I'm a bit puzzled about how 10/100/1000 Ethernet switches actually work. I thought the max speed would be 1 gigabyte, but then I see 1 gigabit switches and even 2.5 gigabit options. I know that 1 gigabit equals 125 megabytes, which is considerably less than a gigabyte.
If I have fiber internet and want to get the best speed possible with my current ISP (I know it won't truly be 1 gigabyte, but I can currently hit a max of 100 Mbps), what kind of Ethernet switch should I be looking for? I've been searching on Amazon, but I'm not finding options above 2.5 gigabit. Am I missing something crucial?
Edit: Thanks for the responses! I realized my mistake was in confusing transfer speed units with storage capacity—10/100/1000 actually refers to megabits.
5 Answers
To clarify, 1000 megabits translates to 125 megabytes because you divide by 8 bits per byte.
The key point is that 10/100/1000 switches are measured in megabits, not megabytes. So, a 1 gigabit switch has a capacity of 1000 megabits, while a 2.5 gigabit switch has 2500 megabits.
When selecting an Ethernet switch, aim for one that matches your router and modem's capabilities. If your modem can't support high speeds, even the best switch won't help you max out your internet connection.
A 10/100/1000 Mbps switch will adapt to the speed of the device plugged into it. If you connect a PC with a 1 Gbps card to a 2.5 Gbps switch, that port will run at 1 Gbps. Similarly, if you plug in a TV that can only handle 100 Mbps, it will also limit to that speed.
Remember, network speed is measured in gigabits (Gb), while storage is in gigabytes (GB). 1 gigabyte equals 8 gigabits, so always keep that conversion in mind!
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