2.5gbit is AWESOME, but it WON'T make your Internet faster...

Paragraph 1: The video revisits the common assumption that upgrading to faster home network speeds is pointless if internet speeds are limited by an ISP. Linus walks through the practical motivation for adopting 2.5 gigabit networking, emphasizing that faster local transfers can dramatically improve day-to-day tasks such as moving large game libraries, large photo collections, or video projects between NAS devices and desktop workstations. He uses concrete scenarios, like copying a 1701 game install and a photo folder, to illustrate the current bottlenecks of a 1 Gbps onboard connection and how an upgrade changes the transfer rates in the real world. The video then explains hardware options, including affordable 2.5G NICs from Trendnet, and why the 2.5G standard hits a sweet spot between cost, cabling requirements, and performance. Throughout, Linus stresses that the bigger value is not faster internet access but faster local data movement within a home or small office network. Paragraph 2: Linus compares 2.5G to gigabit, showing that while internet bottlenecks remain at the ISP, the internal network can benefit from significantly higher sustained transfer rates. He demonstrates the setup process, noting that cabling can remain inexpensive because 2.5G can use Cat5e, and that the required switches are becoming more affordable but still exist as a practical consideration. The hands-on testing is central: after installing a 2.5G PCIe NIC, he runs real-world file transfers, observing near double the throughput on sizable files compared with a 1 Gbps path, and reports practical gains in applications like Lightroom where image loading and scrubbing become noticeably smoother. The discussion also covers power usage, form factor, and the laptop compatibility of the new adapters, underscoring that the upgrade is increasingly accessible for a wide range of users. Paragraph 3: In closing, the video contends that 2.5G networking opens up usable benefits for media editing, local backups, and game/media streaming within a home environment, especially as bulk data moves between NAS and devices. Linus acknowledges that 10G is overkill for most residential setups today but points out that the price trajectory and availability of 2.5G hardware make it a compelling intermediate step. He projects future cost reductions for switches and emphasizes that the main takeaway is the improvement in local transfer performance, not the elimination of internet bottlenecks. The segment also teases how such networking capabilities can pair with future high-bandwidth workloads, like 8K video editing, while reminding viewers that the value lies in the local network experience rather than the internet connection itself.

Topics · technology · networking · computer_hardware · video_production