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MikroTik CRS326-24G-2S+RM vs TP-Link TL-SG1005LP

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

all judged against network switches at a similar price

The MikroTik CRS326-24G-2S+RM scores 7.4/10 overall, ahead of the TP-Link TL-SG1005LP at 6.1/10.

The MikroTik CRS326-24G-2S+RM leads on port speeds, management, port count and uplinks and firmware and support.

The TP-Link TL-SG1005LP leads on poE.

They score the same on noise and efficiency.

The biggest difference is management, where the MikroTik CRS326-24G-2S+RM scores 8/10 to the TP-Link TL-SG1005LP's 5/10.

MikroTik CRS326-24G-2S+RM

MikroTik CRS326-24G-2S+RM

7.4/10verdict: buy

This is for sysadmins and homelabbers who want a managed 24-port gigabit switch with two 10Gb SFP+ uplinks for a rack. It suits anyone who wants VLANs and a silent, passively cooled switch. It is a poor fit for buyers who need PoE or who plan to use it as a busy router.

Typically about £175.32 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 CRS326-24G-2S+RMTP-Link TL-SG1005LP
Port speeds30%7/106/10
Management20%8/105/10
Port count and uplinks15%8/105/10
Noise and efficiency15%9/109/10
PoE10%5/107/10
Firmware and support10%6/105/10
Overall7.4/106.1/10

Specifications

SpecMikroTik CRS326-24G-2S+RMTP-Link TL-SG1005LP
Ports24 x 10/100/1000 Ethernet ports, 2 x SFP+ ports, serial console RJ455x 10/100/1000 Mbps RJ45; ports 1-4 are PoE+
Port speedsCopper ports 1 GbE; SFP cages support 1.25 Gb SFP and 10 Gb SFP+ modules10/100/1000 Mbps on all five ports; no 2.5GbE or 10GbE port listed
ManagementDual-boot SwOS/RouterOS; configurable VLANs, port mirroring, MAC filter, bandwidth limitationUnmanaged, plug-and-play; no web UI, VLAN or SNMP listed
PoE budgetnot listed802.3af/at on ports 1-4, up to 30 W per port, 40 W total budget
Uplinks (SFP/SFP+)2 x SFP+None listed; all five ports are RJ45
Switching capacityNon-blocking Layer 2 capacity 86,855.7 Mbps at 1518-byte packets; 88,000 Mbps at Layer 1Switch capacity 10 Gbps; MAC table 2K; packet buffer 1 Mbit; jumbo frame 9 KB (V4) or 16 KB (V3)
CoolingPassiveFanless; max heat dissipation 159.46 BTU/h

Strengths and weaknesses

MikroTik CRS326-24G-2S+RM

  • + Passive cooling, praised by owners as quiet and fanless
  • + Two SFP+ cages for 1.25Gb and 10Gb modules
  • + Dual-boot SwOS/RouterOS with VLANs and port mirroring
  • − Routing is slow, according to owners
  • − No PoE listed in the specifications
  • − Warranty is only 1 year

Skip it if:

  • Buyers who need PoE ports to power access points or cameras
  • Anyone wanting 2.5GbE or 10GbE copper ports on every port
  • People planning to use the switch as their main router
Read the full MikroTik CRS326-24G-2S+RM 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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