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Do You NEED Faster Ethernet?

Techquickie@techquickie760K viewsJan 18, 20225:09
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YT
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Get 50% off your Zoho CRM annual subscription with code ZCRM50 at: lmg.gg What's the point of routers and switches that only have one Ethernet port above 1 Gbps, such as a 2.5 Gbps, 5 Gbps, or 10 Gbps port? Leave a reply with your requests for future episodes, or tweet them here: twitter.com ► GET MERCH: lttstore.com ► AFFILIATES, SPONSORS & REFERRALS: lmg.gg ► PODCAST GEAR: lmg.gg ► SUPPORT US ON FLOATPLANE: floatplane.com FOLLOW US ELSEWHERE --------------------------------------------------- Twitter: twitter.com Facebook: @LinusTech Instagram: @linustech TikTok: @linustech Twitch: twitch.tv

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The video explains why faster Ethernet speeds like 2.5 Gbps are becoming relevant for consumer networks, and how they differ from the traditional 1 Gbps standard. It starts by noting that most home devices use Gigabit Ethernet, but demand is shifting as faster WAN speeds become available. The host introduces 2.5 Gbps devices that can run over existing Cat5e cabling, which lowers upgrade costs compared to moving directly to 10 Gbps. A key point is that many devices still have ports that operate at 1 Gbps, so the benefit of a single fast WAN port is to reduce a bottleneck at the edge of the network, especially when multiple devices try to pull large files at once. The discussion uses practical scenarios, such as two computers downloading a large game simultaneously, to illustrate how a faster WAN port can improve overall throughput even if client ports remain at 1 Gbps. The host emphasizes that the value of 2.5 Gbps depends on your setup, noting that a full 2.5 Gbps network backbone is most beneficial for homes with fast internet, media servers, or multi-user environments like offices. The video then covers the tradeoffs of upgrading, pointing out that full 2.5 Gbps switching can be more cost-effective than jumping straight to 10 Gbps, and notes that 10 Gbps hardware remains primarily aimed at enterprise use. The conclusion suggests that for most households, a 2.5 Gbps WAN port is useful mainly when fast external speeds are coupled with multiple heavy users, while more advanced configurations are typically the domain of enthusiasts and specialized setups, such as home media servers or small workgroups. The sponsor segment briefly introduces Zoho CRM as a business solution, followed by a reminder that content creators will cover more topics in future episodes. Finally, the video wraps up by encouraging viewers to like, subscribe, and share topic ideas for upcoming episodes.

Topics · networking · home_networking · technology · internet

Questions answered

What is the main advantage of a router with a 2.5 Gbps WAN port for a typical home network?
The main advantage is reducing the bottleneck at the edge when multiple devices with high demand access the internet, allowing faster external speeds to reach the network even if client ports remain at 1 Gbps.
When might 2.5 Gbps switches be worth it over 1 Gbps switches in a home setup?
2.5 Gbps switches can be worthwhile when you have fast internet coming into the home and multiple devices or a home media server that will benefit from higher throughput, though full benefits are most pronounced in setups with high external bandwidth or centralized high-usage devices.