• We’re currently investigating an issue related to the forum theme and styling that is impacting page layout and visual formatting. The problem has been identified, and we are actively working on a resolution. There is no impact to user data or functionality, this is strictly a front-end display issue. We’ll post an update once the fix has been deployed. Thanks for your patience while we get this sorted.

Hot? Gigabit SMC switch, model SMC8504T, $69 SHIPPED!(Updated!!)

V

vfrjim

Golden Member
Upgrading to gigabit? Best price other then This one on pricewatch is $147.00!(updated) Mine shipped already, so it is a CONFIRMED deal, IMO. Let's not get this into a thread about that Gigabit is a waste, but for me that records HDTV and transfer them all the time over my network, it makes a difference, 3-5 times faster.

Updated to reflect new LOWER price.
 
I have seen a lot of switches for around $100. Still, this is the cheapest I have seen. I can't wait until it is cheap enough to do all of my computers. Still a bit too pricy.
 
They also have Cards for $21 each, not really that expensive to change over. I will probably upgrade to a better card later or when I upgrade motherboard, it will definitely have a gigabite on-board.

Jim
 
I have two computers that have a built-in gigabit NIC (Abit IS7 and Asus A7N8X-E deluxe), and a computer that does not. Currently I'm using a Linksys BEFSR41 firewall/switch, which has an uplink port. If I get this gigabit switch, is this the way I should connect the computers?

Linksys BEFSR41: computer with regular 10/100 NIC, DSL modem, gigabit switch (to uplink port)
Gigabit switch: my two computers with gigabit NIC

This way, the two computers can talk to each other at gigabit speed, but for all other communication, it'll be fast ethernet, and everything will be behind the firewall with respect to the DSL connection.
 
yes, connect all computers with gigabit ethernet to the switch and connect a jumper from the router to the switch for internet access/firewall.
 
Originally posted by: docinthebox
I have two computers that have a built-in gigabit NIC (Abit IS7 and Asus A7N8X-E deluxe), and a computer that does not. Currently I'm using a Linksys BEFSR41 firewall/switch, which has an uplink port. If I get this gigabit switch, is this the way I should connect the computers?

Linksys BEFSR41: computer with regular 10/100 NIC, DSL modem, gigabit switch (to uplink port)
Gigabit switch: my two computers with gigabit NIC

This way, the two computers can talk to each other at gigabit speed, but for all other communication, it'll be fast ethernet, and everything will be behind the firewall with respect to the DSL connection.
Click to expand...

That would work just fine. You can also put the computer with the 10/100 NIC on the gigabit switch without adversely affecting anything as well. The switch will set a speed for each port, not the whole switch.
 
Only 4 ports...hmmm...nice find though. I'm not too familiar with SMC gear; does anyone have experience with it?

Anyone seen 8 or 16 port gig switches for relatively cheap?
 
The description says rack-mountable, but I wonder if mounting hardware is included..

Outpost has a Trendware 5 port for a few bucks more: switch
 
Using http://www.pricegrabber.com and searching for "gigabit" I can find a cheaper Netgear GS105 Gigabit switch for $70 ($75 shipped) at eBuyer.com and the cheapest gigabit NIC that I can find is $15.00 at TheNerds.net.

Sorry, I am too lazy to link all these, but if you don't find it following these instructions let me know and I will link them 😉
 
Originally posted by: Armoth
Only 4 ports...hmmm...nice find though. I'm not too familiar with SMC gear; does anyone have experience with it?

Anyone seen 8 or 16 port gig switches for relatively cheap?
Click to expand...


My router is a SMC, I've had a few of them in the past 5 years (went from a 4 port to a 8 port), they work fine, no problems here.

Also, it seems that this gigabit switch has more memory then other switches that I was looking at.


Jim
 
Originally posted by: psxjunky
Using http://www.pricegrabber.com and searching for "gigabit" I can find a cheaper Netgear GS105 Gigabit switch for $70 ($75 shipped) at eBuyer.com and the cheapest gigabit NIC that I can find is $15.00 at TheNerds.net.

Sorry, I am too lazy to link all these, but if you don't find it following these instructions let me know and I will link them 😉
Click to expand...


Here you go:


Linky To Cheaper Netgear

$73 for a better brand with more ports

I almost posted this as a separate thread when I found it last night:

The Zonet 8 port switch is only $117 ($125 shipped)

Linky To Zonet 8 port Gig switch for $117

Cost per port:

SMC: $19.75
Netgear: $14.6
Zonet: $14.6
 

Ok you are right 8mb buff is a lot more in the SMC.

Most I have seen have 256k memory

But I have NO idea what/IF that effects performance.

Would it be so hard for a tech site to actualy review 5 and 8 port gig switches?

 
Does anyone know why the Netgear GS105 (5-port) is so much cheaper than the GS104 (4-port) and the GS108 (8-port)? I compared the technical specs and the three models seem to be similar. Is it an older model or something?
 
Originally posted by: jimbeam
The description says rack-mountable, but I wonder if mounting hardware is included..

Outpost has a Trendware 5 port for a few bucks more: switch
Click to expand...

When I bought my 8 port Router from SMC, the rack-mount kit was included.

Jim

 
Originally posted by: docinthebox
Does anyone know why the Netgear GS105 (5-port) is so much cheaper than the GS104 (4-port) and the GS108 (8-port)? I compared the technical specs and the three models seem to be similar. Is it an older model or something?
Click to expand...

I notice that too docinthebox

It worries me that netgear got cheap with the new model and that all these cheap 5 port gig switches use the same board.

Maybe older is better?
 
Originally posted by: trikster2
OK here is another one for you networking geeks:

Do any of these cheap switches support jumbo frames?
Click to expand...

Ok the answer is yes the SMC8505T (5 port $109) and the SMC8508T (8 port $140) support jumbo frames.

Don't know it it matters but cool none the less
 
so, the quote that you get 3-5x the performance... you can get sustained xfers of 24MByte to 40MByte/s?

What kind of drive setup do you have? I would think you'd reach the harddrive maximum before you'd get benefit from gigabit UNLESS you have RAID or something or maybe one of the 10K IDE or 15K SCSI Drives.

 
Originally posted by: dman
so, the quote that you get 3-5x the performance... you can get sustained xfers of 24MByte to 40MByte/s?

What kind of drive setup do you have? I would think you'd reach the harddrive maximum before you'd get benefit from gigabit UNLESS you have RAID or something or maybe one of the 10K IDE or 15K SCSI Drives.
Click to expand...

ata133 drives with a Raid 0 (promise controller), it was a dramatic difference, like I said, 3-5x faster with gigabit, but of course it was only a crossover cable, so a switch may slow it down some depending on traffic.
 
Originally posted by: dman
I would think you'd reach the harddrive maximum before you'd get benefit from gigabit UNLESS you have RAID or something or maybe one of the 10K IDE or 15K SCSI Drives.
Click to expand...

not according to storagereview... Maxtor DM9 has STR of 55MB/sec, WD1200JB has 49MB/sec.

Fast ethernet's bandwidth is 100Mbps or 12.5MB/sec. So practically, you get maybe 10MB/sec. So you still have ways to go with gigabit ethernet until you hit the STR of your IDE drive.
 
The highest speed you'll see on COPPER gigabit ethernet is around 250mbps (around 31MB/sec). This won't be a limitation of your computer but rather the gigabit COPPER ethernet. Now fibre gigabit ethernet can go MUCH faster but is exponentially more expensive in terms of speed per $.
 
Originally posted by: RDMustang1
The highest speed you'll see on COPPER gigabit ethernet is around 250mbps (around 31MB/sec). This won't be a limitation of your computer but rather the gigabit COPPER ethernet. Now fibre gigabit ethernet can go MUCH faster but is exponentially more expensive in terms of speed per $.
Click to expand...

Not exactly true. Copper gigabit ethernet carries 250Mbps per twisted pair in full duplex mode. A Cat 5e cable consists of four twisted pairs, as you can see here. So you do in fact get the advertised bandwidth of 1Gbps with copper gigabit ethernet.
 
Originally posted by: docinthebox
Originally posted by: RDMustang1
The highest speed you'll see on COPPER gigabit ethernet is around 250mbps (around 31MB/sec). This won't be a limitation of your computer but rather the gigabit COPPER ethernet. Now fibre gigabit ethernet can go MUCH faster but is exponentially more expensive in terms of speed per $.
Click to expand...

Not exactly true. Copper gigabit ethernet carries 250Mbps per twisted pair in full duplex mode. A Cat 5e cable consists of four twisted pairs, as you can see here. So you do in fact get the advertised bandwidth of 1Gbps with copper gigabit ethernet.
Click to expand...

What docinthebox said.

RDMustang1 where are you getting the idea that coper gig is really quarter gig?

I've read a lot about bad copper performance but normaly it has to do with the PCI bus or slow hard drives.....

 
OK, real life results to report back.

Both PC's are using the same card, one PC has a ata 100 Seagate 7200.7 drive, the other (receiving computer) has a ata 133 Maxtor drive. Depending on the size of files being transfered, I ranged from 1.7 to 2.0 gigs a minute, definitely better then 100 base t network, not as fast as fibre, but definitely a noticable improvement.

Jim
 
Originally posted by: vfrjim
OK, real life results to report back.

Both PC's are using the same card, one PC has a ata 100 Seagate 7200.7 drive, the other (receiving computer) has a ata 133 Maxtor drive. Depending on the size of files being transfered, I ranged from 1.7 to 2.0 gigs a minute, definitely better then 100 base t network, not as fast as fibre, but definitely a noticable improvement.

Jim
Click to expand...

About 280 mb/s? I wonder if your bottleneck is the single drive or the network.

You said not as fast as fibre, do you have stats for real life fibre tests?

Just got off the pot and ordered the SMC8505T. If I can get 3 times the wire speed of 100base/T I'll be happy but I hope to do better.

Thanks!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

TRENDING THREADS

Back
Top