Tuesday, June 18th 2024
Realtek is Aiming to Make 5 Gbps Ethernet Switches More Affordable with New Platform
At Computex, Realtek was showing off a new 5 Gbps switch platform which is set to bring much more affordable high-speed Ethernet switches to the consumer market. At the core of the new switch platform sits Realtek's RTL9303 which is an eight port 10 Gbps switch controller. This was released a few years ago as a low cost 10 Gbps switch IC, but as it still required third party PHYs, it never really took off. The RTL9303 is built around an 800 MHz MIPS 34Kc CPU and supports up to 1 GB of DDR3 RAM as well as 64 MB of SPI NOR Flash for the firmware.
When combined with Realtek's RTL8251B 5 Gbps PHY, the end result is a comparably low-cost 5 Gbps switch. According to Ananadtech, Realtek is expecting a US$25 price per port, which is only about $10 more per port than your typical 2.5 Gbps switch today, even though some are as little as US$10 per port. When combined with a Realtek RTL8126 PCIe based 5 Gbps NIC which retails from around US$30, 5 Gbps Ethernet looks like a very sensible option in terms of price/performance. Admittedly 2.5 Gbps Ethernet cards can be had for as little as $13, but they started out at a higher price point compared to what 5 Gbps NICs are already selling for. Meanwhile, 10 Gbps NICs are still stuck at around US$80-90, with switches in most cases costing at least US$45 per port, but often a lot more. 5 Gbps Ethernet also has the advantage of being able to operate on CAT 5e cabling at up to 60 metres and CAT 6 cabling at up 100 metres, which means there's no need to replace older cabling to benefit from it.
Source:
Anandtech
When combined with Realtek's RTL8251B 5 Gbps PHY, the end result is a comparably low-cost 5 Gbps switch. According to Ananadtech, Realtek is expecting a US$25 price per port, which is only about $10 more per port than your typical 2.5 Gbps switch today, even though some are as little as US$10 per port. When combined with a Realtek RTL8126 PCIe based 5 Gbps NIC which retails from around US$30, 5 Gbps Ethernet looks like a very sensible option in terms of price/performance. Admittedly 2.5 Gbps Ethernet cards can be had for as little as $13, but they started out at a higher price point compared to what 5 Gbps NICs are already selling for. Meanwhile, 10 Gbps NICs are still stuck at around US$80-90, with switches in most cases costing at least US$45 per port, but often a lot more. 5 Gbps Ethernet also has the advantage of being able to operate on CAT 5e cabling at up to 60 metres and CAT 6 cabling at up 100 metres, which means there's no need to replace older cabling to benefit from it.
54 Comments on Realtek is Aiming to Make 5 Gbps Ethernet Switches More Affordable with New Platform
10 Gbps has a lot of limitations that mean it's not suitable for all scenarios, so other alternatives were developed.
That it's taken this long for 5 Gbps to end up being what was promised, rather than a cut-down version of 10 Gbps, is a different matter.
I would need two of these devices, as I have one in my bedroom, and another in my living room. Also a 2.5gbit NIC for my 2nd rig. :) Then to take advantage would be replacing all 40TB of spindle storage with SSD's, and after all that my STB would be still linked up via gigabit. As I transfer recordings from that as well. I would need to replace the entire STB as that NIC is embedded on its PCB. Your comments about people not latching on to 2.5 Gbps seems to make all sorts of assumptions about people's setup's and priorities.
forum.openwrt.org/t/any-2-port-2-5gbe-routers-supporting-owrt-alternatives/164658/6
openwrt/comments/ux2rhwopenwrt/comments/13nworqopenwrt.org/toh/views/toh_extended_all?dataflt%5BEthernet+2.5Gbit+ports_*%7E%5D=1
Only 3 devices on the final link that have at least 4 2.5 Gbps ports and only one of them has wifi. It just isnt mainstream enough. The issue is a talking point in the UK broadband sector at the moment as we have ISPs selling 2+ gig connections but are unable to source supply of multi 2.5 Gbps devices to give to subscribers.
Sometimes I think people get too detached from the real world as they too ingrained with tech PR and a media circle that gets free kit.
openwrt.org/toh/views/switches
And no, a router is not a switch, but it might have a switch built in. The two are not the same thing and the fact that you've installed OpenWRT on a router, doesn't mean the switch is running OpenWRT. Seriously, please learn the correct terminology, as your way of describing your hardware is what's making me frustrated here.So all your devices have 2.5 Gbps ports now?
In terms of switch functionality, a router can still be used as a switch and most have a internal hardware switch, OpenWRT enables the extra functionality on consumer routers, a reason I use it. Just because marketing doesnt call it a switch it doesnt mean it isnt one.