10GbE (10 Gigabit Ethernet) is a genuine performance upgrade for NAS. But only in specific scenarios where your current 1GbE connection is actually the bottleneck. For most home users backing up files, streaming Plex, and doing light file access, standard Gigabit Ethernet saturates the NAS drives long before the network becomes the constraint. The case for 10GbE is real but narrow: it's compelling for video editors working in ProRes or RAW codecs, users with NVMe-based NAS storage, and anyone running multiple high-throughput connections simultaneously. For everyone else, the $400-800 AUD upgrade cost is hard to justify.
In short: You need 10GbE if you're editing 4K ProRes, Blackmagic RAW, or 8K video directly from the NAS. You don't need it for Plex streaming, general file sharing, Time Machine backup, PC backup, or H.264/H.265 4K editing. If you're unsure which category you're in, check your NAS's current throughput with a speed test. If you're not hitting the 1GbE ceiling (~120 MB/s), adding 10GbE won't make a visible difference.
What 1GbE Actually Delivers (and Where It Runs Out)
Gigabit Ethernet has a theoretical maximum of 1,000 Mbps. In real-world conditions. Accounting for protocol overhead, TCP framing, and drive latency. A well-configured NAS over 1GbE delivers 90-120 MB/s sustained sequential read. That's the practical ceiling.
120 MB/s is enough to:
- Stream 4K HDR video at any consumer bitrate (4K HEVC at 80 Mbps = 10 MB/s. Well below the ceiling)
- Edit H.264 and H.265 4K footage from mirrorless cameras (Sony A7, Canon R, Fujifilm X)
- Back up multiple PCs simultaneously with Active Backup
- Serve 5-8 Plex streams at 1080p
- Run Time Machine backup in the background without impacting other network usage
120 MB/s is not enough to:
- Edit 4K ProRes 422 HQ in real time (requires ~110 MB/s per stream. You're at the ceiling with one editor)
- Edit 4K ProRes RAW or Blackmagic RAW at full quality (requires 175-325 MB/s per stream)
- Saturate an all-NVMe NAS (NVMe arrays can deliver 1,000+ MB/s. 1GbE can't consume it)
- Run 3+ high-throughput users simultaneously without contention
When You Don't Need 10GbE
Plex and media streaming: Even 4K Dolby Vision remux files top out at ~100 Mbps (12.5 MB/s). You could run 8 simultaneous 4K streams on a 1GbE connection before hitting the limit. 10GbE makes zero difference for media streaming.
General file backup and sync: Whether you're running Time Machine, Active Backup for Business, or Synology Drive sync, backup throughput is almost always limited by CPU overhead, drive write speed, or the amount of changed data. Not the network. Adding 10GbE doesn't accelerate these workflows in any meaningful way.
H.264 and H.265 video editing: Consumer and prosumer mirrorless camera footage (Sony, Canon, Fujifilm, Nikon) is compressed 4K at 50-600 Mbps maximum. Well within 1GbE. The editing application decodes on the CPU locally; the NAS only needs to deliver the raw compressed file fast enough, which 1GbE handles comfortably.
Small home networks with a single editing workstation: Even if you do professional video work, a single editor on one workstation with an SSD cache on the NAS can push 1GbE to its limit effectively for many ProRes workflows at the lower bitrate end. If you're cutting a short film in ProRes 422 (not HQ), 1GbE at 90-100 MB/s covers it with minor scrubbing overhead.
When You Actually Need 10GbE
Professional video editing in ProRes 422 HQ or higher: ProRes 422 HQ at 4K requires ~110 MB/s per stream. That's already 92% of the 1GbE theoretical maximum, leaving almost no headroom for scrubbing, seeking, or any other concurrent network activity. In practice, cutting ProRes 422 HQ on a 1GbE NAS is functional but marginal: you'll notice playback hitching on long seeks and rendering spikes. 10GbE eliminates this entirely.
Blackmagic RAW (BRAW) or Cinema RAW: At BRAW Q3 and below (higher quality), bitrates exceed 400 Mbps and 1GbE is genuinely insufficient. At BRAW Q5 (most common), ~270 Mbps is manageable on 1GbE for single-stream playback but leaves no room for render jobs or other users.
8K video in any professional codec: 8K ProRes RAW at ~2,600 Mbps requires 325 MB/s. More than 2.5× the 1GbE ceiling. There is no workaround here; 10GbE is required.
NVMe-based NAS (all-SSD builds): If your NAS has NVMe drives capable of 1,000+ MB/s sequential read, a 1GbE connection means you're only using ~12% of the storage's capability. 10GbE unlocks the investment you've made in fast storage.
Multiple simultaneous high-throughput users: At 2-3 editors sharing a NAS over 1GbE, the available ~120 MB/s is divided among all sessions. Three editors at 40 MB/s each is functional for compressed formats but not ProRes. 10GbE provides 10× the aggregate bandwidth before reaching the network ceiling.
What 10GbE Actually Costs in Australia
A 10GbE upgrade requires 10GbE capability at both ends. The NAS and the workstation. Plus the cabling or switch infrastructure between them.
NAS side: Most mid-range Synology and QNAP NAS models (DS725+, DS925+, DS1525+, TS-464) have a PCIe slot for a 10GbE network card. Synology's own E10G30-T2 (dual-port 10GbE RJ45) is available for $430 at Mwave. Third-party 10GbE cards (Intel X550-T1 single-port) can be found for ~$1,215-250.
Workstation side (Mac): Thunderbolt 3 to 10GbE adapters from OWC Jellyfish, Sonnet, or Akitio: $200-350 AUD from AU retailers or Amazon AU.
Workstation side (PC): An Intel X550-T1 or ASUS XG-C100C 10GbE PCIe NIC: $180-350 from Mwave, PLE, or Scorptec. PCIe x4 slot required. Most desktop motherboards have one available.
Connection options:
- Direct connection (no switch): A single DAC (Direct Attach Copper) SFP+ cable between NAS and workstation costs ~$30-50. Eliminates the need for a 10GbE switch. Only works for NAS ↔ one workstation. Suitable for a solo editor setup.
- 10GbE switch: Required if connecting multiple workstations. Entry-level managed 10GbE 8-port switches (Netgear MS308TX-100AUS): ~$600-900 from AU retailers. TP-Link TL-SX1008 unmanaged 8-port 10GbE: ~$500.
10GbE Upgrade Cost Summary (AU)
| Solo editor (direct attach) | Solo editor (via switch) | 2-3 editors (switch) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| NAS 10GbE card | $150-430 | $150-430 | $150-430 |
| Workstation NIC | $180-350 | $180-350 | $180-350 each |
| DAC cable or switch | $30-50 (DAC) | $500-900 (switch) | $500-900 (switch) |
| Total upgrade cost | ~$360-830 | ~$830-1,680 | ~$1,300+ (3 workstations) |
| Worth it for | ProRes 422 HQ / BRAW solo editor | ProRes + multiple editors | Multi-editor post-production |
The 2.5GbE Middle Ground
There's a practical option between 1GbE and 10GbE: 2.5GbE, which delivers ~280 MB/s real-world throughput. More than double 1GbE at a fraction of the cost. Some NAS models include 2.5GbE ports built-in (UGREEN NASync DX4600 Pro, QNAP TS-464 with PCIe 2.5GbE card). 2.5GbE NICs for workstations cost $30-80 compared to ~$1,215+ for 10GbE.
2.5GbE covers:
- 4K ProRes 422 (not HQ) single-stream editing comfortably
- H.265 at any consumer bitrate with substantial headroom
- 2-user shared storage for compressed formats
2.5GbE does not cover:
- 4K ProRes 422 HQ (requires ~110 MB/s. Tight on 2.5GbE at 280 MB/s max but workable for single user)
- ProRes RAW or BRAW at high quality
- 8K in any format
For home users who want noticeably faster NAS performance without the full 10GbE investment, 2.5GbE is an excellent compromise. Note that many home routers now include 2.5GbE ports, meaning no switch upgrade is needed. Just plug the NAS and workstation into the router's 2.5GbE ports.
How to Tell If You're Currently Bottlenecked by 1GbE
Before spending on a 10GbE upgrade, confirm that 1GbE is actually your bottleneck and not the drives or CPU.
Run a speed test from the NAS to a PC on the local network. On Windows, copy a large file (5GB+) from the NAS to a fast local SSD and check Windows Explorer's copy dialog for transfer speed. On Mac, use Finder's copy progress or the Activity Monitor's disk graphs.
- ~90-120 MB/s: You're hitting the 1GbE ceiling. If you need more, 10GbE will help.
- ~50-80 MB/s: You're likely bottlenecked by HDD read speed (spinning drives in RAID), not the network. Adding 10GbE won't help until you also add SSD cache.
- ~20-50 MB/s: CPU or drive write is the constraint (during backup/copy operations). Network upgrade won't help.
- Below 20 MB/s: Something is misconfigured. Check for Wi-Fi connection, VLAN misconfiguration, or SMB packet signing overhead.
If your transfers are topping at 50-80 MB/s, the better investment is M.2 NVMe SSD cache rather than 10GbE. SSD cache on the NAS brings sequential read speeds to 800+ MB/s from the SSD tier. Only then does 10GbE become the next bottleneck. The right upgrade order: SSD cache first, then 10GbE. See the NAS power guide for drive spec considerations when sizing cache.
Which Synology and QNAP Models Support 10GbE
10GbE via PCIe expansion is available on most mid-range and above Synology and QNAP NAS models. Entry-level ARM models (DS223, DS124, DS423) do not have a PCIe slot and cannot be upgraded to 10GbE.
Synology models with PCIe expansion (supports 10GbE card): DS725+, DS925+, DS1525+, DS1823xs+, all RS/SA series rackstations. The Synology E10G30-T2 (~$3199) or E10G30-F2 SFP+ (~$3199) are the supported cards. Third-party cards may work but aren't officially validated by Synology.
QNAP models with PCIe or built-in 10GbE: Most TS-x64, TS-x73, TS-h series models. QNAP also sells the QXG-10G1T single-port 10GbE card (~$150) for their NAS. Notably cheaper than Synology's branded option.
Both the DS725+ ($869 at Mwave) and DS925+ ($1,029 at Mwave) are solid 10GbE candidates. PCIe slot, Ryzen/Quad-core CPU capable of multi-user throughput, and M.2 slots for SSD cache. Both are available from Australian retailers with full Australian Consumer Law protections on hardware purchases.
Related reading: our NAS buyer's guide.
Use our free Network Upgrade ROI Calculator to calculate whether upgrading to 2.5GbE or 10GbE is worth it.
Does 10GbE make Plex streaming faster?
No. Plex streams at 4K Dolby Vision peak around 80-100 Mbps (10-12 MB/s per stream). Even a 1GbE connection supports 10+ simultaneous 4K Plex streams before hitting the network limit. The Plex bottleneck is almost always the NAS CPU (for transcoding) or the client device (for direct play), not the network. 10GbE makes no practical difference for Plex use cases.
Is 10GbE worth it for a home NAS with HDD drives?
Generally no. A 4-bay HDD array in RAID 5 with 5400RPM drives delivers ~200-400 MB/s sequential read. More than 1GbE can consume but well below 10GbE capability. The practical upgrade path for HDD-based NAS is: (1) add SSD read cache (M.2 NVMe, ~$150-300) to bring hot files to near-SSD speed, then (2) upgrade to 10GbE if SSD cache is saturating 1GbE. Without SSD cache, 10GbE will be wasted on typical HDD-speed arrays.
Can I use 10GbE without a managed switch?
Yes. Use a DAC cable for a direct point-to-point connection between the NAS and a single workstation. A DAC cable ($30-50) is unmanaged, zero-configuration, and provides full 10GbE throughput. The limitation is that only one device connects directly to the NAS's 10GbE port this way. For one editor and one NAS, it's the cheapest and simplest 10GbE option. If you later need a second workstation on 10GbE, you'll need a switch at that point.
Does my router need to be 10GbE capable?
Not necessarily. If you're using 10GbE for NAS-to-workstation transfers within the local network, those packets don't pass through the router. They stay on the LAN. You only need 10GbE capability on the NAS, the workstation NIC, and any switch between them. Your router handles internet traffic (NBN connection) which operates at NBN speeds. Far below even 1GbE capacity. A DAC or 10GbE switch for the NAS ↔ workstation connection works independently of your router's specifications.
What's the NBN relevance to 10GbE?
None for local use. NBN is your internet connection; 10GbE is a local network upgrade. They're completely independent. NBN 1000 (the top residential tier, ~$110-130/month from most providers) delivers ~950 Mbps download. Which is, ironically, comparable to 1GbE LAN speed. But NBN speed has no bearing on how fast your NAS transfers data to devices in the house. Local NAS transfers run at LAN speed regardless of your NBN plan. NBN only matters for remote access to your NAS from outside the home. And on that dimension, your NBN upload speed (typically 20-50 Mbps) is the relevant constraint, not download.
Should I buy a NAS with 10GbE built-in or add a card later?
Add a card later, unless you're buying a high-end model where 10GbE is included at no premium. Few consumer-tier NAS models include built-in 10GbE. Most require a PCIe card. Buying a NAS now and adding the 10GbE card when you actually need it saves money (you're not paying for 10GbE capability before your workflow demands it) and lets you choose the right card for your infrastructure (RJ45 vs SFP+, single vs dual port). The DS725+ and DS925+ both support this approach. They have the PCIe slot available when you're ready.
Already certain you need 10GbE for video editing? The NAS for 4K and 8K editing guide covers which NAS models, drive configurations, and SSD cache setups deliver professional editing throughput in Australia.
4K/8K Editing NAS Guide →