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MikroTik’s CRS804 DDQ is a compact, half-width 1U switch with four 400GbE QSFP56-DD ports, two 1G/10G Ethernet ports, redundant power supplies and hot-swappable fans. Announced on January 16, 2026, it has a suggested price of $1,295—low for a 400GbE switch, but only a starting point for a working setup once compatible NICs, optics or cables are included.
It is aimed at small high-speed fabrics, such as compact AI clusters, storage aggregation and backhaul links, rather than ordinary home or office networks. Its headline 1.6Tbps figure is the sum of four ports’ nominal 400GbE capacity, not independent proof of performance under every traffic pattern.
CRS804 DDQ specifications
| Specification | Detail |
|---|---|
| Model | CRS804-4DDQ-hRM |
| High-speed ports | 4 × 400GbE QSFP56-DD |
| Other Ethernet ports | 2 × Ethernet, supporting 10M/100M/1G/10G |
| Console | RJ45 serial |
| Switch chip | Marvell 98DX7335 |
| CPU | Annapurna Labs AL52400, quad-core ARM at 2GHz |
| Memory and storage | 4GB RAM; 512MB NAND |
| Operating system | RouterOS v7, Level 6 license |
| Power and cooling | Two AC inputs, redundant hot-swappable power supplies and two hot-swappable fans |
| Maximum power | 123W, including optics |
| Operating temperature | -10°C to 60°C |
| Suggested price | $1,295 |
These specifications are listed on MikroTik’s CRS804 DDQ product page. The product is also described in ServeTheHome’s January 16, 2026 announcement coverage.
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1Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems2Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute3Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFour 400G ports, but a deliberately small topology
The four QSFP56-DD ports give the CRS804 DDQ up to 1.6Tbps of aggregate nominal port bandwidth: four ports multiplied by 400Gbps. That makes it relevant where a small number of very fast links matter more than a large number of access ports—for example, connecting a handful of servers, a storage system and an upstream link.
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The figure should not be confused with a measured forwarding result. MikroTik describes the switch as wire-speed, but the announcement materials do not establish independent throughput, latency, packet-loss, buffer or feature-performance results. Real behavior can depend on traffic patterns, configuration and enabled features. Treat 1.6Tbps as a port-capacity calculation, not a substitute for workload-specific validation.
The two additional Ethernet ports are rated up to 10G and can be useful for lower-speed connectivity, but buyers should not assume they are equivalent to the four QSFP56-DD ports in forwarding role or capacity. Check MikroTik’s current documentation and the intended configuration before designing around them as general-purpose data ports.
What QSFP56-DD breakout support does—and does not—mean
QSFP56-DD is a high-density interface that uses eight electrical lanes with 56G PAM4 signaling for a 400GbE connection. MikroTik lists breakout support at 1G, 2.5G, 5G, 10G, 25G and 50G. In suitable configurations, a high-speed port can therefore serve multiple lower-rate links; one possible arrangement is 8 × 50GbE.
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Those speed options are not a guarantee that any arbitrary combination will work on any port with any cable. Compatibility depends on the exact transceiver or direct-attach cable (DAC), whether the connection is a breakout, its lane mapping, the host NIC, the signaling generation, and the switch’s port configuration and software support. Confirm the supported mode for both ends before buying cabling.
Rank #2
- 𝗢𝗻𝗲 𝗦𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗰𝗵 𝗠𝗮𝗱𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗘𝘅𝗽𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗡𝗲𝘁𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸: 5× 10/100/1000Mbps RJ45 Ports supporting Auto Negotiation and Auto MDI/MDIX.
- 𝗚𝗶𝗴𝗮𝗯𝗶𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗦𝗮𝘃𝗲𝘀 𝗘𝗻𝗲𝗿𝗴𝘆: Latest innovative energy-efficient technology greatly expands your network capacity with much less power consumption and helps save money.
- 𝗥𝗲𝗹𝗶𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗤𝘂𝗶𝗲𝘁: IEEE 802.3X flow control provides reliable data transfer and Fanless design ensures quiet operation.
- 𝗣𝗹𝘂𝗴 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗣𝗹𝗮𝘆: Easy setup with no software installation or configuration needed.
- 𝗔𝗱𝘃𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲𝗱 𝗦𝗼𝗳𝘁𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗙𝗲𝗮𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲𝘀: Prioritize your traffic and guarantee high quality of video or voice data transmission with Port-based 802.1p/DSCP QoS and IGMP Snooping.
Generation differences matter. QSFP56-DD commonly uses eight 56G PAM4 lanes; newer 400GbE equipment may use four 112G PAM4 lanes, while older 100GbE gear commonly uses four 25G NRZ lanes. A cable advertised with a familiar speed may still use an electrical design that the other endpoint cannot accept. ServeTheHome’s launch coverage discusses why connecting equipment across these generations is not automatically straightforward.
Plan for the whole link: switch port, optic or cable, breakout direction, host adapter, drivers and firmware. Passive copper, active copper, active optical cables (AOCs) and optical transceivers differ in reach, power, cost and compatibility. Do not purchase a bundle based on the words “400G” or “QSFP” alone.
RouterOS and the switching hardware
The CRS804 DDQ combines a Marvell 98DX7335 switch chip with an Annapurna Labs AL52400 quad-core ARM CPU running at 2GHz. It has 4GB of RAM and 512MB of NAND storage, and runs RouterOS v7 with a Level 6 license. The CPU and operating system describe the management platform; they do not by themselves establish the scale or performance of every switching and routing feature.
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If your design depends on VLAN filtering, link aggregation, routing protocols, ACL scale, multicast, jumbo frames, RoCE or lossless Ethernet features such as PFC and ECN, verify support and limits for this specific model and RouterOS release. The launch information does not provide a feature-by-feature validation or measured results for those workloads. Likewise, do not assume parity with a larger data-center switch’s telemetry, automation or vendor-certified optics ecosystem simply because both products have high-speed ports.
Rank #3
- GIGABIT ETHERNET PORTS: Features 5 x 1.0Gbps Ethernet ports for high-speed connectivity. Auto-negotiating ports detect the optimal speed for connected devices and work with existing Cat5e or Cat6 Ethernet cables.
- PLUG-AND-PLAY UNMANAGED NETWORK SWITCH: Simple plug-and-play setup with no software to install or configuration required.
- FLEXIBLE MOUNTING OPTIONS: Compact metal design supports desktop or wall-mount placement for versatile installation.
- SILENT & ENERGY-EFFICIENT OPERATION: Fanless design ensures silent performance, while IEEE 802.3az Energy Efficient Ethernet reduces power consumption without compromising high-speed network performance.
- REGIONAL COMPATIBILITY: Made for use in U.S. & CA only
Power, cooling and rack fit
MikroTik rates maximum consumption at 123W, including optics. ServeTheHome reported about 92W without attachments in its launch coverage; that is a reported unattached figure, not the official maximum or a guaranteed draw in a particular installation. Actual consumption and heat depend on the selected modules and cables. Active cables and optical transceivers can add to the thermal load, and the fans may respond accordingly.
The unit has dual AC inputs, redundant hot-swappable power supplies and two hot-swappable cooling fans. These features help with serviceability and power resilience, but they do not establish that the switch is quiet. Acoustic output and fan behavior under different optic loads are not established by the announcement. For a lab, office or home rack, check noise, airflow direction, replacement-part availability and the cooling needs of neighboring equipment.
ServeTheHome describes the chassis as half-width and suitable for mounting two units side by side. Confirm the supplied mounting arrangement and rack space before planning a pair in a standard 19-inch rack; allow room for airflow, power connectors, thick high-speed cables and service access.
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Where four 400GbE ports make sense
- Small AI or GPU clusters: A plausible fit when the number of high-speed links is modest and the accelerator hosts, NICs, software and fabric design have been validated together. “AI-ready” is a target use case, not proof of interoperability with a particular NVIDIA or AMD platform, or of RoCE performance.
- Storage aggregation: Useful when a small set of servers and storage endpoints can benefit from very high-bandwidth links, and the cabling and adapters are already available or budgeted.
- Backhaul or point-to-point links: A compact option when four ports are enough for the required links and the endpoints match the supported physical layer.
- Research and advanced labs: Potentially attractive for testing 400GbE or building a small fabric, provided the lab can handle the power, cooling, noise and interoperability work.
- Media production: Conditional on compatible endpoints and a workflow that can actually use 400GbE; the port speed alone does not make a production pipeline faster.
Four ports impose a real topology limit. The CRS804 DDQ may suit a four-link fabric or a small aggregation role, but it is not a high-port-count leaf-spine switch. Designs that need many directly attached hosts, redundant paths for a larger number of endpoints, or lots of 10G/25G access connections may need another switch—or a broader network around it.
Rank #4
- 8 GIGABIT PORTS: Features 8 RJ45 ports supporting 10/100/1000 Mbps speeds, providing high-speed wired network connectivity for computers, printers, gaming consoles, and other Ethernet-enabled devices
- PLUG AND PLAY SETUP: No configuration required; simply connect the switch to your network devices and it is ready to use immediately, making network expansion quick and hassle-free
- FANLESS QUIET DESIGN: The fanless design ensures silent operation, making this switch suitable for noise-sensitive environments such as home offices, bedrooms, or conference rooms
- STURDY METAL CONSTRUCTION: Built with a durable metal housing and shielded ports that provide reliable performance, better heat dissipation, and protection against electromagnetic interference
- TRAFFIC OPTIMIZATION: Supports IEEE 802.3x flow control and advanced traffic optimization technology to reduce data bottlenecks and ensure smooth, efficient data transfer across your network
When it is the wrong switch
For typical home, office and small-business networks, 400GbE is usually the wrong kind of capacity: the practical need is often more 1G, 2.5G, 10G or 25G access ports, simpler cabling and quieter cooling. The CRS804 DDQ is also a poor fit if you expect its two 10G ports to replace a conventional management switch, lack compatible 400GbE hosts, or cannot provide suitable rack airflow and power.
It is not automatically a plug-and-play alternative to an established enterprise data-center platform. Buyers with requirements for specific routing, lossless-fabric behavior, monitoring, automation, support or certified transceivers should verify each requirement against the model and RouterOS version before committing.
The $1,295 switch is not the cost of a 400GbE network
MikroTik’s product page lists a suggested price of $1,295. ServeTheHome cited the same MSRP at launch and estimated street pricing around $1,100 at that time; that historical estimate is not a current retailer quote. The switch price does not include the components needed to connect working endpoints.
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Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Budget for the exact optics or DACs, any breakout cables, host NICs, fiber or copper plant, rack power and cooling, and spares. Depending on the design, those items can materially increase the total and may cost as much as or more than the switch. The most useful comparison is therefore the cost of a complete, compatible set of links—not the switch price in isolation.
Best Value
- One Switch Made to Expand Network-16× 10/100/1000Mbps RJ45 Ports supporting Auto Negotiation and Auto MDI/MDIX
- Gigabit that Saves Energy-Latest innovative energy-efficient technology greatly expands your network capacity with much less power consumption and helps save money
- Reliable and Quiet-IEEE 802.3X flow control provides reliable data transfer and Fanless design ensures quiet operation
- Plug and Play-Easy setup with no software installation or configuration needed
- Advanced Software Features-Prioritize your traffic and guarantee high quality of video or voice data transmission with Port-based 802.1p/DSCP QoS and IGMP Snooping
- Draw the topology and count the required 400G and breakout links.
- Identify the NIC model and signaling generation at every host or peer.
- Select the precise optic, DAC, AOC or breakout assembly for each connection, including reach and lane mapping.
- Confirm the port mode and compatibility with both endpoints, including software and firmware requirements.
- Price the complete network, then account for power, airflow, rack fit and spare parts.
CRS804 DDQ or CRS812 DDQ?
MikroTik’s switch catalog positions the CRS812 DDQ as a broader platform with a mixture of 50G, 200G and 400G interfaces. The CRS804 DDQ is the more focused choice when four 400G ports are the actual requirement; the CRS812 DDQ may make more sense when endpoints have mixed speeds or more high-speed links are needed. Compare the current port mix, physical fit, power and availability in MikroTik’s switch catalog, rather than choosing by aggregate bandwidth alone.
Verdict
The CRS804 DDQ makes 400GbE unusually approachable at the switch level: it puts four QSFP56-DD ports, redundant power and hot-swappable cooling in a compact chassis with a $1,295 suggested price. That combination is compelling for a small, deliberately designed AI, storage, backhaul or lab fabric.
It is not a complete low-cost 400GbE deployment by itself. The four-port limit, cable and NIC compatibility, RouterOS feature requirements, and the system’s power and cooling needs should shape the buying decision. If the endpoints and cabling are already understood, the CRS804 DDQ is worth considering; if not, price and validate the entire link ecosystem before treating the switch as a bargain.
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Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
