Asus ProArt Switch PQG-U1080 Review: The Switch for Creatives!

If you’re transferring massive quantities of information over a community, quick connections are virtually a should. This is exactly the place the ASUS ProArt Switch PQG-U1080 shines. The swap from ASUS options eight RJ45 ports, every with a pace of two.5 Gbit/s, in addition to two extra 10 Gbit/s SFP+ ports. In phrases of use instances, this consists of artistic purposes specifically, corresponding to quick entry to NAS programs, modifying massive video and photograph recordsdata, or transferring knowledge between a number of workstations. Visually, ASUS has as soon as once more drawn inspiration from the ProArt line and is positioning the swap primarily for artistic professionals and enterprise customers.

In at the moment’s overview, we’ll take a better take a look at the swap. Can the PQG-U1080 ship on its technical specs in on a regular basis use?

Technical Specifications

Model	ProArt Switch PQG-U1080
Color	Black
Ports	8× 2.5 Gbit/s RJ45 Ethernet ports, 2× 10 Gbit/s SFP+ fiber ports
MAC Address Table	16K entries
Packet buffer	8 Mbit
Jumbo frames	as much as 10 KB
Forwarding fee	59.52 Mpps (for 64-byte packets)
LED Indicator	Power and port LEDs
Power provide (energy adapter)	12 V / 1 A
Product weight	260 g
Product Dimensions (L x W x H)	180 x 89.5 x 26 mm
Price	€ 133.00 *

Package Contents

• Switch, energy provide, and two plug adapters included
• Cable ties included for handy cable administration

The contents of the ASUS ProArt Switch PQG-U1080 package deal are pretty customary. In addition to the swap itself, the package deal consists of the corresponding energy adapter, which comes with two completely different plug varieties. For preliminary setup, ASUS consists of the standard fast begin information and a guaranty card. Using the cable tie included within the package deal, the ability cable will also be flexibly bundled or secured relying on the placement.

Design & Build Quality

• Black ProArt design with gold accents
• Compact, light-weight, and cleanly crafted
• Plastic housing as an alternative of a high-quality metallic design

ASUS sticks with the ProArt look and focuses on understated magnificence. Consequently, the PQG-U1080 is available in a black case with none flashy gaming or RGB accents. Only the ribbed entrance panel provides the swap a complicated look, whereas the ProArt emblem shines in a putting gold end. This makes it notably well-suited for an expert setting. Measuring 180 × 89.5 × 26 mm, it’s among the many extra compact fashions and may match on a desk or in a community rack with none main points. As a end result, the ASUS ProArt Switch PQG-U1080 focuses much less on a putting look and extra on a classy design that meets skilled requirements—it’s simple to see that efficiency takes priority over mere aesthetics right here.

Considering the worth, the construct high quality is first rate. While it’s stored pretty useful given the completely skilled design, the case feels sturdy and was manufactured with precision. We didn’t discover any sharp edges or uneven gaps on our check unit. In addition, at round 260 grams, the swap stays pleasantly light-weight and straightforward to deal with. In this worth vary, nonetheless, a extra sturdy metallic case would have been fascinating—as is commonly discovered, for instance, in enterprise-grade units.

Ports & Connectivity

• 8× 2.5 Gbit/s RJ45 and a couple of× 10 Gbit/s SFP+ ports
• Flexible SFP+ uplinks for NAS or extra switches
• Status LEDs have a devoted swap for deactivation

All ports on the ASUS ProArt Switch PQG-U1080 are situated on the lengthy facet. The ports are clearly separated from each other, in order that—seen from the left—the ability provide connector, the eight RJ45 ports, and, to the precise of these, the 2 SFP+ fiber ports are situated. A useful characteristic is that there’s a separate white standing LED below every port, which might all be turned off collectively utilizing a swap on the facet of the swap. For the ability provide, ASUS makes use of a 12 V, 1 A configuration, which generates hardly any noticeable warmth.

Looking on the RJ45 ports, you’ll discover that they provide three completely different pace modes. These vary from 100 Mbit/s and could be elevated to 1 Gbit/s or 2.5 Gbit/s. Meanwhile, the 2 SFP+ ports on the precise facet are specified for 10 Gbit/s—but additionally assist 2.5 Gbit/s and 1 Gbit/s as choices. Under the hood, the MaxLinear MxL86282C serves because the central swap chip. A comparability with the options of normal 8- or 10-port switches exhibits that these often both lack an SFP+ port or have RJ45 ports that solely assist speeds of 1 Gbit/s. Accordingly, the characteristic set is spectacular by way of connectivity.

Now, nonetheless, the query arises: what’s this mixture of a number of RJ45 and SFP+ ports truly meant for? Simply put, the SFP+ ports are meant as uplinks—whether or not between a number of switches or for connecting a NAS—to make the most of speeds of as much as 10 Gbit/s. Provided, in fact, that the related machine additionally helps such knowledge switch speeds.

Real-world check: How does the swap carry out in on a regular basis use?

• Plug-and-play with out configuration due to unmanaged operation
• No LED indicator for the negotiated connection pace
• Energy-efficient, silent, and dependable in steady operation

Plug and Play!

In apply, the ASUS ProArt Switch PQG-U1080 proves to be simple. Since it’s an unmanaged swap, no configuration is required in any respect. This means: join your units, activate the swap, and also you’re executed! The versatile mounting choices are additionally handy. In addition to the basic placement on a desk, the ASUS ProArt Switch PQG-U1080 will also be magnetically hooked up to metallic surfaces or secured in appropriate areas utilizing the included cable tie. There are already corresponding cutouts on the again for mounts.

Despite its easy plug-and-play strategy, the PQG-U1080 isn’t fully primary relating to options. It helps jumbo frames as much as 10 KB, circulate management, and Energy Efficient Ethernet. Another good characteristic is the built-in loop detection, which signifies a community loop through the standing LEDs.

White LEDs with out pace indicators

As anticipated, ASUS is kind of restrained relating to the LEDs. The indicators merely present whether or not a connection is lively (white mild) and whether or not knowledge is at present being transmitted (blinking mild). Given the worth vary, nonetheless, it might have been fascinating to have an indicator exhibiting the precise negotiated pace, particularly with a mixture of 2.5 Gbit and 10 Gbit/s connections. For the typical person who merely needs a functioning community infrastructure, nonetheless, this level is unlikely to be a serious downside.

Power Consumption

In phrases of energy consumption, nonetheless, the ASUS ProArt Switch PQG-U1080 performs properly. At idle, it attracts about 2 watts. With a number of units transmitting at various speeds through the RJ45 ports, energy consumption will increase solely barely. In our on a regular basis testing, it stabilized at round 5 watts. Additionally, due to passive cooling, the swap runs fully silently, and even after prolonged use, warmth technology stays reasonable.

Other Impressions

During the testing interval, the swap operated stably and with none glitches in real-world use. Even the mixture of recent 2.5 Gbps units and older Gigabit parts proved to be problem-free. Furthermore, knowledge might be transferred to and from the NAS at excessive speeds with none noticeable efficiency drops. In quick, the swap meets the expectations one has for a desktop swap: plug it in, overlook about it, and be assured that the community will perform reliably.

Conclusion

The ASUS ProArt Switch PQG-U1080 impressed in testing with its mixture of eight 2.5 Gbps RJ45 ports and two 10 Gbps SFP+ ports. This works not solely on paper but additionally in apply: it permits a fast NAS setup and ensures that quick workstations run easily.

Of course, the fast setup due to the plug-and-play precept is a delight, and as a long-term workhorse, it operates fairly energy-efficiently and stays good and quiet due to passive cooling. While these aren’t distinctive promoting factors, anybody who’s ever purchased low-cost switches has seemingly already skilled these annoying dropouts. Stability is unquestionably a given right here, as a reboot wasn’t crucial in any respect throughout the several-week check run. Other helpful options embrace jumbo frames, circulate management, and loop detection with LED indicators that function a information.

Naturally, there are additionally some factors of criticism. The worth appears excessive for what’s “merely” an unmanaged swap, but it surely’s not less than comprehensible. ASUS is clearly capitalizing on the model’s confirmed repute right here, whereas related fashions from lesser-known producers are sometimes accessible at decrease costs. Points are additionally deducted for the supplies used—particularly the plastic housing—and for the standing LEDs, which solely point out exercise however don’t present a transparent breakdown of pace.

In quick: Anyone on the lookout for a customizable swap can be higher off trying elsewhere. However, anybody who values a dependable and quiet companion—one that may be hooked up to a desk or desk leg utilizing magnets, amongst different strategies, and prefers no flashing indicators—shall be happy with the ASUS ProArt Switch PQG-U1080.