Home 10 Gig Network Upgrade for CHEAP

The video documents Linus and a collaborator attempting a full 10 gigabit Ethernet upgrade for a home network on a tight budget. Early on, the host explains that the big obstacle historically wasn’t the switches or NICs, but the cabling cost and the need for expensive switches to support 10 Gb speeds with cheap cables. They introduce a MicroTik CRS312-4C+8XG-RM switch, highlighting its 12 ports and four shared SFP+ ports, and explain how this makes 10 Gb networking affordable for a home setup. The team inventory includes a new 10G switch, ethernet NICs, a Fluke cable tester, and CAT6A cabling, with plans to re-run and certify the cabling to ensure reliable 10 Gb links. They begin the physical upgrade by removing an old gigabit switch, routing new CAT6A outdoor cabling, and preparing to terminate at keystone jacks and wall plates for a clean, centralized network core. Throughout, they discuss how a 10 Gb trunk can support multiple devices in different rooms while keeping individual devices on their own practical one-gig links when needed. The video also demonstrates practical learning moments, such as comparing CAT5e and CAT6A performance, and the importance of proper cable certification to avoid performance pitfalls. Finally, they summarize the total cost and emphasize that a 10 Gb home upgrade can be affordable relative to historical prices, with an estimated sub-$850 to around $1,000 range depending on how extensive the cabling needs are, underscoring the progress in consumer networking affordability. The closing notes promote sponsor privacy.com’s virtual cards as a separate security tip while inviting viewers to check out related content and support channels.

Topics · technology · networking · hardware · home-networking · computers