Fast Ethernet switch vs. Gigabit switch – what switch is the best option for speed?
Did you know that Ethernet is of different types, and the types available depend on the speed requirements you have when browsing the internet? They come in the form of fast Ethernet switches and gigabit switches.
Even though you might see the wide array of Ethernet switches, the main distinguishing factor among all of them is only one – and it is the transmission speeds. Before choosing any of them, it is very important to keep the difference in mind to guide you in your decision.
To illustrate this, we will talk about our circumstances when checking out different switches. One major mistake we made was assuming all switches were the same, and all were using the latest technology to access the internet. We once bought a fast Ethernet switch, when the reality was that we actually required a gigabit Ethernet switch. Good thing was that none of the switches are too expensive, but it will save you some coins when you actually know what you are getting in the first place. And yes, they are completely different from each other.
Table of Contents
What are the differences between Gigabit switches and Fast Ethernet switches?
Gigabit switches (Netgear) (Winner) |
Fast Ethernet switches (TP Link) |
|
Frequency of delays |
Less |
More |
Range of coverage |
Maximum limit of 70km |
Maximum limit of 10km |
Configuration process |
More errors in the configuration process |
Less complications in configuration |
Data speeds (both upload and download) |
1000 Mbit/s |
100 Mbit/s |
IEEE standard |
802.3z |
802.3u |
Cables |
Cat 6e or 5e |
Cat 5e or 5 |
Fast Ethernet switch vs. Gigabit switch – How they compare
Data speeds
This is probably the biggest difference between the Gigabit and Fast Ethernet switches. When it comes to the fast Ethernet switch, it increases the transfer rates of the Ethernet connection from 10 Mbps to a maximum of 100 Mbps. This is because the fast Ethernet switch will support the 10/100 protocol, which is fully capable of operating at speeds of 100 Mbps.
It is also important to note that the fast Ethernet switches will usually come with RJ45 ports, which means that the switch works well over Cat5or Cat5e cables to connect a variety of devices such as routers, servers, PCs, and so on. Many of these switches will also include a high speed uplink port where you can use a fiber or copper module to connect UTP or fiber optic cable systems, which results in the support of high speeds of up to 1 Gbps or more.
On the other hand, Gigabit Ethernet switches are up to 10 times faster compared to the Fast Ethernet switch, which makes them more suitable for high speed internet requirements from ISPs and bandwidth-hungry users. The Gigabit switch will operate at theoretical speeds of 1000 Mbps, or 1Gbps.
These switches are also compatible with older standards, especially the legacy 10/100 standard, as they come with multiple SFP ports or/and RJ45 interfaces. The switches will work well when you use SFP optic transceivers that work on corresponding patch cables, or copper cables that you twist in pairs – especially cables of the Cat6 and Cat5 types that follow the 1000BASE-T cable standard. In fact, it is quite common to see more Gigabit Ethernet switches that come with some 10G SFP+ ports that can uplink switches of 10GB.
All the remaining differences are mainly minor ones, and we will discuss three of them. They are:
Cost
Basing this criteria on the data that theIDC provides, Gigabit Ethernet switches are more expensive compared to fast Ethernet switches by up to four times – although none of them come at prohibitive prices. However, it is important to keep in mind that the price gaps will likely be the most important factor that makes an impact on the decisions of network engineers, especially when they upgrade the systems.
The Fast Ethernet switches are more affordable compared to the Gigabit switches.
The features available
Gigabit switches will always come with the latest features in network management, which allows an administrator to assign security policies and QoS to specified applications. These will help in improving security, as well as the guaranteeing in service level agreements. On the other hand, a Fast Ethernet switch will have similar security functions and management functions, although at a premium, which will eventually aim to narrow price gaps present.
The Gigabit switches have the latest standards of connectivity and network management as part of their default, while the Fast Ethernet switches can have these, although at a premium price.
Power standards
Original PoE technological aspects in Fast Ethernet switches will give you 12.94 watts for IP-enabled devices and wireless access points, though this is usually insufficient for newer internet equipment. However, Gigabit switches (especially the later ones) will support improved PoE+ standards that give you a higher power input of 30 watts.
The Fast Ethernet switches seem great, but they tend to be less efficient in utilizing energy, compared to the Gigabit switches. An area where the Fast Ethernet switch can reduce power consumption is through using a Gigabit switch and placing it at areas of network edges.
The Fast Ethernet switch has issues with using energy efficiently compared to the Gigabit switch, leading to more wastage in the long term.
Fast Ethernet switch vs. Gigabit switch – A comparison review
Fast Ethernet switch – Overview
- 5 Gigabit Ethernet ports
- Simple plug-and-play setup with no software to install or configuration needed
Fast Ethernet switches are quite similar to a train line, as the switch will direct the direction of the data and which devices the data goes to. This helps them to maintain the separate nature of the connections, and helping every device in the network to use the network when it needs to.
Between the two switches, the Ethernet switches are older, having come on the public scene in 1980. The nature of the Fast Ethernet switch is that it is the updated version of original Ethernet cables, and it seeks to improve the internet connection speeds. They will be a good choice if you are working on a budget, or you will not require a network speed superseding 100 Mbps.
Pros
- Provide fast internet for numerous setups
- Very good if you are using the internet in a small business or home setting
- Works better with certain older setups
Cons
- Tends to bottleneck speeds when you use it heavily
- Is being phased out of the market
Gigabit switch – Overview
- PLUG-AND-PLAY - Easy setup with no configuration or no software needed
- ETHERNET SPLITTER Connectivity to your router or modem router for additional wired connections (laptop,...
The simplest way to define Gigabit Ethernet switches is those that result in a speed of 1000 Mbps on average. They have a frame format of 803.2, and can achieve a maximum length of 70km – the resulting application is their use in many universities, as well as businesses that have many employees working in a bigger space like several floors of a building.
The good news with these switches is that their cost has reduced significantly, so it is possible to afford it at home, or at your small business establishment. You will also likely benefit from it if you are a bandwidth-heavy user, such as in online gaming, or using servers to host files.
Pros
- It can handle Gigabit internet stops such as Google Fiber
- Has much higher transfer speeds when it comes to local networks
- More likely to be used in the future for fast internet
Cons
- It will need all the router and device hardware to be compatible with gigabit Ethernet
- Will require new hardware in many cases
Verdict: So what is better? The Fast Ethernet switch or Gigabit switch?
While we have only revealed the basics of Fast Ethernet switches and Gigabit switches, so your choice will mainly depend on your needs. That said, we will stick with the Gigabit switch as our pick, because of its speed, and likelihood of supporting more devices than the Fast Ethernet switch – with the extra advantage of reducing prices as time goes by.
FAQs
Will I improve my network performance by adding Ethernet switches?
Yes, but not by much. The more switch ports you add, the more the network performance improves, and you can increase this through adding the switch ports further down the tree structure.
Does adding a gigabit Ethernet switch slow down my connection?
This will depend on whether the switch is capable of gigabit or not, as well as the internet connection. The internet service needs to be faster than 100 Mbps and the switch should be able to handle a gigabit connection (in other words, it should not be a fast Ethernet switch), in order for the speed to increase.
