Cable Modem Gigabit

[Kristin Banyas]

Chancesare, your cable internet provider charges you a hefty modem-rental fee every month, a price that can increase on an annual basis. But if you buy your own modem, it should pay for itself in the first year or two of ownership, even if you also have to buy a wireless router too, and the two devices together should give you speedy internet for years to come.

If your ISP allows you to use your own modem, the Arris SURFboard S33 is the best of the DOCSIS 3.1 modems widely available right now, thanks to its 2.5 Gigabit Ethernet (GbE) port, relatively low price, and two-year warranty. You need a DOCSIS 3.1 modem to guarantee gigabit speeds from most cable ISPs, and the S33 should work with any current plan, from a 100-megabits-per-second budget plan to a 2-gigabit top-tier plan.

Before joining Wirecutter as a senior staff writer, Joel Santo Domingo tested and wrote about PCs, networking devices, and personal tech at PCMag and PC Magazine for more than 17 years. Prior to writing for a living, Joel was an IT tech and system administrator for small, medium, and large companies.

In previous versions of this guide, our picks were DOCSIS 3.0 modems, which could handle plans offering speeds up to about 800 Mbps. In 2024, we recommend buying a DOCSIS 3.1 modem for a new installation, as such modems are more likely to have technical support going forward.

It should be compatible for years. These days ISPs are either recommending or categorically requiring DOCSIS 3.1 modems for both upgraded and new accounts. Though older, DOCSIS 3.0 modems are still compatible with some ISPs currently, that is not guaranteed for the future, not even for two to five years from now.

Our former top pick and upgrade pick were both manufactured by Minim, a licensee of the Motorola brand. Minim has stopped selling new modems and has transferred its current inventory to Motorola. While these modems may still be available in refurbished or used condition, we strongly recommend that you not purchase Motorola-branded modems at this time. Though Motorola modems currently in use should continue to work, firmware upgrades may not be available in the future. If you currently own a Motorola modem, consider replacing it in the next year or two, or if your ISP advises that it will stop support for Motorola modems, whichever comes first.

DOCSIS 4.0 modems with 10 Gigabit Ethernet (10 GbE) ports are on the horizon. Our top pick features a 2.5 Gigabit Ethernet port, and some cable-modem customers can order 2 Gbps service today, but there is always the desire for faster speeds among early adopters and some home offices.

Like our pick, the Arris SURFboard S33, the Netgear Nighthawk CM2000 has a 2.5 GbE port, which can connect to Wi-Fi 6, Wi-Fi 6E, and Wi-Fi 7 routers that support the 2.5 GbE standard. The CM2000 shows promise, but it is priced too high in comparison with the Arris S33. This model also has a shorter, one-year warranty, and Netgear charges for tech support beyond the first 90 days of ownership.

Overall, Netgear CM2050V is a top-shelf DOCSIS 3.1 2.5G modem to fare well with your gigabit and multi-gigabit plans. Its voice connectivity and robust performance should glide you through the high-bandwidth tasks without much fuss.

ARRIS SB8200 is one of the top-rated DOCSIS 3.1 cable modems in the retail space. It makes a lot of sense if you want a reliable device that provides consistent throughput. It replaces the Intel Puma 6-powered SB6190 and brings significant improvements and reliable performance.

While there are quite a few reasons to get it, DOCSIS 3.0 fallback makes it more relevant. The 32 x 8 channel bonding support and the max speed limit of 1 Gbps ensure compatibility with major ISPs offering relevant internet packages.

I paired it with TP-Link Archer AX90, a powerful WiFi 6 router on the Cox Gigablast plan. Every time I ran a speed test, the results were similar. My iPad was clocking 928 Mbps in download and 39 Mbps in upload. These are impressive.

And unlike my previous pick, this modem works well with multiple internet service providers, including Xfinity, Cox, Spectrum, Mediacom, WOW, Midco, and Sparklight. So, if you switch the ISP in the future, SB8200 has got your back.

ARRIS SB8200 is quite a powerful modem to pair with Gigabit connections. If you are into gaming, streaming, or other intensive activities, just go for it. The right balance between specs, performance, and price makes SB8200 my runner-up pick.

Motorola MB8600 is one of the better options for gaming, courtesy of AQM (Active Queue Management) and DOCSIS 3.1 support. And if you want an upgrade over the existing MB7621, this one seems like the perfect Gigabit modem to invest in.

This is where things get a bit low for the MB8600. Motorola makes room only for one Gig ethernet port. However, like SB8200, it supports Link Aggregation and is meant to boost the throughput, provided the ISP shells out multiple IPs.

Therefore, with the MB8600 in play and the ISP upgrading speeds, you can make sure that the wireless setup easily reaches close to gigabit speeds. Plus, it even has IPv6 support for better network prioritization.

While standalone modems work better, certain users can benefit from a 2-in-1 device that makes things easy. ARRIS G34 is one such gigabit-capable modem/router combo that includes both a high-end modem and a Wi-Fi 6 router.

SURFboard G34 is the perfect combo device for use with Gigabit internet, as once purchased, you do not have to account for the compromised speeds exhibited by the router. Instead, the modem side of the G34 accepts the coaxial cable, and the router end transmits the highest possible wireless speeds, regardless of the band.

This 2-in-1 combo sports four Gig Ethernet ports that can be used to connect directly with some of the more bandwidth-intensive home devices. And the link aggregation support allows you to maximize the wired throughput significantly.

All in all, ARRIS SURFboard G34 is a great value buy for those who need easy-to-set-up and manage internet equipment. If you want to learn more, you may check out the full review or comparison with G36.

Netgear CM1100 is one of the most efficient modems, boasting powerful hardware and top-shelf networking technologies with multi-gig speed claim. And when it comes to the overall package, it is quite an upgrade over the CM1000.

Dropping to the end of my list is a budget-friendly yet dependable modem that you can use with a Gigabit connection. Hitron CODA, although not the most popular manufacturer, managed to secure the rank in my list courtesy of affordability and compatibility with several internet providers.

Connected to WiFi, my Samsung Tab S9, kept at 20 feet, could attain speeds of up to 782 Mbps for downloads and 33 Mbps for uploads. Meanwhile, moving away at 50 feet dropped to 529 Mbps and 22 Mbps, respectively.

The Port setup of Hitron CODA is rather decent, with a coaxial and power port to connect with the router and power. Besides, there are two Ethernet ports with a maximum of 1 Gbps capacity which translates to power-packed performance over the connected devices. But there are no telephone ports for added calling features.

Hitron Coda, coming for just $100, turns out a great modem that establishes a perfect balance of features, performance, and cost. The speeds were good enough to tackle most corporate or household tasks with prowess.

Each of the modems on the list makes quite a good case and caters to a pretty targeted clientele. However, if you are still unsure about picking the best for your home or office, here are some use cases and the relevant picks that help you decide better:

I was just looking for a little bit of guidance on getting the gigabit speeds I pay for from Xfinity.

I'm wondering if the upstream/downstream info the modem is providing seems abdormal? I tried following the guide on signal levels for docsis 3 on pickmymodem.com but still a little lost. Based on the guide it looks like the downstream OFDM channel 2 power is way off would that be correct? Various different speed test methods land me somewhere between 300 - 600 down depending on the time of day.

Screenshots From Modem

I'm using a Amplifi HD router and mesh points for the rest of the network. Hardware NAT is enabled and I've seen the router have gigabit throughput a few times. So I'm asusming it's either something with the modem or the ISP. Any help is greatly appeciated!

I've done all of basic troubleshooting and as I mentioned tried various speed testing methods. It's not anything like that causing the issue. I was a sys admin for years and still work in IT today so the basic stuff I've tried and read plently of post before posting this question. Only stating this so I don't have to wait through ten replies telling me to do the same stuff already mentioned in all of the other similar post on this forum. I've gotten gigabit speeds just a few weeks ago on the exact same setup.

We can't help with general statements of "I've tried it all, so just tell me the problem". We don't know as we didn't do the testing that you did do. If you want to avoid the 10 replies, then provide more info. Answer the questions I did ask and add any extra test that you've already done such as swapping cables, different pc's, having the isp check the line, etc. Help us to help you.

Sorry, I didn't mean for that come off as being short with you or anything. I truly appeciate your help and am coming here because I'm unable to figure this out. Just when reading through some post there was a lot of repeating of the same steps by different people and I just wanted to avoid that from starting. Let me provide more info!

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