Gigabit Lite - What Is It and Should You Enable or Disable It?

A screenshot of the Realtek PCIe GBE Family Controller properties window, showing the advanced settings tab with Gigabit Lite highlighted and set to "Disabled."

A screenshot of the Realtek PCIe GBE Family Controller properties window, showing the advanced settings tab with Gigabit Lite highlighted and set to "Disabled."

If youā€™ve stumbled upon the Gigabit Lite option in your Ethernet adapterā€™s advanced settings and are wondering what it is and whether you should enable or disable it, youā€™re not alone. With no information online about it, it can be hard to understand.

In this article, we will demystify Gigabit Lite, explaining its purpose, how it impacts your network performance, and offering guidance on whether you should enable or disable it based on your specific needs.

What Is Gigabit Lite?

Gigabit Lite or Giga Lite is an energy-efficient Ethernet (EEE) technology that reduces power consumption when connected to Gigabit Ethernet networks by allowing your network adapter to operate at a lower speed.

When Gigabit Lite is enabled, the maximum speed of your Ethernet connection is reduced from the standard 1 Gbps to 500 Mbps, in order to reduce power consumption. It typically operates within a speed range of 100 Mbps to 500 Mbps.

Gigabit Lite is particularly useful for devices like laptops or other portable devices that rely on battery power, as it helps extend battery life when high network performance is not required. This feature optimizes power efficiency.

Should You Enable or Disable Gigabit Lite?

The decision to enable or disable Gigabit Lite depends on the device you are using and the task you are performing.

If you are doing a task that requires high-speed internet, then you should disable Gigabit Lite, as it limits the maximum speed of your Ethernet connection. On the other hand, if you are concerned about power consumption, you should enable it.

For most users, it is better to keep it disabled, as high-speed internet is often more important than power consumption. However, if you are someone who needs to maximize battery life on your laptop or other battery-powered device, you should keep it enabled.

That wraps up everything about Gigabit Lite or Giga Lite. We hope you found our guide helpful. Before you go, we recommend checking out our top picks for the best gaming routers.ā€‹

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