Question QSW-1105-5T 5-port 2.5GbE Switch: Create an affordable 2.5GbE network environment with CAT 5e cables

VirtualLarry

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Patiently waiting for the first "affordable" 2.5GbE-T switch (only 5-port for now) from QNAP. Supposed to release in June, wonder if it will release corresponding with new B550 mobos with 2.5GbE-T ports? (Intel Z490 boards with 2.5GbE-T onboard have already started to release.)

Anyone want to guess at price? I'm thinking $80, maybe less since it's only 5 ports, maybe only $50. That would be nice and affordable (relative to other "business-oriented"/"managed" 2.5GbE-T switches on the market).

From one of their new 4-bay 2x 2.5GbE-T NAS units:
"Note: The QSW-1105-5T 2.5GbE switch will be available from Q3 2020. "

The video says "Next month" (video released in May), product page above says "Q3 2020". :(

Maybe they're waiting for shipping charges to drop, container ship from China. According to a recent GamersNexus YT video, prices on shipping from China are way up, so possibly to hit the price-point that they're aiming at, they have to wait for shipping prices to drop down a bit.

Anyone want to translate this for me? Is it actually on sale, or is this a pre-order (it's not on QNAP's own store site yet), and what does $2999 Chinese TWD (my mistake, sorry!) translate to in USD?



Ok, attempting to calculate the price of the switch on pchome, I came up with $129-130 USD roughly, based on their prices of existing switches, versus what they showed up at Amazon US.

Still seems a bit kind of pricey, but still better than $400-500 that some companies want for managed 8-port 2.5GbE-T w/ 2x 10GbE SFP+ uplink switches. Then again, you're getting a lot more for your money.

I don't know how successful this QNAP switch will be here in the USA if the price is $130, for ONLY a 5-port. Maybe an 8-port, I could see $130. 5-port? $100 TOPS, preferably $80. Maybe eventually, $50.

Have to see what their competitors come out with, probably use Aquantia silicon.

Edit: StorageReview article, dated July 16, 2020. Claims QNAP switch is "Available Now". Hrmph. :(

Edit:

 
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mxnerd

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Anyone want to translate this for me? Is it actually on sale, or is this a pre-order (it's not on QNAP's own store site yet, in China), and what does $2999 Chinese translate to in USD?
QNAP is a Taiwanese company. But Taiwanese people speak Chinese.

It's a Taiwanese website. So it's TWD.

 

mxnerd

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Should be shipping now. The shopping website (with country code .tw ) guarantees 24hr delivery (all year round). No where in the product description says it's pre-order.
 

mxnerd

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Found one simple review. Traditional Chinese. Posted 6/16

INTEL 2.5G chipset SLN8A. https://www.google.com/search?q=SLN8A
 
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VirtualLarry

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Wait, are you suggesting that the QNAP QSW-1105-5T, uses the Intel SLN8A chipset on it? Does that share a 2.5Gbit/sec PHY implementation with their I225-V NIC chipset, the one that "drops packets", and the recommend setting back to 1Gbit/sec, to avoid problems with it? THAT ONE???
 

mxnerd

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Wait, are you suggesting that the QNAP QSW-1105-5T, uses the Intel SLN8A chipset on it? Does that share a 2.5Gbit/sec PHY implementation with their I225-V NIC chipset, the one that "drops packets", and the recommend setting back to 1Gbit/sec, to avoid problems with it? THAT ONE???
Yep. But it seems the issue mostly was compatibility with some particular switches, not all switches, and performance drop in some conditions.


SL8NA probably is even earlier than the ones in the article.

==

It's still so hard to jump from 1G to 2.5G for copper ethernet. Better to wait for reviews from others when it's released in USA.
 
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gibster

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Looks like there is the first preview of pricing - in UK span.com lists it for 97 pounds. It could still be $100 in the US, a little steep if you ask me, but not terrible. I myself would take a plunge at $50, otherwise I would wait a little more. For now I could connect the 2 computers in my office with the high speed, lol. To fully go 2.5Gbit in the house, I would need a few more 2.5Gbit NICs and 3 of these switches...
 

aigomorla

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For now I could connect the 2 computers in my office with the high speed, lol.

If its just for 2 PC's you don't even need a switch.
You can do a direct connection to one another on separate nic's and assign hosts in windows so it uses those nic's when talking to each other.
The only reason you would want a switch is if you wanted a group of PC's to talk to each other, but even then its still possible to direct connect if the NIC has dual ports on it.
You can get this done on a 10GBe / 40GBe for pretty cheap.
Its only when you start adding switches that it gets pricey.

To fully go 2.5Gbit in the house, I would need a few more 2.5Gbit NICs and 3 of these switches...

this makes no sense to me at all unless your hardwired cat5e.
I would honestly go a bit more and splurg on 10gbe with RJ-45 Transcievers on SFP+ switchs from mikrotik.
The only way i would limit myself to 2.5gb is if it was cheap, i cant upgrade my wiring to CAT6/7, and my board had it built in without the need for an additional card and PCI-E Lanes, otherwise why limit to 10gbe?
 

gibster

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this makes no sense to me at all unless your hardwired cat5e.

yes, house is pre-wired with cat5e. I need a couple in my office where the router is, and one in the basement, which goes to the rest of the house. It may be more hassle than it's worth at this point.
 

ksec

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Mar 5, 2010
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Really wish the industry went with 5Gbps instead of 2.5Gbps.

US is generally three month behind for Qnap product launches. And since we are in the middle of pandemic may be that would take even longer.

I am still waiting for the release of their Hero Edition OS.
 

VirtualLarry

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They say the switch is "released", but then mention, "only in Taiwan", and "coming to other regions... 'Soon'".

Supposed to be released 3Q2020, where is it on Amazon.com? Hopefully it shows up right after I get my check next month, I'd like 2 or maybe 3 of them.
 

Headfoot

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Looking forward to US availability for this. The one plus for 2.5g is that data rate wise it pairs nicely with USB3, plus cheap adapters for it exist
 

aigomorla

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Looking forward to US availability for this. The one plus for 2.5g is that data rate wise it pairs nicely with USB3, plus cheap adapters for it exist

problem tho is usb ethernet devices are meh IMO, which is why you don't see one with an intel branded nic on them ever.
Latency Latency Latency > Bandwith in gaming in most situations.

Although it may be very minute, its still not a preferred method of connecting to internet for gaming.
 

VirtualLarry

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problem tho is usb ethernet devices are meh IMO, which is why you don't see one with an intel branded nic on them ever.
Latency Latency Latency > Bandwith in gaming in most situations.

Although it may be very minute, its still not a preferred method of connecting to internet for gaming.
Still WAY, WAY better than Wifi though, for gaming purposes.
 
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Headfoot

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Have you guys seen any good USB3->NBASE 2.5g adapter roundups that measure latency? I haven't found anything good and I've been trying to figure out just how bad the USB adapters are.

I'm planning on having some around for Guest computers during lan parties, with PCIe hardware in my permanent machines, unless the latency is so bad its counterproductive
 

VirtualLarry

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Well, some progress. QNAP online store (official) has it listed, but OOS right now. $99.00.

QNAPworks.com, apparently (?) has it in-stock right now, for $99.00. Free ship with $150+ orders, and they're from Cali.

Adorama.com has it listed, as "mfg is shipping any day now" (not the exact words). You can pre-order it, and they will charge your card when it shows up and ships. Same price, $99.00.

I think that it's safe to say that the MSRP is $99.00. :)

It figures that I've wanted these switches for SO LONG NOW, one to replace my Microtik 4+1-port SFP+ 10GbE passively-cooled switch with ipolex 10GbE-T / NBASE-T copper transceivers, because of the temps that it gets to, and the fact that I was only using 2.5GbE-T NICs in my boxes.

Only, now I've invested in 3x AM4 ATX mobos with 5GbE-T Aquantia NICs onboard, along with 1GbE-T Intel NICs, and my current setup would let me take advantage of the 5GbE-T NICs at full link speed, with a 10GbE-T uplink to my network core, and eventually, if I get a NAS with a 10GbE (either -T or SFP+), then those 5GbE-T client NICs might come in handy. (550MB/sec, yes please!)

Wanting a nice juicy Lockerstor 8 or 10, but might have to settle for something a bit less.

Anyways, after getting the boards with the 5GbE-T NICs, getting a client workstation distribution switch for only 2.5GbE-T would be kind of anti-climactic, don't you agree?
 
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Fallen Kell

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Personally I would look at the used/refurbished market for datacenter switches. Many companies are ditching their 10gbps/40gbps switches to upgrade to newer 25gbps/100gbps/400gbps switches. There are lots of good deals on things out there that have 10gbps SFP+ ports and even 40gbps QSFP+ ports. I mean, no one here most likely has support for 2.5gbps from their internet provider anyway so this is purely for usage between your own NAS/storage computers and laptops/gaming/media extenders, as such, why are you settling for 2.5gbps when 10 and 40 have been available for years? I have bought dual port 40gbps network cards for less than $30 refurbed and they can be configured either 10 or 40gbps, and can use CAT6 with proper SFP+ adapter.
 
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