2020 MBP and Ethernet

[danb1979]

I’m wondering whether to forgo Ethernet when I get my new 2020 MBP and stick with 5G WiFi; or stick with Ethernet and get the necessary USB-C hub to accommodate this


My 2018 MBP was connected to Ethernet via a hub; my 2018 Mac Mini was also connected directly to Ethernet etc. But the Virgin Media SuperHub is literally sat on my desk; so it’s not as if my MBP will struggle for signal and TBH it’ll be one less cable too!


Do you favour an Ethernet connection or more than happy with WiFi? I won’t be doing masses of uploading/downloading etc; it’s all standard usage


Cheers

 

[deeddawg]

What advantage do you feel hardwired ethernet will provide for you vs. wifi?

That's really gonna be the determining factor. Some types of usage benefit from hardwired connection - such working with files on a NAS -- and other types of usage it won't make any perceivable real world difference.

Thus my question - it'd help folks provide guidance relevant to your specific usage.

 

[danb1979]

What advantage do you feel hardwired ethernet will provide for you vs. wifi?

That's really gonna be the determining factor. Some types of usage benefit from hardwired connection - such working with files on a NAS -- and other types of usage it won't make any perceivable real world difference.

Thus my question - it'd help folks provide guidance relevant to your specific usage.

I think just overall reliability of the connection; as in no drop outs etc

As said; I’m so used to be connected via Ethernet it’s force of habit, so looking into.sticking to WiFi only for a change

 

[deeddawg]

I think just overall reliability of the connection; as in no drop outs etc

As said; I’m so used to be connected via Ethernet it’s force of habit, so looking into.sticking to WiFi only for a change

I've had my primary router in the same room as my main desk usage mac for years and never felt a need to hardwire the connection.

My suggestion is give it a go as is and then move to wired if you find you have an issue.

 

[jerryk]

I find Ethernet better and faster for certain tasks like Time Machine backups to my NAS. I get much higher speeds with Ethernet.

But in day to day usage, Wifi is fine. We a have a 1 Gbps connection and see about 600-700 Mpbs with Wifi.

 

[deeddawg]

I find Ethernet better and faster for certain tasks like Time Machine backups to my NAS. I get much higher speeds with Ethernet.

Exactly -- hardwired tends to have lower latency and thus very "chatty" activities will be notably faster -- such as NAS writes and reads.

And if you're docking, say with a thunderbolt dock, then there's not an extra wire to connect / disconnect.

Still -- my router's on the other side of my home office and it's just not mattered enuf to me to run cat6 up the wall at my desk into the attic, over, and back down. Still a one-of-these-days project...

 

[jerryk]

Exactly -- hardwired tends to have lower latency and thus very "chatty" activities will be notably faster -- such as NAS writes and reads.

And if you're docking, say with a thunderbolt dock, then there's not an extra wire to connect / disconnect.

Still -- my router's on the other side of my home office and it's just not mattered enuf to me to run cat6 up the wall at my desk into the attic, over, and back down. Still a one-of-these-days project...

I have a lot of one-of-these-days projects. One of mine was to have Ethernet where every I wanted. Throughout the house, in my garage,etc. I finally got most of it done earlier this year. So even though the Wifi Access Point is 15 feet away, I still use Ethernet and dongle on the MBP for Time Machine.

 

[danb1979]

Thanks folks


My TM is just a 2TB external USB3 HDD, so no Ethernet needs for that

Will stick with WiFi for now and see how I get on