What is the Cheapest Gigabit Switch Worth Buying

[neonblingbling]

I'm looking for a cheap gigabit switch to hook up my laptop to another computer (either FreeNAS, Ubuntu, etc. I'm still trying to set it up ), and then to the internet. I really have no clue what I'm looking at; all the networking I've done was went to Circuit City (RIP, haha...), bought a router, pluged it in and got internet. Done deal. For this though, I'd like to have a decent network so it will not bottleneck transfers too much.

These are the switches I'm looking at. Any worth buying?

 

[VinnyTAMU]

I have two of these 8-port dlink gigabit switches (#1 on your list) and I absolutely love them:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16833127082

 

[Sir Barton]

Count me in for a vote for the D-Link, its an awesome switch!

 

[BoT]

i have one of the netgear GS108, this a nice switch and does a good job.
the better version is the GS108T but that a different price range.
i bought the trendnet beginning of this year and have to say that i am very happy with it.

 

[Caviman2201]

+1 for D-Link... my 5-port has served me well...

 

[visbits]

I have two of these 8-port dlink gigabit switches (#1 on your list) and I absolutely love them:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16833127082

Same here! Never had a single problem with it!

Ive got a 40$ d-link wireless N router that I just use as an access point, I've had 0 problems with that to. D-links stuff may be ugly but it works great.

 

[Blackstar]

Another +1 for the D-Links. I have two, soon to be a third one of these days.

- Blackstar

 

[SuperMiguel]

+1 on that D-link

 

[hkgonra]

Trendnet has some small cheap ones. Never used their switches but been happy with other stuff of their's I have used.

 

[neonblingbling]

Are there any 'features' for switches that I need to be aware of besides just brand name? To me, (who doesn't know anything switch/network related), it's like I asked 'what CPU should I buy?' and everyone said 'brand A'. I know for CPUs there are other factors like how many cores it has and core speed, etc, therefore brand A is justified. Are there similar features for switches?

 

[OkydOky]

I use this:
http://www.dlink.ca/products/?pid=230


When you get more into networking, yes there are some features you may want to look at -- but not within his price range really.

 

[pik4chu]

The Dlink or Linksys/Cisco have my vote. I have used most of those (and their bigger brothers) in one form or another and I like them a lot. I can't recommend Trendnet, I have some of the 10/100 versions and they are just 'meh' and I wouldn't really bother getting the others when a decent brand (Dlink/Cisco) can be had for a few more dollars.

 

[nd4spdbh2]

The Dlink or Linksys/Cisco have my vote. I have used most of those (and their bigger brothers) in one form or another and I like them a lot. I can't recommend Trendnet, I have some of the 10/100 versions and they are just 'meh' and I wouldn't really bother getting the others when a decent brand (Dlink/Cisco) can be had for a few more dollars.

ya i will agree with you... i have used may different brands and i always end up comming back to linksys and dlink in that order. Had my wrt54GL router up for years now with out problems. But also have an old dlink di-624 and di-604 routers that still work like a charm.

Frys has a nice dlink gigabit 5 or 8 port switch (cant remember) for 20 bucks or so.

 

[neonblingbling]

Frys has a nice dlink gigabit 5 or 8 port switch (cant remember) for 20 bucks or so.

Bingo. I was planning on going to Fry's this weekend. Maybe some of those $2 gigabit NICs too.

 

[visbits]

Bingo. I was planning on going to Fry's this weekend. Maybe some of those $2 gigabit NICs too.

You want to get the intel gigabit nics, there normally 26$ or so but they have remote management ability's! AMT I've had poor luck with cheap gigabit cards.

 

[Dice]

Are there any 'features' for switches that I need to be aware of besides just brand name? To me, (who doesn't know anything switch/network related), it's like I asked 'what CPU should I buy?' and everyone said 'brand A'. I know for CPUs there are other factors like how many cores it has and core speed, etc, therefore brand A is justified. Are there similar features for switches?

There sure are. Concerning basic 'dumb' switches (non-managed), jumbo frame support, buffer memory amount, and latency (in milliseconds) being the first to pop into my mind at the moment. I surely expect others to offer additional features to look for in a switch.

I own only one switch, and it seems to work just fine. It is $34.99 after MIR + $0.00 S/H at the Egg with 71% of 113 reviewers giving it 5 Eggs.

 

[neonblingbling]

I went to Fry's today and found a refurb'd D-Link DGS-2205 for $15. Got a TRENDnet gigabit NIC for $10. I didn't see comment about the Intel NIC till now, but I wouldn't have wanted to pay more for an NIC than my switch.

 

[nd4spdbh2]

I went to Fry's today and found a refurb'd D-Link DGS-2205 for $15. Got a TRENDnet gigabit NIC for $10. I didn't see comment about the Intel NIC till now, but I wouldn't have wanted to pay more for an NIC than my switch.

yup thats the one i was talkin bout.... and the 2 dollar cheapie gigabit pci nics i bought a while back both are friggin awesome.

 

[neonblingbling]

The Las Vegas Fry's was completely out of Airlink products.

 

[nd4spdbh2]

The Las Vegas Fry's was completely out of Airlink products.

ya airlink has been sold off... all frys no longer cary airlink stuff... i scored the 2 dollar gigabit cards and 90 cent wifi cards in the sell off.