Ubiquiti USW-24-POE vs Allied Telesis AT-x530L-28GPX-901: Specification Comparison
Both the Ubiquiti USW-24-POE and the Allied Telesis AT-x530L-28GPX-901 are 1U rack-mount managed switches with 24 Gigabit PoE copper ports, making them directly comparable options for IP security camera deployments and general PoE edge distribution. The comparison centers on PoE power budget, switching performance, uplink flexibility, and physical power envelope — the three axes that most govern which unit fits a given installation.
In This Guide
- Which switch delivers more PoE power, and can it handle high-draw devices like PTZ cameras or multi-sensor units?
- Which switch has the higher throughput, lower latency, and better uplink options for aggregating camera traffic to an NVR or core switch?
- How do the two switches compare on power consumption, heat output, physical size, and operating environment suitability?
- Which should you choose: the USW-24-POE or the AT-x530L-28GPX-901?
- Side-by-Side Specs
- FAQ
Which switch delivers more PoE power, and can it handle high-draw devices like PTZ cameras or multi-sensor units?
The AT-x530L-28GPX-901 provides a 740W total PoE budget across all 24 ports, supporting IEEE 802.3af (7.5W and 15.4W) and IEEE 802.3at PoE+ (30W per port) simultaneously on every port. That equates to a theoretical average of ~30.8W per port under a fully-loaded PoE+ scenario.
The USW-24-POE offers a 95W total PoE budget shared across all 24 ports. At full population, that constrains average per-port draw to roughly 3.96W — sufficient for low-power fixed cameras but insufficient for PTZ cameras, multi-imager heads, or any device pulling more than ~8–10W without careful load planning. The USW-24-POE spec does not document per-port PoE class support (af/at/bt) beyond the aggregate 95W figure.
For deployments mixing high-draw PoE+ devices, the AT-x530L-28GPX-901's 740W budget is nearly 7.8× larger. Buyers powering 24 fixed cameras at 12–13W each (a common figure for compact bullet and dome cameras) would exhaust the USW-24-POE budget at roughly seven simultaneous devices; the Allied Telesis unit handles all 24 at that draw level with margin to spare.
Which switch has the higher throughput, lower latency, and better uplink options for aggregating camera traffic to an NVR or core switch?
The AT-x530L-28GPX-901 specifies a 128 Gbps switching fabric and 95.2 Mpps forwarding rate, with measured latency of 3.98µs at 1 Gbps and 1.63µs at 10 Gbps. It also includes 4× SFP+ (1/10 Gigabit) uplink ports and 2 stacking ports, enabling multi-switch stacking and 10G uplinks to an aggregation layer.
The USW-24-POE specifies a 52 Gbps switching capacity with 26 Gbps non-blocking throughput and a 39 Mpps forwarding rate. No latency figure is provided in the supplied spec set. The USW-24-POE spec does not document dedicated SFP+ uplink ports or stacking capability.
For high-density camera deployments where all 24 cameras stream simultaneously to a central NVR, the AT-x530L-28GPX-901's 128 Gbps fabric (2.46× larger) and 10G SFP+ uplinks materially reduce the risk of uplink congestion. The USW-24-POE's 52 Gbps fabric is adequate for lighter 1G camera loads but lacks documented 10G uplink or stacking options, limiting scalability in multi-switch topologies.
How do the two switches compare on power consumption, heat output, physical size, and operating environment suitability?
The USW-24-POE draws 25W at baseline (excluding PoE output) from a 120W internal power supply rated 100–240V AC. Total system power (switch + PoE) is bounded by the 120W supply. Operating temperature is –5°C to 40°C. Chassis is SGCC steel; weight is 3.0 kg (6.6 lb) without brackets. Dimensions are 442 × 200 × 44 mm — notably shallower than the Allied Telesis unit.
The AT-x530L-28GPX-901 lists a maximum power consumption of 890W and maximum heat dissipation of 3,037 BTU/h, reflecting its 740W PoE capability. Noise is rated at 42 dBA. Unpackaged weight is 6.2 kg (13.67 lb). Dimensions are 441 × 421 × 44 mm — the 421mm depth is more than twice the USW-24-POE's 200mm depth and requires a deeper rack or cable management space. Operating temperature range is not documented in the provided spec set for the AT-x530L-28GPX-901.
The USW-24-POE is NDAA compliant and carries CE, FCC, IC, and Anatel certifications. NDAA and TAA compliance status is not listed in the provided AT-x530L-28GPX-901 spec set. Buyers subject to federal procurement or NDAA Section 889 restrictions should verify Allied Telesis compliance independently before specifying the AT-x530L-28GPX-901.
Which should you choose: the USW-24-POE or the AT-x530L-28GPX-901?
Our take: The AT-x530L-28GPX-901 is the stronger choice when PoE power headroom and switching performance are the primary requirements. Its 740W PoE budget is 7.8× larger than the USW-24-POE's 95W, its 128 Gbps switching fabric is 2.46× wider, and its 95.2 Mpps forwarding rate outpaces the USW-24-POE's 39 Mpps by 2.44×. It also adds four 10G SFP+ uplinks and stacking ports absent from the USW-24-POE spec. Conversely, the USW-24-POE is lighter (3.0 kg vs 6.2 kg), shallower (200 mm vs 421 mm depth), draws far less power at idle, and carries documented NDAA compliance — a hard requirement for federally-funded or government-adjacent installations where the AT-x530L-28GPX-901's compliance status is unconfirmed in the provided specs. Specify the USW-24-POE for small, NDAA-sensitive deployments with low-wattage fixed cameras; specify the AT-x530L-28GPX-901 for mid-to-large deployments running PoE+ devices or requiring 10G uplinks.
Side-by-Side Comparison
Spec-for-spec, from manufacturer data.
| Specification | Ubiquiti USW-24-POE | Allied Telesis AT-x530L-28GPX-901 |
|---|---|---|
| Device Type | Managed PoE Switch | Managed PoE+ Switch |
| Form Factor | 1U Rack Mount | 1U Rack Mount |
| PoE Copper Ports | 24 × 1G | 24 × 1G |
| Uplink Ports | Not specified in provided specs | 4 × SFP+ (1G/10G) |
| Stacking Ports | Not specified in provided specs | 2 (noted with asterisk) |
| Total PoE Budget | 95W | 740W |
| Max PoE per Port (at) | Not specified in provided specs | 30W (PoE+) |
| Switching Fabric | 52 Gbps | 128 Gbps |
| Non-Blocking Throughput | 26 Gbps | Not separately specified |
| Forwarding Rate | 39 Mpps | 95.2 Mpps |
| Latency (1 Gbps) | Not specified in provided specs | 3.98 µs |
| Max Power Consumption | 120W (PSU rating, excl. PoE output stated 25W) | 890W |
| Dimensions (W × D × H) | 442 × 200 × 44 mm | 441 × 421 × 44 mm |
| Weight (unpackaged) | 3.0 kg (6.6 lb) | 6.2 kg (13.67 lb) |
| Operating Temperature | –5°C to 40°C | Not specified in provided specs |
| NDAA Compliant | Yes | Not specified in provided specs |
Frequently Asked Questions
Which should you choose: the USW-24-POE or the AT-x530L-28GPX-901?
The AT-x530L-28GPX-901 is the stronger choice when PoE power headroom and switching performance are the primary requirements. Its 740W PoE budget is 7.8× larger than the USW-24-POE's 95W, its 128 Gbps switching fabric is 2.46× wider, and its 95.2 Mpps forwarding rate outpaces the USW-24-POE's 39 Mpps by 2.44×. It also adds four 10G SFP+ uplinks and stacking ports absent from the USW-24-POE spec. Conversely, the USW-24-POE is lighter (3.0 kg vs 6.2 kg), shallower (200 mm vs 421 mm depth), draws far less power at idle, and carries documented NDAA compliance — a hard requirement for federally-funded or government-adjacent installations where the AT-x530L-28GPX-901's compliance status is unconfirmed in the provided specs. Specify the USW-24-POE for small, NDAA-sensitive deployments with low-wattage fixed cameras; specify the AT-x530L-28GPX-901 for mid-to-large deployments running PoE+ devices or requiring 10G uplinks.
Is the USW-24-POE or AT-x530L-28GPX-901 better for larger deployments with many high-draw cameras?
The AT-x530L-28GPX-901 is significantly better suited for larger or higher-draw deployments. Its 740W PoE budget supports all 24 ports at full PoE+ (30W) simultaneously, whereas the USW-24-POE's 95W shared budget limits average per-port draw to under 4W across all 24 ports. For any site mixing PTZ cameras, multi-sensor units, or other high-draw PoE+ devices, the USW-24-POE's budget will be exhausted quickly without careful load planning.
Does either switch support 10G uplinks for connecting to a core switch or NVR with a 10G NIC?
Yes — the AT-x530L-28GPX-901 includes 4× SFP+ ports supporting 1G and 10G uplinks, plus 2 stacking ports per its spec sheet. The USW-24-POE spec set does not document any SFP+ or 10G uplink ports, nor stacking capability. If 10G uplinks or multi-switch stacking are required, only the AT-x530L-28GPX-901 addresses those needs based on the provided specifications.
Which switch is NDAA compliant for government or federally-funded security projects?
The USW-24-POE is documented as NDAA compliant in the provided specifications. The AT-x530L-28GPX-901 spec set does not include an NDAA or TAA compliance statement. Buyers with federal procurement requirements or NDAA Section 889 obligations should treat the AT-x530L-28GPX-901's compliance status as unconfirmed and verify directly with Allied Telesis before specifying it on government or government-adjacent projects.
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