7 Best 24 Port Gigabit Switch: Powerful Yet Affordable
Introduction
Things are changing faster than we can imagine. 10 years ago, who would’ve thought that people would have robots manufacturing items. But it is what it is.
The network industry didn’t fall back either. Thanks to their advancement, more and more businesses are using their network for controlling everything from cameras to lights.
If you’re in need of a new 24 port gigabit switch, then you’ve come to the right place. We did a Herculean task of finding the best 24 port gigabit switch.
From the numbers of ports to their build quality, we’ve looked at a bunch of factors to determine the winners.
So, without stretching this any further, let’s get into it-
Top Pick | Budget King | Best Professional Grade |
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Comparison Table
Top Pick: TP-Link - TL-SG1024 24 Port Gigabit Ethernet Switch
The TP-Link - TL-SG1024 is what you’d want in a heavy-duty 24 port gigabit Ethernet switch. Because of its impressive 1000 Mbps broad speed capability, you could connect as many devices as you’d want without sacrificing a pleasant experience.
On top of that, the setup experience is easier than you’d expect. Simply go through a plug and play process and you'll be ready to go. Although it does have an unmanaged system.
But even then you get a few handy controls. For example, it has a MAC address auto-learning feature and you can use it to store and send data packets in a jiff.
However, you should remember one thing. This model only costs this because of the high-speed connection. If you’ve got a 100 Mbps broad connection, then it’s not worth it as it won’t be able to fully utilize it.
For someone like that, TP-Link has a variant in this same model. This way you can save a lot of money too. But if you want to future proof yourself, then the TP-Link - TL-SG1024 24 Port Gigabit Ethernet Switch is the perfect choice for you.
NETGEAR GS324 24-Port Gigabit Ethernet Unmanaged Switch
At a Glance
- Silent fanless operation
- Adequate ventilation
- Easy to digest setup guide
Next up, we have the NETGEAR GS324, a well-constructed performance-focused Ethernet switch. This durable piece of machine was made without a fan offering a silent operation, making it perfect for both home and office usage.
If you want to maintain that Zen peace of mind, this should be your way to go. For ensuring robust performance, Netgear used materials that’ll have no problem taking a fall.
As there aren’t any fans, they made sure to include proper ventilation in all the right places. Even without fans, the vents manage to keep it at optimal temperature.
But that’s not the case for the variant with PoE. With a PoE and managed system, there’s no way you can keep it without fans. And the good thing is the advanced variant comes with that.
On top of everything, this variant is focused on energy efficiency. Thanks to passing the IEEE802.3az standard, you don’t have to worry about your electricity rising up because of an Ethernet switch.
Finally, there’s the setup process. I found the setup process rather easy. You could look for a few videos online for a more detailed guide. And this beginner-friendly model is great for people who want a simple 24 port Ethernet switch.
TP-Link - TL-SG1024S 24 Port Gigabit Ethernet Switch
The TP-Link - TL-SG1024S is an energy-efficient Ether switch that doesn’t sacrifice any of the performance. Whether it’s a collection of small files or gigantic files, it’ll manage to keep the process speedy without causing any kind of lag that can slow down your fast-forwarding life.
But it doesn’t come with PoE, so that’s a bummer. Although the budget-friendly price tag makes up for it. On top of that, it comes with MDI/MDIX support.
However, thanks to having no PoE, it’s a fanless design, ensuring it doesn’t hamper the silence in a sensitive environment.
Apart from all that, the energy-efficiency is where it nails the game. You see traditional Ethernet switches never turn off the ports when they’re inactive. If you think about it, that's a huge waste of energy and money. In fact, the ports are actually getting worn out without any purpose.
But that’s where the TP-Link - TL-SG1024S 24 Port Gigabit Ethernet Switch is different. Instead of keeping all the ports at full capacity, it minimizes the power consumption of the idle ports. When you need the ports it boosts up that port again.
Even then it manages to run smoothly with energy-efficiency. So, even when it’s at full capacity, it’s leaving a much smaller carbon footprint than other devices.
NETGEAR JGS524 24-Port Gigabit Ethernet Unmanaged Switch
Next up, we have NETGEAR JGS524, a premium yet affordable Ether switch. The performance-heavy device will support your office or home needs with its powerful but silent operation.
But a silent operation usually means that there aren’t PoE. And that’s true in this case. However, that’s kind of like the only drawback of this device.
Even if you have tons of users depending on it, it’ll handle all the traffic like a pro. After all, it’ll only come to your hand if it passes the rigorous tests it has to go through.
Apart from the usual stuff, the design makes it easier to put up new connections. As it’s divided into two rows, the wires don’t get tangled into each other, ensuring a pleasant experience.
To make things even better, it doesn’t focus on prioritization of network traffic. So, no matter how many people are using it, everybody will be able to use it smoothly.
Overall, I’d say the NETGEAR JGS524 24-Port Gigabit Ethernet Unmanaged Switch is a solid and reliable Ethernet switch for the price you’re paying.
NETGEAR JGS524E 24-Port Gigabit Ethernet Smart Managed Plus Switch
Before you say it, let me spit it out myself. No, we didn’t make a mistake. This one’s quite different from the previous product. Although the name doesn’t do it much justice.
With sturdy metal construction and unique design, the Netgear JGS524E holds Netgear’s position as one of the most reliable brands in network solutions.
In comparison to the rest of our products, it’s not really affordable. But it’s nothing close to what other premium gigabit switches cost. The promising part is, it comes with a Smart Plus management system. On top of that, there’s the L2 management layer.
And it goes without saying that it has all the basic features like Basic VLAN & Auto DoS, IGMP, Storm Control, QoS.
This is a perfect Ethernet switch for people who want to switch(pun intended) from an unmanaged system. While nothing close to a fully managed system, it’s the perfect upgrade if you have a small or home business.
Linksys Business LGS124 24-Port Rackmount Gigabit Ethernet Unmanaged Network Switch
When Belkin bought Linksys from Cisco systems, it came with a new lineup called Linksys Business LGS124. This unmanaged Ethernet switch comes with 24 auto-sense ports. And obviously, there’s the 48Gbps non-blocking switch fabric.
Similar to the TP-Link - TL-SG1024S, it also runs with an energy-efficient process, meaning the unused ports won’t eat up electricity when they’re not active.
As you’d guess from the price tag, it doesn’t come with PoE or a managed system. But when you’re running a small-scale business or home-business, having an unmanaged system could be the way to go.
This way the ports don’t need any sort of setup. You just plug in and you’re ready to go. Other than that, the performance is more than you’d want.
In HTTP, it’s capable of 4200/second transactions. Although it gets a bit low with FTP. But the end game was, it didn’t show latency.
That being said, this is a great deal if you want an affordable yet powerful Ethernet switch for your home or office.
TRENDnet TEG-S24DG 24-Port Unmanaged Gigabit GREENnet Desktop Metal Switch
What do you do when you want both powerful data transfer and energy-efficient performance? You get the TRENDnet 24-Port Unmanaged Gigabit GREENnet Desktop Metal Switch.
The performance isn’t very different from the rest of the products on this list. But it does well when it comes to power consumption. I think you remember the TP-Link - TL-SG1024S or the Linksys Business LGS124 with their power management system.
Well, this one saves up to 70% power when the ports are not in use. Other than that, the device itself is amazing when you’re thinking of using it in your home or office.
How to Choose the Best 24 Port Gigabit Switch?
When you’re buying something as technical as a gigabit switch, you need to be careful. If you don’t know much about gigabit switches then it’s even more important for you. So, here’s what you need to know-
Usage
Before you buy a 24 port gigabit switch, ask yourself why you’re buying this. To make things a bit easier for you, I’ve figured out two factors for you.
Ports
Find out how many ports you’d need. It might be greater than 24, you never know. But the general rule is to have more ports. Although that makes management quite a hassle.
However, keep in mind that the more ports you’ll have the more expensive the device will be. That’s why it’s better to find a middle ground.
Mounting Space
Where are you going to place the device? If it’s for your personal use in your home, you might want to keep it in a discreet location.
But that changes when you’re thinking about getting one for the office. If there’s a server room, then it just found its new home. Even if there isn’t a server room, the placement doesn’t matter that much.
Build Quality
A lot of people keep their gigabit switches mounted. But if you’re someone who keeps it on your desk, you need to make sure it doesn’t break if it somehow falls off.
Most gigabit switches either have a plastic or metal body. But when to compare these two, it’s obvious who takes the trophy. However, metal isn’t ideal in humid areas.
Although it’s unlikely you’d place it near a water source. So, that’s not a big deal.
But whatever switch you choose, make sure it’s made out of durable material. Flimsy material might come cheaper but it’s not worth it for the long run.
PoE
Power over Ethernet or PoE allows the device to transfer both electrical and network data side by side. When you think about cost reduction, this technology is a blessing. You don’t need to get extra power cables.
On top of that, it offers extra protection. Even if there’s overloading or underloading, the PoE will take care of it without damaging the device.
You’ll mostly see PoE technology on IP cameras, VoIP phones, and wireless access points. Thanks to the versatility, you could connect any compatible device you want.
However, there is one drawback amongst all these advantages. With PoE, the price gets bumped up. But if you’re willing to spend, then make sure to get one with this feature.
Fans
You’d want a fan to keep things cool, right? Well, it’s more complicated than that. The thing is gigabit switches that have fans are known to make some noise.
Nonetheless, gigabit switches don’t release that much heat. I mean the unmanaged and web-smart ones do fine without any extra fans.
Although you can’t think of a switch with PoE technology without fans. When the performance gets better, it needs proper cooling to keep it consistent. And that’s where fans come in.
If you’re thinking of getting one for your home, then you might get bothered by the sound. But the scenario changes if it’s for your office.
Being a noisy server room, that little noise won’t even make a difference. I hope you can connect the dots. If not, go through the PoE section again.
Brand
When you really think about it, a gigabit switch is just a box with ports. Does the brand really matter in this case? Well, the truth is the market is saturated with off-brand manufacturers who make cheap products.
You might be happy that you’re getting something at a low cost. But that happiness is going to go away when it’ll break after using it for a short time.
Speed
This depends completely on what purpose you’re using it for. For example, you probably don’t need the level of speed a high-tech server room needs if you’re only using it to stream or transfer data.
Managed or Unmanaged Switch
Unmanaged switches do most of the work for you. If I had to sum it up into one word, I’d say it’s basic. You don’t get much control over how the system works. And frankly, that’s perfect for small networks as they don’t want to get into that stuff anyway.
On the other hand, managed switches are a lot more advanced in terms of both performance and control. The only downside is they’re a bit more expensive than unmanaged switches.
But you shouldn’t get managed switches just because they’re advanced. Figure out if you need it or not and then take the final decision.
Budget
Finally, there’s the budget. Throughout the guide, I’ve told you multiple times to figure out your actual need. On top of that, some brands cost more than others even with the exact same specifications.
So, make a shortlist of a few products from different brands. Do the analysis with customer reviews and research about it online. Then, you can decide whether it’s worth buying or not.
Final Words
When it comes to buying an Ethernet switch, the first thing people look at it is the number of ports it has. I’m not saying this isn’t something you should avoid.
But the truth is this often overshadows some of the other crucial factors. Whether it’s for personal use or office use, a lot of people will be depending on it.
So, make sure you get the best 24 port gigabit switch. Because this isn’t like a light bulb that you can change in a minute.