Does Ethernet Switch Reduce Speed? | A Myth or True?
You may have heard somewhere that using an ethernet switch reduces throughput and speed. Is it true or just a myth?
The ethernet switch is one of the fundamental components of modern networking setups. For this, it is manufactured in a way so that it doesn’t reduce speed. It simply means that the ethernet switch doesn’t reduce speed.
However, depending on the speed of your ethernet connection, the ethernet switch can reduce a certain amount of speed in some cases. In this article, we have explained whether ethernet switches reduce speed or not, when they can reduce speed, and many important things regarding this topic. Let’s explore them below!

Can an Ethernet Switch Reduce Your Internet Speed?
Unlike older network hubs, which simply broadcast data to all connected devices, Ethernet switches are much smarter.
They maintain a MAC (Media Access Control) address table that maps MAC addresses to specific ports. When a data frame arrives at an Ethernet switch, it uses this table to determine which port to forward the frame to.
It reduces unnecessary traffic on the network and improves overall efficiency. As a result, the connection speed never reduces with ethernet switches instead they improve the overall performance.
Why Ethernet Switch Doesn’t Affect Speed?
Here’s why Ethernet switches are not to blame for a reduction in speed:
- Reduce Collision: Ethernet switches create separate collision domains for each port. This reduces collisions and contention for network bandwidth, leading to better performance.
- Packet Switching: Each port on an ethernet switch operates at its rated speed (e.g., 1 Gbps or 10 Gbps). This ensures the maximum data flow on each port on the switch.
- Smart Traffic Management: Ethernet switches intelligently forward data frames only to the devices that need them. It prevents unnecessary data from clogging up the network.
- Supports High-Speed Internet Connection: Modern Ethernet switches often support Gigabit Ethernet (1 Gbps) or even faster connections. It helps to provide high-speed internet if the internet connection is faster than regular connections.
However, this myth is partially true that ethernet switches reduce speed. Let’s see how.
When Ethernet Switch Reduces Speed?
Ethernet switches can reduce speed if the ability of the switch is less than the speed of your ethernet connection.
For example, if the speed of your ethernet connection is 500 Mbps and you have an ethernet switch with a maximum speed of 100 Mbps. In that case, the speed will obviously be reduced by the switch.
But if the ability of your switch is 1000 Mbps, and your internet connection speed is 500 Mbps, then you’ll get the full-speed internet connection that you have and no speed will be reduced. It means that you’ll get 500 Mbps speed from your 1000 Mbps ethernet switch. It has nothing to do with your switch though. You need to increase your ethernet connection to get more speed.
Normally, the speed of most modern ethernet switches is 1 Gbps and most people do not have that much internet speed. So, there is nothing to be worried about if you have a slower internet connection than the ability of your ethernet switch.
To put it simply, no speed will be reduced by your ethernet switch as long as your switch is faster than your internet.
Bonus Tip: Factors That Can Impact Speed
After reading the above section, you may already have understood that an ethernet switch does not reduce speed. Then what does reduce the speed? Here are some factors that can impact the internet speed at your home:
- If the ability of the ethernet switch is lower than the internet speed.
- If you have excessive data traffic or a large number of devices connected to the network.
- If you are using a low-quality ethernet cable or if the cable is damaged.
- If you have a slower network adapter or the ability of your router is low.
The Bottom Lines
To put it simply, Ethernet switches are not responsible for reducing network speed. In fact, they are essential components for optimizing network performance. However, your internet speed can be reduced by the ethernet switch if the capacity of data transfer by the switch is lower than the internet speed you have. We hope we have successfully explained the myth that says ethernet switches reduce speed in this article. If you still have any confusion regarding this topic, feel free to ask in our comment section below.
Frequently Asked Questions and Answers – FAQs
Does Ethernet Switch Cause Lag?
Ethernet switches can sometimes cause lag. However, it can be for a millisecond at worst which barely affects the performance.
Does Ethernet Switch Increase Speed?
No, the ethernet switch doesn’t have the ability to increase speed. For example, if you have a 100 Mbps internet connection and the ability of your switch is 1000 Mbps, it doesn’t mean that it will increase the speed to 1000 Mbps. It means that the switch can support up to 1000 Mbps of internet speed. However, switches can manage traffic more efficiently and can increase speed if you replace your hub with the switch.