Do I need a gigabit router to use a gigabit switch?

chetmaster12 · Dec 13, 2015

So I recently built a NAS out of an old HP server. I have a 10/100 router, and a 10/100 switch. Both my PC and server have gigabit NICs. I want to upgrade the switch to gigabit so that I can transfer large files more quickly. If I install a gigabit switch, will the 10/100 router cause it to operate at 10/100 speeds? My ISP uses a proprietary router, so I can't replace it with something better. I swear ISPs exist to make your life harder.

Also, does Cat 5 carry gigabit speeds, or do I need Cat 5e/Cat 6. I don't like Cat 6 because it's much stiffer.

USAFRet · Dec 13, 2015

Network performance depends on the slowest device in the chain. If something in there is only 10/100, that is all you will get. No matter what other devices are in there.

Now....2 10/100/1000 devices connected to a 10/100/1000 switch will operate at gigabit speed.
If it has to go through the router somewhere, then it will drop down to 10/100.

You need Cat5e, once you have all gigabit devices.

BingoFishy · Dec 13, 2015

chetmaster12 :

Not sure about the first part, but cat 5e only can carry 100 mbps, from what I know.

USAFRet · Dec 13, 2015

BingoFishy :

Cat5e does gigabit speed, out to 100 meters.
You can read through all these links: https://www.google.com/search?q=cat5e&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8#q=cat5e+gigabit

McHenryB · Dec 13, 2015

This is exactly the setup that I have. Your computer and NAS will communicate at 1Gb/s, but the computer will talk to the Internet, or to any devices plugged directly into the router, at a maximum of 100 Mb/s. For the optimum transfer speed between Gigabit devices you should consider enabling Jumbo frames.

jsmithepa · Dec 13, 2015

Nope. Your ethernet LAN traffic goes: Device ---> Switch ----> Device, and doesn't touch the router. Now am talking about a simple network, if you have it jury-rigged some non-standard way, am out.

TbsToy · Dec 13, 2015

We picked up transfer speeds after switching to Cat 6 from 5. Guess we didn't get stiffed by narrow bottles on this part.
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Do I need a gigabit router to use a gigabit switch?

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