But, choosing the right one can have a massive impact on your internet speeds. Cat5 and Cat6 cables both connect your computer or server to a modem. For many years, most people used a Cat5 cable to connect to the internet. This type of cable is made up of four twisted pairs of copper wire. You probably have a few Cat5 cables in your office. Recently, however, new technology has replaced the Cat5 cable.
Cat5E cables, for example, provide you with faster speeds. A Cat6 cable is similar to a Cat5 ethernet cable — it consists of four pairs of twisted copper wire. However, it provides you with much more functionality. A Cat6 cable has a bandwidth capacity of MHz, for example, and it offers you speeds of up to 10 Gbps. The type of cable you choose depends on how frequently you use the internet in your business. If you want faster internet speeds, Cat6 is a good choice. As the newer of the two standards, it's perhaps no surprise that Cat6 cables typically offer better insulation for their internal wires, as well as enhanced performance.
Cat5e improved its shielding over the older Cat5 standard, but Cat6 must adhere to stricter standards for crosstalk and external noise mitigation than Cat5e. Cat6 cables achieve greater performance standards in a few different ways. The most common is the use of a "spline. It also has the added benefit of making Cat6 cables more durable and prevents stretching. That can make them more rigid, though, so Cat6 cables with splines aren't necessarily the best for the tightest of turns.
Some Cat6 cables use individual shielding of the internal wires, and a shield or foil around the entire wire itself. These differing techniques are sometimes used individually, and sometimes in conjunction, for greater and lesser shielding. This is typically denoted by the name or acronym applied to the cable, so look for the "S" in its name if shielding is important to you. When it comes to Cat5e vs. Cat6, the newer Cat6 standard offers better internal interference mitigation across the board, but some cables are better than others.
For maximum performance, look out for Cat6 cables with splines and shielding included, often meeting Cat6a standards. Whether you're setting up a home network, replacing old cables, or looking to enhance your workplace LAN, Cat6 cables offer more. They can support faster data transfers, are typically more durable, and they offer better options for insulation against crosstalk and internal noise.
The Cat5e vs. Cat6 debate is one that's easily won by Cat6 if you focus entirely on features. That said, not all networks can support the higher speed of Cat6 cables. If your devices don't support 10Gb networking, using a Cat 6 cable won't be any faster than Cat5e. Your router needs to support it too, to take full advantage, so make sure that your network is up to scratch if you want the full Cat6 experience. Most of the top 20 best selling ethernet cables on Amazon are Cat6.
Cat5e cables are not popular any more and Cat6a do not seem to have caught on yet. There is an argument to be made that it is not worth it to invest in higher performance cables like Cat6 or Cat6a considering that the hardware on the network— modems and routers —may not be Cat6a-ready yet, i. But hardware gets upgraded over time; it is much easier to upgrade modems and routers than it is to lay in new cabling.
The price difference between Cat6 and Cat5e is not that high and it is usually a good idea to spring for the better quality cable. Share this comparison:. If you read this far, you should follow us:.
Diffen LLC, n. Cat5e vs. For Gigabit Ethernet, 55 meters max, with 33 meters in high crosstalk conditions. Potentially more interference than CAT6.
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