10GbE vs 2.5GbE: Is Your Network Slowing Down Your NAS and AI Workstation?

If copying a model or a project folder between your NAS and workstation takes long enough to make coffee, the network is probably the limit. Standard gigabit Ethernet moves about 110 megabytes a second, which was fine for documents and is slow for 60GB model files and multi-terabyte datasets. 2.5GbE roughly doubles and a half that on the cabling most offices already have, and is the cost-effective step for a single workstation. 10GbE is the right target when large files move every day or several machines share one NAS, but only if every link in the path supports it: NAS port, switch, cable and the workstation's network card. One slow link sets the speed for the whole chain.

How do the speeds compare in practice?

CALC. 1TB at 110 MB/s: 1,000,000 / 110 = 9,091 seconds, 2.5 hours. At 280 MB/s: 3,571 seconds, about 1 hour. At 500 MB/s: 2,000 seconds, about 33 minutes. Speeds are typical working figures; protocol overhead and small files make real transfers slower.

Where is the bottleneck really?

Check each link before buying anything.

The link light or the operating system's adapter status shows the negotiated speed. A 10GbE NAS plugged into a gigabit switch port is a gigabit NAS.

When is 2.5GbE enough?

• One workstation and one NAS.
• Large files move a few times a week, not constantly.
• Existing Cat5e cabling you would prefer not to replace.
• The NAS has 2.5GbE built in and no upgrade slot.

It is an inexpensive upgrade with a noticeable result. See why 2.5GbE may be the sweet spot for Singapore SMEs.

When is 10GbE worth it?

• Datasets, video or model files measured in hundreds of gigabytes move daily.
• Several workstations use the NAS at once. See building a small AI lab.
• People work directly on files stored on the NAS, as in video editing.
• The AI system already has a 10GbE port that is going unused.
• Backups have to finish inside a night.

For offices that only handle documents and email, it is unnecessary; see 10GbE in a small office: brilliant or unnecessary.

A network is as fast as its slowest hop. Most disappointing 10GbE upgrades turn out to be one gigabit port somewhere in the middle.

How do you build a 10GbE path?

1. Decide who needs it. Usually the NAS and two or three workstations, not every desk. Everyone else stays on gigabit or 2.5GbE.
2. Give the NAS 10GbE. Built in, or a card in models with a compatible slot. Confirm card compatibility for the exact NAS model.
3. Choose the switch. Count the 10GbE ports you need now and add two. Copper 10GBASE-T ports are simplest with existing cabling; SFP+ ports use direct-attach cables or fibre and run cooler.
4. Check the cabling. Cat6a supports 10GbE over the full 100 metres. Cat6 supports it over shorter runs, about 55 metres in good conditions. Cat5e is not rated for it.
5. Equip the workstations. Use the built-in 10GbE port where there is one, or add a network card.
6. Keep the rest of the office connected through the same switch's uplink or a second switch.
7. Test. Copy a large file both ways and compare with the figures above. If it is slow, check the negotiated link speed on each device first.
8. Tune only if needed. Features such as jumbo frames can help but must be set identically on every device in the path; leave defaults unless you have a measured reason.

What about links faster than 10GbE?

Larger GPU systems use 25GbE, 100GbE and beyond, with different switches, cables and storage. That is a data-centre design, covered in connecting a DGX Station to enterprise storage and ConnectX-7 vs Ethernet for AI clusters. For a NAS built on hard drives, links beyond 10GbE rarely help, because the drives cannot keep up. And wireless is not a substitute for any of these; see is Wi-Fi 7 fast enough for NAS-based AI workflows.

Buying in Singapore

10GbE switch: the HPE Networking Instant On 1960 12-port 10GBASE-T with 4 SFP+ (S$2,444.40). Gigabit switch with 10GbE uplinks for the NAS: the HPE OfficeConnect 1950 24G with 2 SFP+ and 2 10GBASE-T (S$1,035). NAS cards for models with a compatible slot: the Synology E10G18-T1 (S$202.80) and E10G30-T2 dual-port (S$387.60). NAS: the Synology DS1825+ (S$2,148) (listed 12 Nov 2026; prices change; ask for a current quotation). To start, use Request for Quotation on the product page, call (65) 6978 3502, email Sales@sourceit.com.sg or use our contact page.

Frequently asked questions

Is 10GbE worth it for a NAS? Yes when large files move daily or several workstations share the NAS. For a single workstation with occasional large transfers, 2.5GbE is usually enough.

How much faster is 10GbE than 2.5GbE? Up to four times on the link, about 1,100 MB/s against 280 MB/s. In practice a hard-drive NAS often limits 10GbE transfers to a few hundred MB/s.

What cable is needed for 10GbE? Cat6a for runs up to 100 metres. Cat6 can carry 10GbE over shorter distances. Cat5e is suitable for 2.5GbE but not rated for 10GbE.

Why is my 10GbE NAS still slow? Usually one link in the path is slower: a gigabit switch port, an old cable, the workstation's network card, or the NAS drives themselves. Check the negotiated speed on each device.