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NETGEAR GS308E vs QNAP QSW-1105-5T

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

all judged against network switches at a similar price

The NETGEAR GS308E scores 6.2/10 overall, ahead of the QNAP QSW-1105-5T at 5.8/10.

The NETGEAR GS308E leads on management.

The QNAP QSW-1105-5T leads on port speeds and firmware and support.

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

The biggest difference is management, where the NETGEAR GS308E scores 7/10 to the QNAP QSW-1105-5T's 3/10.

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

QNAP QSW-1105-5T

QNAP QSW-1105-5T

5.8/10verdict: good, not the best

This switch is for people who want to move a small wired network from gigabit to 2.5GbE without any setup. It suits a desk, a home office or a homelab corner where noise matters and VLANs are not needed. Buyers who want management features, PoE or extra uplinks need a different model.

Typically about £93.14 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

CriterionWeightNETGEAR GS308EQNAP QSW-1105-5T
Port speeds30%6/107/10
Management20%7/103/10
Port count and uplinks15%5/105/10
Noise and efficiency15%9/109/10
PoE10%5/105/10
Firmware and support10%4/105/10
Overall6.2/105.8/10

Specifications

SpecNETGEAR GS308EQNAP QSW-1105-5T
Ports8 x Gigabit RJ45, no 10G port5 ports
Port speeds8 x 1G ports, auto-negotiating; no 2.5G or 10G ports2.5GbE on all five ports; standards include 100BASE-T, 1000BASE-T and 2.5GBase-T
ManagementWeb-managed Easy Smart interface; VLAN, QoS, cable health check and loop preventionUnmanaged
PoE budgetNone (PoE ports and PoE budget N/A)None; not a PoE switch
Switching capacity16Gbps bandwidthSwitching capacity 25Gbps; non-blocking throughput 12.5Gbps
CoolingFanless (0 fans, 0 dBA at 25°C)Fanless

Strengths and weaknesses

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 ›

QNAP QSW-1105-5T

  • + 2.5GbE on all five ports
  • + Fanless, and owners praise how quiet it is
  • + Plug-and-play, with no configuration needed
  • − Unmanaged, so no VLANs or traffic control
  • − No PoE and no separate uplink ports listed
  • − Owners complain about cost per 2.5GbE port

Skip it if:

  • Buyers who need VLANs or other management features
  • Anyone who needs PoE for access points or cameras
  • Homelabbers who want more than five ports or faster uplinks
Read the full QNAP QSW-1105-5T review ›

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