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MikroTik CRS310-8G+2S+IN vs TP-Link TL-SG108E

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 TP-Link TL-SG108E at 6.2/10.

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

The TP-Link TL-SG108E leads on noise and efficiency and firmware and support.

They score the same on poE.

The biggest difference is noise and efficiency, where the TP-Link TL-SG108E 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

TP-Link TL-SG108E

TP-Link TL-SG108E

6.2/10verdict: good, not the best

The TL-SG108E is for home and homelab users who want a small, silent eight-port gigabit switch with basic VLAN support. It suits setups that need a few separate networks, not strict isolation. It is a poor fit if you need PoE, fibre uplinks, faster-than-gigabit ports or Spanning Tree.

Typically about £45 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+INTP-Link TL-SG108E
Port speeds30%9/106/10
Management20%9/106/10
Port count and uplinks15%8/105/10
Noise and efficiency15%3/109/10
PoE10%5/105/10
Firmware and support10%5/106/10
Overall7.2/106.2/10

Specifications

SpecMikroTik CRS310-8G+2S+INTP-Link TL-SG108E
Ports8 x 2.5GbE RJ45 plus 2 x SFP+, and one USB type-A port8 x 10/100/1000 Mbps RJ45 ports
Port speedsRJ45 ports 2.5G; SFP+ cages support 1G, 2.5G and 10G10/100/1000 Mbps
ManagementRouterOS v7 or SwitchOS; VLANs, link aggregation and ACL rules on RouterOSEasy Smart; web user interface and Windows management utility; port-based, 802.1Q and MTU VLAN (32 VLANs active out of 4K IDs), port mirroring, loop prevention, IGMP snooping, cable diagnostics
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 frames16 Gbps switching capacity; 11.9 Mpps forwarding rate; 4K MAC table
Cooling1 fanFanless, metal casing

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 ›

TP-Link TL-SG108E

  • + Fanless metal casing, so no fan noise
  • + 802.1Q VLANs and port mirroring on a web UI
  • + Owners report VLANs working on current firmware
  • − Gigabit only, with no SFP/SFP+ uplink published
  • − VLAN 1 cannot be removed and no Spanning Tree
  • − Owners describe VLAN setup as fiddly

Skip it if:

  • Buyers who need PoE for access points, cameras or phones
  • Anyone who needs strict VLAN isolation, Spanning Tree or a management interface off the user ports
  • Users who want 2.5GbE, 10GbE or SFP/SFP+ uplinks
Read the full TP-Link TL-SG108E review ›

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