Written 22 Aug 2026. Specs from the maker pages linked below. Prices from those stores. I haven't used these.
Meet a faster closet switch without swapping the mini PC
Most tiny living-room boxes ship a normal house ethernet port. A $20–$30 adapter is the cheapest way to meet a faster closet switch without buying a new computer.
Meet a faster closet switch (2.5G, faster than normal house ethernet) without swapping the mini PC. PCIe is the cleaner Proxmox path if a slot exists. USB (Realtek RTL8156B / RTL8156BG) is the path when it does not. See the N100 note before you assume the box already has 2.5G.
What to buy
| Adapter | What it is | Street, 22 Aug 2026 | Buy if |
|---|---|---|---|
| TP-Link TX201 | PCIe 2.5G. ASIN B0BG685PKM. Also Newegg 14U-015E-00362 (first listed 19 Jul 2026). | Amazon snippet $26.99, sold by Amazon. Recheck the live buy box. | The mini PC or desktop has a free PCIe slot. Default Proxmox path. |
| Plugable USBC-E2500 | USB-C/A hybrid, RTL8156B. | Maker $24.95. Amazon UK ASIN B084L4JL9K. Confirm a US cart before you treat that as US street. | No slot. You want a named USB-C/A dongle. |
| Waveshare USB 3.2 Gen1 TO 2.5G ETH | SKU 27688, RTL8156B. | Maker $16.99. | Cheapest named RTL8156B on a maker page. |
| Cable Matters USB-A 2.5G | RTL8156BG, model 202485, ASIN B0GFHS6L87. | Listing live. No clean US street captured this pass. | USB-A only. Recheck the live price. |
Skip
Skip a host swap just to get 2.5G. Skip unnamed USB dongles with no chipset on the page. Don't jump to 10G until a single flow fills 2.5. That is the 10Gtek vs TX201 note.
Sources
Amazon TX201. Newegg TX201. Maker download: tp-link.com/us/support/download/tx201. Plugable USBC-E2500. Waveshare USB 3.2 Gen1 TO 2.5G ETH. Cable Matters ASIN B0GFHS6L87 (listing live; no clean US street). selfhosting.sh USB-adapter roundup (RTL8156B / Cable Matters ~$17 class).