Review: The Budget-Friendly 400GbE Desktop Switch — MikroTik `CRS804-4DDQ-hRM`

Written by Rohit Kumar | September 3, 2026

We have recently integrated several units of the MikroTik CRS804-4DDQ-hRM into our infrastructure. Specifically, one unit has been powering the RDMA network backend for our 8x NVIDIA GB10 cluster for several months, while another is supporting an NVIDIA GB300 Station cluster utilizing DR4 optics.

MikroTik CRS804 DDQ-Two Untis Front 1

The Value Proposition: Breaking Down the Cost

The standout feature of this device is the sheer amount of bandwidth provided for the price. With four 400GbE QSFP56-DD ports, the switch delivers a massive 1.6Tbps of total switching capacity.

Pricing Analysis

While the MSRP is listed at $1,295**, the actual street price often hovers around **$ 1,100. When you analyze the cost per Gigabit, the value becomes apparent:

$\text{Cost per Gbps} = \frac{\$1,100}{1,600 \text{ Gbps}} \approx \$0.6875/\text{Gbps}$

To put this in perspective, consider a standard 8-port 1GbE switch:

1GbE Switch: $\approx \$ 5.50$ per Gbps
MikroTik CRS804: $\approx \$ 0.70$ per Gbps

Verdict: While $1,100 is a significant upfront investment, it is ~~expensive~~ incredibly affordable when measured by bandwidth density.

Metric	Detail
List Price	$1,295
Street Price	~$1,100
Total Bandwidth	1.6 Tbps
Price/Gbps	< $0.70

Hardware Deep Dive

Physical Dimensions and Form Factor

The CRS804-4DDQ-hRM is a half-width chassis.

Width: 218mm
Depth: 387mm

Note: If you are using a small lab setup designed for half-width gear, be mindful of the depth, as it may be more cumbersome to fit than expected.

MikroTik CRS804 DDQ-Front 2

Port Configuration & Connectivity

The primary draw is the high-speed array. However, it is critical to use the correct cabling and optics.

Port Specifications:

4x QSFP56-DD Ports: These provide the 400GbE connectivity.
Breakout Capability: These ports are flexible; for instance, a 400GbE port can be split into 2x 200GbE QSFP56 ports.

Compatibility Warning: It is important to distinguish these ports from other high-speed standards:

NOT QSFP112 (found in NVIDIA GB300 stations).
NOT OSFP (found in NVIDIA Spectrum-X or ConnectX-8/9 cards).
REQUIRED: You must use QSFP56-DD DACs or optics.

MikroTik CRS804 DDQ-400G QSFP56-DD Ports 1

Management and Auxiliary I/O

Beyond the high-speed data plane, the switch includes several management tools:

Management Ethernet: Two 10Gbase-T ports. Crucially, these connect directly to the management processor, bypassing the main switch chip.
Console Access: A dedicated serial console port for CLI management.
Hardware Reset: A physical reset button located on the front panel.

MikroTik CRS804 DDQ-10G Ethernet Ports 1 MikroTik CRS804 DDQ-Console Port 1