Why is my USB Ethernet capped at 1Gbps? Boosting to 5Gbps with Lanstar
Working with large video sources and high-quality audio files on my NAS has made the limits of Gigabit networking hard to ignore. A 1Gbps link theoretically carries 125MB/s, but practical transfers may stay around 100MB/s. Move hundreds of gigabytes, take a break, and the progress bar can still have a long way to go. The Lanstar LS-UAC50 caught my attention as a 5Gbps alternative. At this point, 10Gbps equipment felt too expensive and 2.5Gbps a little less of an improvement than I wanted. This seemed a reasonable compromise between the two.
The box contains only the adapter and manual, which is fine by me. I prefer having the necessary connections built into the adapter itself rather than adding more small accessories to carry. Both Type-A and Type-C connections are built into the same unit. Moving between a desktop and laptop without another dongle to carry is useful. There’s no driver CD to deal with, either.
The black aluminum-alloy case is straightforward and neatly finished. It has a substantial feel that fits the black equipment already on my desk, without needing a decorative treatment to belong there. It is clearly larger and thicker than a basic 1Gbps adapter. My assumption is that the extra surface area helps release heat during faster transfers; that is my reading of the design rather than a separate performance measurement.
The core of this device is Realtek’s latest RTL8157 chipset. This is a significant upgrade over the common 2.5G-capable RTL8156. Since 5Gbps effectively saturates the USB 3.0 bandwidth, hardware design is critical. Lanstar utilizes the USB 3.2 Gen2 standard, which clearly helps in minimizing data bottlenecks.
I started testing in a front USB port on my main PC and initially saw a 2.5Gbps connection, about half what I’d expected. That port used USB 3.2 Gen1. Moving the adapter to the motherboard’s red rear Gen2 port let it report the full 5Gbps link. My older laptop is still limited, but the speed improvement over wireless and the steadiness of a cable matter for the server role. Even without the maximum available everywhere, that part of the upgrade is satisfying.
Pros
- Affordable 5G networking in the 20,000 KRW range
- Plug-and-play compatibility with Windows 11 and Android (Ubuntu server requires a driver update)
- Convenient integrated Type-A/C connector
Cons
- The bulky size may look a bit awkward when connected to thin laptops
- Noticeable warmth after 10 minutes of heavy file transfers
One final tip: before purchasing the Lanstar LS-UAC50, ensure your network infrastructure supports it. Even if the adapter supports 5Gbps, your router or switching hub must also support these speeds, or you will be capped at the slowest link. Furthermore, you must use at least a Cat.6 (or higher) Ethernet cable to prevent signal loss. For those using Linux or Synology NAS systems, verify your kernel version or driver requirements beforehand. While it worked instantly on Windows and Android, I had to manually install drivers for my Ubuntu server.
The LS-UAC50 makes sense to me as a way to improve transfer efficiency without a large initial expense. Buying hardware is exciting, but this is also a reminder to check what the surrounding equipment allows before judging the adapter alone. If Gigabit transfers have become frustrating, the step toward a stable 5Gbps wired setup is worth considering, especially when dependable server access matters alongside raw transfer speed.
