ARRIS SB8200 VS MOTOROLA MB8600 – Which cable modem has minimal latency?

Arris SB8200 and Motorola MB8600 two of the best performance model cable modems in the market. Take a look as we compare them and provide an in depth review highlighting their top features.

Are you looking for high speed cable modem for your house? Well, these Arris and Motorola modems should be at the top of your list. The modems feature a lot of similarity in features and performance that we’ll look at in this article. They both have adopted the latest DOCSIS 3.1 technology to enable the high performance they offer. An important factor to note is that, the two brands come from the same company. The Arris Company recently bought the Motorola branch that manufactures modems. This led to both modems having similar designs and features. In the following table, we highlight some of these similarities and differences

What are the differences between Arris Surfboard S8200 and Motorola MB8600?

Arris Surfboard SB8200 vs Motorola MB8600- How do they compare?

Performance and speed

The speed may be the most important consideration when buying a cable modem. Here, the Motorola performs better than the Arris. First, the modem offers higher theoretical speeds of about 3.8 Gbps which translates to about 300 Mbps download and around 80 Mbps for the upload speed. What this means is that 4K resolution streaming, large file downloads and gaming is made easily possible. On top of this, the modem features the latest DOCSIS 3.0 technology and this allows it to hit speeds of up to 300 Mbps. The Arris modem on the other hand is also a good performer overall. With a theoretical speed of 2 Gbps, the modem provides upload and download speeds of 50 mbps and 200 Mbps respectively in an actual test. If raw unadulterated power is what you need, the Motorola MB8600 should definitely be the number one choice

Ports

Cable modems only work with wired or physical connections. This means that ports are an essential component. Again, Motorola takes the win and this is because of it has more gigabit Ethernet ports. In fact, it has double the number of ports on the Arris. The Motorola MB8600 features 4 Ethernet ports all located at the back of the router. More ports usually means more versatility and use as more devices can be connected. For instance, if you have devices that need high speed connection, the modem allows direct connection through cable – this may include routers, game consoles, desktops and smart TVs. Therefore, the Motorola is a better choice for people with multiple devices that need high speed connections

Compatibility with cable internet providers

It is important to always choose a modem that supports as many cable internet providers as possible. The Arris SB8200 is one of these modems. It is compatible with many ISPs compared to the Motorola and this includes: Comcast Xfinity, Brighhouse, Spectrum, Cox and more. The package contains a list of all compatible providers. Motorola MB8600 loses out in this category as there are a few major ISPs it does not support such as Brighthouse. Always ensure you know what providers are supported before buying a modem.

Configuration and setup

After picking the modem, first time configuration has to be done. Here, we have a tie since both modems are plug and play devices. The installation process is simple and straightforward. Connect the cables first, turn the device on, find the MAC address of the device and ask you internet service provider to register the address. This is enough to get the network up and running.

Motorola MB8600 vs Arris SB8200 – A comparison review

Motorola MB8600

Motorola MB8600 DOCSIS 3.1 Cable Modem - Approved for Comcast Xfinity, Cox, and Charter Spectrum, Supports Cable Plans up to 1000 Mbps | 1 Gbps Ethernet Port

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Before Arris Company bought the Motorola branch that manufactures modems – Zoom, Motorola released one of the best modems we have today. The Motorola MB8600 is a high performance cable modem. It is widely known for the whopping four gigabit Ethernet ports it has. In fact, there are very few modems with such a high number of ports making this modem unique. With the numerous ports, additional features such as Link Aggregation are made possible. Link aggregation refers to the ability of the modem to combine all the gigabit connections into one single line meaning you get up to 3.8 Gbps of theoretical bandwidth. This translates to about 300 Mbps in the real world which is pretty decent. With such speeds, live gaming, 4K streaming and fast downloads are easily achieved.

Another reason the MB8600 is beloved in the networking community is the future-security it offers. This means the modem can be used many years after purchase since it has latest features some of which are not in use yet. Such features include the DOCSIS 3.1. Lastly, the modem has a wonderful and classy design that will definitely get some heads turning. It is metallic grey in color with a thick bottom for support. Furthermore the LED lights are placed on a black glossy strip that makes it super attractive. With that, the following are its pros and cons

Pros

• DOCSIS 3.1 support ensures high speeds are achieved easily
• The design is elegant and attractive
• The unit has four gigabit Ethernet ports
• It supports link aggregation and spectrum analyzer

Cons

• It is expensive
• Some of its features cannot be used today as ISP don’t offer the services yet

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Arris Surfboard SB8200

NETGEAR Cable Modem CM1000 - Compatible with All Cable Providers Including Xfinity by Comcast, Spectrum, Cox | for Cable Plans Up to 1 Gigabit | DOCSIS 3.1, Black (CM1000-1AZNAS)

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Arris is known for its focus on performance and speed above everything else. The SB8200 continues with this reputation with some of the highest speeds in a cable modem today. Although not as fast as the Motorola, this modem allows speeds of up to 200 Mbps. This is enough for any home uses such as gaming and high resolution streaming. To achieve this fete, it is equipped with DOCSIS 3.1 but is also backward compatible with version 3.0. The Arris is compatible with all the major cable internet providers including Comcast, Cox, Charter, among others.

In addition to these, the modem features two gigabit Ethernet ports. One goes to the router for Wi-Fi connectivity and the other to a device of your choice. And with link aggregation, the speeds are minimally affected when you hook up the second device. The following are its pros and cons

Pros

• It offers very high speeds of 200 Mbps
• The modem is small and consumes very little floor space
• It supports all major cable internet service providers from Comcast to Spectrum
• Supports both IPV4 and IPV6 standards
• There are two Ethernet ports for connection

Cons

• It is expensive

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Conclusion

In conclusion, always pick the modem that suits your needs best. The Arris SB8200 is a better choice for smaller budgets. Motorola MB8600 is a great choice for anyone that needs super high speeds and latency free performance.

Final Verdict -So which is better, Arris SB8200 or Motorola MB8600?

Overall, the Motorola MB8600offering is a much better buy that the SB8200. This is mainly because it has four gigabit Ethernet ports and offers excellent extra features such as Link aggregation.

FAQs

1. Does the Arris SB8200 tend to overheat?

Yes. Some users have complained that it gets quite warm over extended usage

2. Is the Motorola MB8600 a DOCSIS 3.1 modem?

Yes. Both modems support DOCSIS 3.1 technology for fast speeds.