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TL-SX105 vs TL-SG108S-M2: Plan Your Link Speeds and Port Count

Choose TL-SX105 for a needed 5/10 Gbps link when all your cables fit its five ports. Choose TL-SG108S-M2 for more direct connections at up to 2.5 Gbps: one router connection leaves seven device ports instead of four.

Published by Pickoryx · Published 2026-10-14

Source checked 2026-10-14 14:41 UTC

Products compared

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The buying question

Do you need five ports with 5/10 Gbps link modes, or eight ports capped at 2.5 Gbps?

TL-SX105 supports faster individual links but has three fewer physical ports. TL-SG108S-M2 connects more devices directly but stops at 2.5 Gbps per port.

Quick verdict

When to skip: You need more than five total connections and 5/10 Gbps capability in a single switch.
When the recommendation changes
  • If the plan needs both more than five total connections and 5/10 Gbps ports in one switch, neither model meets it.
  • If every required link is 2.5 Gbps or slower and five total connections suffice, both meet those requirements; compare current offers and installation fit.
  • Include planned additions and every upstream connection in the count.

The differences that matter

Endpoint Link Speed

TP-Link TL-SX105

Each port negotiates at 100 Mbps or 1/2.5/5/10 Gbps.[1]

TP-Link TL-SG108S-M2

Each port negotiates at 100 Mbps or 1/2.5 Gbps.[2, 3]

What this changes: For a NAS or workstation link that needs 5 or 10 Gbps negotiation, choose TL-SX105 if its connection count also fits. TL-SG108S-M2 covers 2.5 Gbps links but cannot supply a 5/10 Gbps switch port. These are nominal link modes, not measured transfer speeds.[1, 2, 3]

The better fit depends on your priorities

Physical Port Budget

TP-Link TL-SX105

Five physical Ethernet ports. In a one-router-uplink example, 5 − 1 leaves four device ports.[1]

TP-Link TL-SG108S-M2

Eight physical Ethernet ports. In the same example, 8 − 1 leaves seven device ports.[2, 3]

What this changes: Count every cable before buying. Five devices plus one router connection require six ports: TL-SG108S-M2 fits with two spare, whereas TL-SX105 cannot connect all six directly. One uplink is an example allocation, not a dedicated or permanently reserved port; additional connections reduce the remaining count.[1, 2, 3]

The better fit depends on your priorities

Best for your routine

A 10GbE NAS, a 10GbE workstation, two other devices and one router connection

Best fit: TP-Link TL-SX105

Based on listed features, not comparative testing.

Five connections fill TL-SX105, leaving no spare. Confirm the two faster endpoints and their cable runs support the intended link mode. This selects suitable ports, not a guaranteed NAS transfer speed.

View TP-Link TL-SX105 on AmazonPaid link

Five 2.5GbE-or-slower devices plus one router connection

Best fit: TP-Link TL-SG108S-M2

Based on listed features, not comparative testing.

Six connections fit TL-SG108S-M2 with two unused ports. TL-SX105 has too few sockets for this direct-connection plan; the compromise is giving up 5/10 Gbps switch-port modes.

View TP-Link TL-SG108S-M2 on AmazonPaid link

At most four devices plus one router, with all required links at 2.5 Gbps or below

The better fit depends on your priorities

Both cover the stated link modes and port count. TL-SG108S-M2 leaves three extra sockets for additions; TL-SX105 preserves 5/10 Gbps options. Choose based on a concrete expansion plan and current offers.

Value and trade-offs

One or both observed offers have eligibility conditions, so no unrestricted price difference is shown.

If TL-SX105 costs more, justify it with a planned link above 2.5 Gbps that fits the five-port layout. Extra link modes do not compensate for too few sockets.

There is not enough verified price history to recommend buying now or waiting; check current offers after confirming the connection plan.

Limitations

  • Exact retail hardware revisions were not established. The TL-SG108S-M2 facts used here agree across the reviewed U.S. V1 and V2 pages; check the unit’s version and matching regional support information before relying on revision-specific functions.
  • Negotiated port rates are not achieved file-transfer speeds. Endpoint hardware, storage, cables, traffic and the intervening network path can limit results; an internet connection also depends on its router and service. No hands-on or controlled comparative test was performed.

Questions shoppers ask

Does the eight-port model need more desk space?

Its listed body is smaller: 158 × 101 × 25.4 mm versus 226 × 131 × 35 mm for TL-SX105 (W × D × H). Those measurements exclude the space you must allow for connected cables and the power adapter, so measure the actual installation.

Can I keep my existing Ethernet cables?

TP-Link describes TL-SG108S-M2’s 2.5G operation with Cat5e or better cable. For TL-SX105 at 10G, it specifies Cat6a or higher for runs up to 100 meters. Check the category, length and condition of each run and the equipment at both ends; neither description guarantees the result on your existing wiring.

Is the router connection a special uplink port?

The four-versus-seven count simply allocates one of each switch’s ordinary ports to the router. Subtract all connections your own layout needs; the calculation does not identify a dedicated uplink socket.

Methodology and sources

Compared published port negotiation ranges and physical port counts. Worked connection examples subtract occupied sockets; cable guidance and body dimensions support pre-purchase checks, not performance or installation tests.

AI assisted source comparison and drafting.

View 5 sources
  1. 1.TL-SX105 | 5-Port 10G Desktop SwitchTP-Link U.S. · Official specifications · Source checked 2026-10-14 14:41 UTC
    Evidence used on this page
    • Interface and dimensions, lines 299–304; Same Cables, New Speed, 280–282; transfer/cable caveats, 333–335.: Five ports with 100 Mbps and 1/2.5/5/10 Gbps negotiation; 226 × 131 × 35 mm body. Cat6a or higher for 10G up to 100 meters. Marketing transfer estimates are not used.
  2. 2.TL-SG108S-M2 V1 | 8-Port 2.5G Multi-Gigabit Desktop SwitchTP-Link U.S. · Official specifications · Source checked 2026-10-14 14:41 UTC
    Evidence used on this page
    • V1 heading 95; cabling 154–156 and 291; interface/dimensions 256–261.: V1 lists eight 100 Mbps/1/2.5 Gbps ports, Cat5e-or-better cable guidance and 158 × 101 × 25.4 mm body. Corroborates shared model facts; does not establish the selected offer is V1.
  3. 3.TL-SG108S-M2 V2 | 8-Port 2.5G Multi-Gigabit Desktop SwitchTP-Link U.S. · Official specifications · Source checked 2026-10-14 14:41 UTC
    Evidence used on this page
    • V2 heading 119; cabling 173–175 and 291; interface/dimensions 256–261.: V2 agrees with V1 on the eight-port negotiation range, cable guidance and body dimensions. Revision-specific loop prevention and consumption values are excluded.
  4. 4.Download for TL-SX105TP-Link U.S. · Official specifications · Source checked 2026-10-14 14:41 UTC
    Evidence used on this page
    • Hardware-version selector and regional-availability note, 81–98.: Lists several revisions and directs users to match hardware version and region. No mapping from the selected retail offer to a revision is established.
  5. 5.Download for TL-SG108S-M2TP-Link U.S. · Official specifications · Source checked 2026-10-14 14:41 UTC
    Evidence used on this page
    • Hardware-version selector and regional-availability note, 81–96.: Lists V1/V1.60 and V2/V2.60; hardware availability varies by region. Does not establish the retail offer revision.

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