Written 22 Aug 2026. Specs from the maker pages linked below. Prices from those stores. I haven't used these.
Four quiet desk 10G links without a used Catalyst: MikroTik CRS305
Four quiet desk 10G links without bringing a loud used Catalyst into the closet. The CRS305 is a new, quiet desktop switch with four fiber-style cages.
Four SFP+ plus one 1G copper that also takes PoE-in. Dual boot SwOS / RouterOS. Two DC jacks plus PoE-in: three power inputs on a $149 list box. Included 24 V 0.8 A adapter. Input 12–57 V. Passive. Maker: max 10 W without attachments, 18 W with. STH on 120 V: idle 10 W, max observed 13 W, spec max 18 W. Case gets hot. No fans. STH: optics and DACs from Cisco, Juniper, Arista, Mellanox, and Intel coded without drama.
Maker suggested price $149. Amazon ASIN B07LFKGP1L snap $136.02 (typical $144.90). STH review era: “almost always under $149.” Pair it with a named DAC in new DAC + X710, not a mystery optic. If you need 2.5G copper plus two 10G cages, that is the QSW-2104-2S, not this box.
What to buy
| Box | What it is | Street, 22 Aug 2026 | Buy if |
|---|---|---|---|
| MikroTik CRS305-1G-4S+IN | 4× SFP+ + 1× 1G, fanless, SwOS/RouterOS, 12–57 V or PoE-in, included 24 V 0.8 A. | Maker $149. Amazon B07LFKGP1L snap $136.02. | Four 10G hops in a closet. Silent. New. Not a used Catalyst. |
Skip
Skip the used 10G Catalyst / Nexus for a closet. The ports are lovely. The fans and the 208 V aisle story are not. See used vs new and 110 V brick vs 208 V 1U. Skip treating this as a core L3 box; STH’s own tables show throughput falling off once you pile on filters and small packets. Layer 1/2 closet hop is the job.
Sources
mikrotik.com CRS305-1G-4S+IN ($149, max 10 W / 18 W, 12–57 V, 24 V 0.8 A included). Amazon B07LFKGP1L. STH CRS305 review (idle 10 W, max observed 13 W, Editor’s Choice). Street moves.