The TP-Link 1Gbps USB to Ethernet adapter is available on Amazon for $9.98 (originally $14.99).
Product Description
The TP-Link UE306 USB 3.0 to Gigabit Ethernet Adapter provides fast and reliable wired network connections for laptops, tablets, desktops, and Nintendo Switch. With full 10/100/1000 Mbps speeds, it ensures smooth HD video streaming, large file transfers, online gaming, and stable video conferencing. The plug-and-play design offers instant connectivity for Windows 11/10/8.1/8 and Linux, while drivers are available for Windows 7 and macOS up to 10.15. Its foldable, lightweight, and portable design makes it easy to carry in a laptop bag or pocket, ideal for travel, home, or office use. The UE306 also serves as a convenient solution to replace a broken or missing Ethernet port, giving your devices wired internet access wherever you need it.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09GRL3VCN
Leave a Comment
11 Comments
Sign up for a Slickdeals account to remove this ad.
Sign up for a Slickdeals account to remove this ad.
As an example, the Raspberry Pi 3 came with an onboard gigabit Ethernet adapter. However, this adapter was bottlenecked by a USB 2.0 bus. This meant that the onboard NIC got around 320 Mb/s [jeffgeerling.com] of actual throughput. This shows that the negotiated rate had to be above 100 Mb/s, but throughput didn't come close to reaching 1 Gb/s speeds.
Another common one that should be easy for everyone to accept is heat. Junky products are more likely to consume more power and have issues dissipating heat. Thermal throttling is a major factor for many CPUs, GPUs, RAM, storage, and network adapters. In this case, a poorly designed or manufactured NIC might have thermal issues with prolonged use.
(I'm not arguing that the BENFEI adapter suggested above, or any other specific adaper will have performance issues. I'm just saying that many adapters do perform below their negotiated speed.)
EDIT: I thought I had some real examples on hand somewhere. I dug through my drawers and found these: StarTech USB21000S2 [amazon.com] and Cable Matters Media Streaming Adapter [amazon.com]. Both clearly advertise being USB 2.0 Gigabit adapters.
As an example, the Raspberry Pi 3 came with an onboard gigabit Ethernet adapter. However, this adapter was bottlenecked by a USB 2.0 bus. This meant that the onboard NIC got around 320 Mb/s [jeffgeerling.com] of actual throughput. This shows that the negotiated rate had to be above 100 Mb/s, but throughput didn't come close to reaching 1 Gb/s speeds.
Another common one that should be easy for everyone to accept is heat. Junky products are more likely to consume more power and have issues dissipating heat. Thermal throttling is a major factor for many CPUs, GPUs, RAM, storage, and network adapters. In this case, a poorly designed or manufactured NIC might have thermal issues with prolonged use.
(I'm not arguing that the BENFEI adapter suggested above, or any other specific adaper will have performance issues. I'm just saying that many adapters do perform below their negotiated speed.)
EDIT: I thought I had some real examples on hand somewhere. I dug through my drawers and found these: StarTech USB21000S2 [amazon.com] and Cable Matters Media Streaming Adapter [amazon.com]. Both clearly advertise being USB 2.0 Gigabit adapters.
i've never seen a usb 2.0 adapter negotiate at 1000mps speed... have you?
i've never seen a usb 2.0 adapter negotiate at 1000mps speed... have you?
I just went a step further and plugged the StarTech adapter into a USB 3.0 port on my PC. Using UsbTreeView, I can see that the Ethernet adapter is only capable of high-speed (USB 2.0). At the same time, Windows shows the link speed is 1000/1000. The light on my switch also indicates 1 Gb/s.
Please stop asking if anyone has seen this.
Leave a Comment