Written 22 Aug 2026. Specs from the maker pages linked below. Prices from those stores. I haven't used these.
The $40 used Catalyst is still 1G
A used Catalyst 3560-class 24-port is still a gigabit box. The closet upgrade is a new fanless 8-port 2.5G on a 12 V brick.
This is not a rewrite of when a $40 switch is a gift vs a 90 W heater. That test still stands. This note is only the speed myth: a gray 24-port Catalyst does not feed a 2.5G NAS or a 2.5G mini PC. It is 1G copper with a loud or warm PSU story. The ports you actually want are on a new pizza brick.
The shopping list for which 2.5G box lives in best 2.5G switch. Here the pick is the default unmanaged 8-port. If you need a paper lifetime warranty instead, that is the TRENDnet. If you need VLANs or a 10G DAC, that is a different post: see lifetime vs SmartNet and QSW-2104-2S.
What to buy
| Box | What it is | Street, 22 Aug 2026 | Buy if |
|---|---|---|---|
| TP-Link TL-SG108S-M2 | 8× 2.5G, fanless, unmanaged. B&H compare cites max 12.11 W. | Pricehistory.app $54.99 on 19 Aug 2026 (MRP $79.99). SpecPicks Amazon snap 26 Jul 2026: $79.49. Tom's Hardware saw ~$50 on a June 2026 Prime sale. | The default. Silent. No config. This is the upgrade the used C3560 is not. |
| TRENDnet TEG-S380 V2 | 8× 2.5G, fanless, NDAA/TAA, lifetime (US/Canada). Maker max 7.26 W. 12 V / 1 A brick. | Maker list $87.99. Amazon ASIN B08XWKF55C snap $74.99. B&H compare also listed $71.99. | You care about the warranty paper more than the TP-Link default. |
Skip
Skip the used Catalyst 3560 / 3750 impulse for this job. No used street price here. The box is still 1G. The default fans are the heater case already covered in used vs new. Skip random 5-port toys with one 2.5G uplink and four leftover 1G ports.
Sources
Amazon TL-SG108S-M2 (B0CMFX748Y). pricehistory.app 19 Aug 2026 $54.99. Amazon TEG-S380. TRENDnet TEG-S380 V2 store (max 7.26 W). B&H compare. Street moves. Print the live tag.