Network Switch for Gaming: Gigabit or 2.5G? Buying Guide 2026
More LAN ports for PC, console and NAS: when a Gigabit switch is enough, when 2.5G makes sense, and five checked TP-Link and Zyxel models on Amazon.de.
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Contents
Your router has four LAN sockets, but your desk has a PC, a console, a NAS and maybe an access point? A network switch turns one cable to the router into several LAN ports. The real question is whether a plain Gigabit switch is enough or whether 2.5 Gbit/s is worth it. This guide explains the difference, lists the key specs according to the manufacturers, and presents five models available on Amazon.de.
Transparency: We did not test these switches ourselves. Specs come from the manufacturers (TP-Link, Zyxel), the Ethernet Alliance (NBASE-T) and the Amazon.de product pages we checked (as of November 2026). We do not quote prices because they change constantly.
What a switch does – and what it doesn't
An unmanaged switch forwards data packets to the connected devices. You plug in power and cables; there is nothing to set up. It is not a router: the internet connection, IP addresses (DHCP) and firewall stay with your router. A switch therefore does not make your internet faster. It does stop devices from fighting over scarce router ports, and it moves data inside your own network, for example from PC to NAS.
Typical uses:
- Desk: one cable to the router, with PC, console, laptop dock and printer behind it
- Living room: TV, PS5 or Xbox, streaming box
- LAN party: link several computers in the same room
- Behind a powerline adapter: a powerline adapter often has just one or two sockets; a switch spreads the connection further
Gigabit or 2.5G?
| Gigabit (1G) | 2.5G | |
|---|---|---|
| Rate per port | 10/100/1000 Mbit/s | 100 Mbit/s to 2.5 Gbit/s |
| Cable | Cat 5e is enough | per TP-Link and the Ethernet Alliance, Cat 5e is possible too |
| Makes sense if | internet under 1 Gbit/s, console, normal gaming PC | NAS, fast PC-to-PC transfers, router with a 2.5G port |
| Price level | lower | higher |
Rule of thumb: your internet line sets the limit for downloads and online games. On DSL or a cable plan up to 1 Gbit/s, 2.5G on the switch adds nothing for plain gaming. It gets interesting when both ends can do 2.5G: a router with a 2.5G LAN port, a motherboard with a 2.5G network chip or a NAS. If either side lacks it, the devices automatically settle on the lower rate.
The 2.5G standard is IEEE 802.3bz. The Ethernet Alliance says 2.5 and 5 Gbit/s are meant to run over up to 100 metres of existing Cat5e or Cat6 cabling. The cable still has to manage it in practice; quality and length matter. The NBASE-T specification also provides “downshift”: if the cable can't cope, the devices agree on a lower rate. Whether a given switch implements it is not always in the data sheet. More on cables: Cat 6A and Cat 8 Ethernet cables.
What to look for when buying
- Port count: Plan one or two spare ports. One port is the uplink to the router; the rest are for devices. Five ports cover a desk, eight cover a living room plus a study.
- Unmanaged or smart/managed: Plug-and-play models are almost always enough for gaming. Managed features like VLANs are for segmentation, not for low ping.
- QoS: Several models list 802.1p prioritisation. Whether it helps in daily use depends on your router and network; it does not replace a clean wired setup instead of Wi-Fi.
- Housing and cooling: Fanless metal housings are silent. The power supply is external, and 2.5G models draw more power than Gigabit ones.
- Mind the uplink: All devices share the connection to the router. If your console and PC hang off the switch, that one cable is their shared way to the internet.
- SFP+ port: A 10G SFP+ slot is only needed if you want to link a 10G NAS or router via fibre or DAC.
If you need several computers on one monitor rather than more network sockets, see the KVM switch guide: that is a different device for a different job.
Five switches at a glance
Example model
Gigabit entry: TP-Link TL-SG105 (5 ports)
According to TP-Link: five 10/100/1000 Mbit/s ports with auto-negotiation and Auto-MDI/MDIX, metal housing, fanless, max. 3.0 W power draw, 802.1p/DSCP QoS (V2 and later) and IGMP snooping. Dimensions 100 × 98 × 25 mm. Sold and shipped by Amazon, in stock (checked November 2026).
- Ports
- 5× Gigabit
- Functions
- QoS (V2+), IGMP snooping, loop prevention
- Mounting
- desktop or wall
- Power
- max. 3.0 W
Right for you if you just need a few more ports at your desk for PC, console and co.
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Example model
Gigabit with more ports: TP-Link TL-SG108 (8 ports)
According to TP-Link: eight ports with 10/100/1000 Mbit/s, auto-negotiation and Auto-MDI/MDIX, metal housing for desktop or wall mounting, QoS per IEEE 802.1p and IGMP snooping, Green Ethernet. Sold and shipped by Amazon, in stock (checked November 2026).
- Ports
- 8× Gigabit
- Functions
- QoS (802.1p), IGMP snooping
- Mounting
- desktop or wall
Right for you if your living room or study has more devices than five ports can serve.
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Example model
Gigabit from Zyxel: GS-105B v5 (5 ports)
According to Zyxel: five Gigabit ports, 10 Gbit/s switching capacity, 7.4 Mpps forwarding rate, 9 KB jumbo frames and a 2K MAC table; also a metal housing, fanless design, desktop or wall mounting and Energy-Efficient Ethernet. Sold and shipped by Amazon, in stock (checked November 2026).
- Ports
- 5× Gigabit
- Switching capacity
- 10 Gbit/s
- Forwarding
- 7.4 Mpps
- Extra
- Energy-Efficient Ethernet, max. 2.99 W
Right for you if you want a compact alternative to TP-Link (82.5 × 46.8 × 24 mm).
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Example model
2.5G for PC and NAS: TP-Link TL-SG105-M2 (5 ports)
According to TP-Link: five ports at 100 Mbit/s, 1 Gbit/s and 2.5 Gbit/s, IEEE 802.3bz, 25 Gbit/s switching capacity, 10 KB jumbo frames, 802.1p support and a fanless metal housing. External power adapter (12 V/1 A), max. 12.11 W. Sold and shipped by Amazon, in stock (checked November 2026). Note: the Amazon page sometimes lists a higher switching capacity; we use TP-Link's figure.
- Ports
- 5× 2.5G (backward compatible)
- Switching capacity
- 25 Gbit/s (TP-Link)
- Cable
- Cat 5e or better
- Dimensions
- 209 × 126 × 26 mm
Right for you if your router, PC and NAS support 2.5G and you want a compact, configuration-free box.
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Example model
2.5G with a 10G uplink: Zyxel XMG-108 (8 ports + SFP+)
According to Zyxel: eight 2.5G ports (100M/1G/2.5G auto-negotiation) plus one SFP+ slot, 60 Gbit/s switching capacity, 44.6 Mpps forwarding, fanless, desktop or wall mounting, max. 9.12 W. Dimensions 240 × 105 × 27 mm. Sold and shipped by Amazon, in stock (checked November 2026).
- Ports
- 8× 2.5G + 1× SFP+
- Switching capacity
- 60 Gbit/s
- Forwarding
- 44.6 Mpps
- Power
- max. 9.12 W
Right for you if you have many 2.5G devices or want to reach a 10G device via SFP+.
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The models compared
| Model | Ports | Speed | Highlight |
|---|---|---|---|
| TP-Link TL-SG105 | 5 | 1G | compact, QoS, IGMP |
| TP-Link TL-SG108 | 8 | 1G | more ports |
| Zyxel GS-105B v5 | 5 | 1G | 10 Gbit/s switching, 9 KB jumbo |
| TP-Link TL-SG105-M2 | 5 | 2.5G | 802.3bz, 25 Gbit/s |
| Zyxel XMG-108 | 8 + SFP+ | 2.5G | 60 Gbit/s, SFP+ |
How to connect the switch
- Plug one cable from the router (LAN socket) into any switch port.
- Connect your PC, console and other devices to the remaining ports.
- Attach the power adapter. Unmanaged models need no configuration.
- If you measure less than expected: check cable category and length, try another port and cable, and confirm both devices report the rate you want.
FAQ
Does a switch make my internet faster?
No. Internet speed depends on your line and router. A switch only distributes the connection inside your home network.
Do I need 2.5G for gaming?
Usually not. Gigabit is enough for online games. 2.5G pays off when your router, PC or NAS can use the higher rate.
Can I chain several switches?
Yes. Each extra switch uses one port as an uplink, and everything behind an uplink shares its rate. For small homes, one larger switch is usually simpler.
Is my old Cat 5e cable enough for 2.5G?
According to TP-Link and the Ethernet Alliance, Cat 5e or better is intended for 2.5G. Whether your existing cable manages it shows in the link. If you have problems, a shorter or better cable helps.
Unmanaged or managed?
Unmanaged is enough for home gaming. Managed adds VLANs and statistics you rarely need in a normal home network.
Switch or powerline?
Powerline replaces cabling, while a switch multiplies ports. You can combine them; see the powerline adapter guide.
Sources
As of November 2026.
- TP-Link – TL-SG105 specifications
- TP-Link – TL-SG105-M2 specifications
- TP-Link – TL-SG108
- Zyxel – XMG100 Series (XMG-108) specifications
- Zyxel – GS-100 Series (GS-105B v5) specifications
- Ethernet Alliance – NBASE-T Technology FAQ (2.5/5 Gbit/s over Cat 5e, IEEE 802.3bz, downshift)
- Amazon.de listings: B00A128S24, B01EXDG2MO, B0DNZGFJ21, B08VH4Q3NR, B0CTHT4F4P
Manufacturers occasionally change specs and hardware versions. Check the exact model name and version when buying.
* Ad link: As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Links go to Amazon.de – the price stays the same for you.