No PoE listed

Skip it if:

  • Buyers who need PoE for access points, cameras or phones
  • Anyone who wants a quiet, low-power switch for a living space
  • Buyers who want a simple unmanaged switch with no configuration
Read the full MikroTik CRS310-8G+2S+IN review ›

NETGEAR GS308E

  • + Fanless, with 0 dBA listed
  • + Web-managed with VLAN, QoS and loop prevention
  • + Plug-and-play setup; maximum draw of 3.7W
  • − Gigabit only, with no 2.5G or 10G ports
  • − Owners criticise firmware update frequency and process
  • − Layer 2 only, modest web UI and no mobile app

Skip it if:

  • Buyers who need PoE for access points, cameras or phones
  • Anyone with 2.5GbE or 10GbE devices or who wants SFP uplinks
  • People who need advanced Layer 3 features or a polished management UI
Read the full NETGEAR GS308E review ›

More comparisons

Compare all network switches · Best network switches