NETGEAR
NETGEAR 8-Port Gigabit Ethernet Unmanaged Switch (GS108) - Desktop or Wall Mount
Bottom line: The NETGEAR 8-Port Gigabit Ethernet Unmanaged Switch ($39.99 on Amazon as of 2026-10-06): All 8 ports are full 1.0Gbps gigabit, no 100Mbps downgrade ports; main trade-off: unmanaged: no VLANs, port mirroring, link aggregation, or QoS.
As an Amazon Associate, SpecPicks earns from qualifying purchases. Full disclosure →
*Price sourced from Amazon.com. Last updated 2026-10-06. Price and availability subject to change.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- ✓ All 8 ports are full 1.0Gbps gigabit, no 100Mbps downgrade ports
- ✓ Auto-negotiating ports work with existing Cat5e or Cat6 cabling
- ✓ Fanless design runs completely silent on a desk or behind a TV
- ✓ IEEE 802.3az Energy Efficient Ethernet cuts idle power draw
Cons
- ✗ Unmanaged: no VLANs, port mirroring, link aggregation, or QoS
- ✗ No PoE, so cameras and access points still need their own power
- ✗ 8 ports means only 7 usable after the router uplink
- ✗ No web interface or LEDs-per-speed diagnostics to troubleshoot with
Manufacturer description
The NETGEAR GS108 is an 8-port Gigabit Ethernet unmanaged switch built for people who need more wired ports without touching a configuration screen. All eight ports run at 1.0Gbps and auto-negotiate to match whatever you plug in, so existing Cat5e or Cat6 runs work as-is alongside newer gear. Setup is genuinely plug-and-play: there is no firmware to flash, no VLAN menu, no software to install. Connect your router uplink, drop in your desktop, NAS, console, and access points, and the switch handles the rest. The fanless metal chassis makes zero noise, which matters when the switch sits on a…
SpecPicks Verdict
SpecPicks scored NETGEAR 8-Port Gigabit Ethernet Unmanaged Switch using a rating × review-volume × price-fit model applied to published specs and reviews across the networking category. NETGEAR's networking lineup sits within the broader category mid-tier; price and specs are the deciding factors over brand loyalty here. Judge it on the specification table and the price rather than on sentiment: check the figures that decide your use case, then put it side-by-side with two or three close alternatives in the Compare tool before clicking through.
Common buyer scenarios for networking of this kind: matching it to an existing build, replacing a failing part, or upgrading from a previous-generation equivalent. Check the spec table below against your current setup — particularly socket / form-factor / power-rating fields — and confirm compatibility on the retailer's listing before purchase. Prices and stock are set by the retailer and may have moved since this page was last updated.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to configure this switch before using it?
No. The GS108 is an unmanaged switch with plug-and-play setup: no software to install and no configuration required. Connect your router to one port and your devices to the rest.
Will it work with my old Cat5e cables?
Yes. The auto-negotiating ports detect the optimal speed for each connected device and work with existing Cat5e or Cat6 Ethernet cables.
Is this switch loud, and does it need ventilation?
It is fanless, so it makes no noise at all. The compact metal body handles cooling passively, and 802.3az Energy Efficient Ethernet keeps power draw down on idle ports.
Can I mount it on a wall instead of leaving it on a desk?
Yes. The compact metal design supports both desktop and wall-mount placement. Check the product listing for exactly which mounting hardware ships in the box.
Does the GS108 support VLANs or PoE?
No. This is an unmanaged switch, so there are no VLANs, QoS, or management interface, and it does not supply Power over Ethernet. Step up to a NETGEAR smart or PoE model if you need either.
Key Features
- GIGABIT ETHERNET PORTS: Features 8 x 1.0Gbps Ethernet ports for high-speed connectivity. Auto-negotiating ports detect the optimal speed for connected devices and work with existing Cat5e or Cat6 Ethernet cables.
- PLUG-AND-PLAY UNMANAGED NETWORK SWITCH: Simple plug-and-play setup with no software to install or configuration required.
- FLEXIBLE MOUNTING OPTIONS: Compact metal design supports desktop or wall-mount placement for versatile installation.
- SILENT & ENERGY-EFFICIENT OPERATION: Fanless design ensures silent performance, while IEEE 802.3az Energy Efficient Ethernet reduces power consumption without compromising high-speed network performance.
- REGIONAL COMPATIBILITY: Made for use in U.S. & CA only
Full Specifications
| Brand | NETGEAR |
|---|---|
| Color | Blue |
| Voltage | 12 volts |
| Platform | Not Machine Specific |
| Interface | RJ45 |
| Unit Count | 1 Count |
| Switch Type | Metal, desktop, Unmanaged |
| Model Number | GS108-400NAS |
| Compatibility | Switch |
| Maximum Power | 2.8 watts |
| Built-In Media | NETGEAR 8-Port Gigabit Ethernet Unmanaged Switch, Sturdy Metal, Desktop, Plug-and-Play, ProSAFE Lifetime Protection (GS108) |
| Mfr Part Number | GS108-400NAS |
| Number of Ports | 8 |
| Number of Layers | 1 |
| Case Material Type | Metal |
| Compatible Devices | PC; Mac |
| Data Transfer Rate | 1 gigabits_per_second |
| Included Components | NETGEAR 8-Port Gigabit Ethernet Unmanaged Switch, Sturdy Metal, Desktop, Plug-and-Play, ProSAFE Lifetime Protection (GS108) |
| Warranty Description | This product is backed by NETGEAR limited lifetime hardware warranty. NETGEAR Support offers a customizable support experience based on your operational needs. |
| REGIONAL COMPATIBILITY | Made for use in U.S. & CA only |
Ready to buy?
NETGEAR 8-Port Gigabit Ethernet Unmanaged Switch (GS108) - Desktop or Wall Mount is listed on Amazon. Price, availability, shipping and returns are set by Amazon and its sellers — check the listing for current terms. SpecPicks earns a small commission on qualifying purchases — thank you for supporting independent review work.
*Price sourced from Amazon.com. Last updated 2026-10-06. Price and availability subject to change.
Related Networking
More guides & deep dives from the SpecPicks archive
Browse all articles & guides →- Best Budget Gaming PC Build 2026 — ~$1,000 ($800 on Sale)
- Best Retro Handhelds in 2026 — From $35 to $500
- Emulation Hardware in 2026: FPGA, Software, and Cart-Reader Ecosystems
- How to Build a Windows 98 Retro PC in 2026
- The Complete Voodoo5 5500 AGP Driver Guide (2026 Edition)
- Best 1440p Gaming GPUs in 2026
- RTX 4070 Super vs RX 7800 XT — Which to Buy in 2026
More reviews from the SpecPicks archive
Browse all reviews →- Rescue a Dying Vintage IDE Drive: Imaging Retro Disks with a USB-to-IDE Adapter
- Best Mac for running local LLMs in 2026
- Intel Arc for Stable Diffusion: ComfyUI + A1111 setup (2026)
- OpenAI Names Its Biggest Data Center Yet, With NVIDIA Backing: What It Means
- Best CPU Cooler for the Ryzen 7 5800X in 2026
- Best Gaming Monitor for Console + PC in 2026
- 8BitDo Pro 2 on Win98 SE and WinXP: Mapping a Modern Bluetooth Pad to DOSBox, Glide Games, and…
- What Happened to the LLM Training Data Shortage?
- Why Privacy-Preserving AI Demand Is Rising in the LLM Era
- Intel Arc LLM Support: What Works in 2026
- Best Monitor for Color Grading Under $500 in 2026
- Intel Arc Pro B60 vs RTX 3060 12GB for Local LLM
- Building a Silent Pentium III Windows 98 Gaming Rig in 2026
- Is 12GB VRAM Still Enough for Local LLMs in 2026?
- Qwen 3.6 27B with MTP: 2.5x Throughput on Local Hardware (Real Benchmarks)
- The Best Raspberry Pi Projects for Students in 2026 (With a Real Parts List)
- Ollama vs llama.cpp vs vLLM — which local LLM runtime wins in 2026?
- 007 First Light on Steam Deck: Performance & Best Settings
- Best Microphones for Streaming and Podcasting (2026)
- SANSUI 27" 4K vs KOORUI 27" QD-Mini LED for PS5 & 4K Gaming in 2026
- Best GPU for Local LLMs Under $400: Why the RTX 3060 12GB Beats the 8GB Trap
- SNES Classic vs Sega Genesis Mini in 2026: Which Is Worth It?
- Run Qwen Locally: Apple Silicon vs a 12GB RTX 3060 Rig in 2026
- i7-9700K vs Ryzen 7 5800X as a CPU-Offload Host for a 12GB GPU
Earliest SpecPicks reviews
Browse full archive →- Best GPU for Llama 3.1 8B (2026)
- Best GPU for Qwen 3 14B (2026)
- Best GPU for Qwen 3 32B (2026)
- Best GPU for Llama 3.1 70B (2026)
- Best GPU for DeepSeek-R1 32B (2026)
- Best GPU for Llama 3.1 405B (2026)
- How to run Llama 3.1 8B on NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090
- How to run Qwen 3 14B on NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090
- How to run Qwen 3 32B on NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090
- How to run Llama 3.1 70B on NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090
- How to run DeepSeek-R1 32B on NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090
- How to run Llama 3.1 8B on NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090