Which is best cat5e or cat6

You are not alone. They appear exactly alike in many ways and have similar performance specifications just to add to the confusion. Is Cat5e still useful in ?!? Check it out on our website!

Link in bio : Cat5e ethernetcable networking cableguy. Check out our Cat6 cable on our website! Link in bio : Cat6 Cat5e ethernetcable networking cableguy. This is a tough question because both are used in many of the same applications. There are a few general guidelines I recommend to help you with your decision:. On longer runs the primary take-away here is that Cat6 is simply the better built of the two cables, but Cat5e will get the job done in an adequate fashion.

Think of it like this: Cat6 is the rockstar, where Cat5e is the local high school band. Both can make music, but the rockstar really nails it.

So, there you have it. If this was a confusing topic for you, hopefully it is no longer. While the information on this website is about data networking and electrical issues, it is not professional advice and any reliance on such material is at your own risk.

Shop All Ethernet Cable. Shop All RJ45 Connectors. Shop All Keystone Jacks. Shop All Tools. Shop All Cable Management. Shop All Coaxial Cable. Cat 6 is cable that's more reliable at higher speeds than Cat 5 or Cat 5e. They look pretty much the same; in fact, Cat 6 is backward compatible with Cat 4, so you can mix and match. But they're labeled differently and they're different on the inside--where it counts. Until recently, most home routers supported speeds of 10 or megabits per second.

However, Gigabit Ethernet routers have become more common. All three cables can work with Gigabit Ethernet. The old-fashioned Cat 5 cable is no longer a recognized standard, but it technically supports gigabit speeds--just not well. Cat 5e cable is enhanced to reduce interference so that it can reliably deliver gigabit speeds. However, Gigabit Ethernet still pushes the cable to its limits.

Cat 6 cable is full-on certified to handle Gigabit speeds--it's meant to handle it and it does it the best. It's also suitable for any Gigabit uses that may come along someday; although at that point, you're pushing the limits of Cat 6. And let's not get into Cat 7 and it's fairyland of Gigabit speeds. Cat 6 cable also has more stringent specifications for crosstalk and system noise than Cat 5e does. 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. But Cat6 is entirely backwards compatible. So even if you can't get the full speed of Cat6, you can still use the cables. They'll just run at a slower rate. They will still enjoy the improved shielding, though.

So, if you're wondering which to buy, Cat5e vs. Cat6, Cat6 is the better choice , especially if you want to future proof your network. Cable Matters carries cables built to both standards in various lengths, colors, and styles for every need — from simple connections between home routers and computers, to long-length cables for offices and data centers. Before setting up your 2. Read on to learn more. What is Cat7 Ethernet?

It is a performance rating of Ethernet cable that is largely abandoned by the industry. Read on to learn more about how to avoid mislabeled cables. With a millisecond of lag often meaning life or death in the gaming world, you may be wondering what are the best Ethernet cables for gaming? Turns out not all Ethernet cables are created equal. Cancel reply to comment. This website uses cookies to ensure you get the best experience on our website.