Difference Between Cat 6 And Cat 5 Ethernet

Here we look at the difference between cat5 cat6 and cat7 kinds of ethernet cables.

Difference between cat 6 and cat 5 ethernet. You ll still find cat 5 cables in use but you should avoid them altogether. Cat5e and cat6 cables are both backwards. For each cable cat stands for category. They can plug in to the same ports.

Technically both ethernet cable cat 5e and cat 6 twisted with a different colour of pair cables that used to copper. Cat 3 and cat 5. Both cat 3 and cat 5 ethernet cables are at this point obsolete. Although the spline is not required in cat 5 cable some manufacturers include it anyway so cat5 or cat6.

It s theoretical top speed is 10 gbps over 100 meters. As a means of future proofing your network cat6 is generally a better choice and worth the small premium in price. Many cat 6 cables also include a nylon spline which helps eliminate crosstalk says how to geek. Cat 6 was developed with advancement in technology and the need to transfer more data at faster speeds.

Bandwidth of cat5 and cat6 while both are standardized twisted pair cables that use copper wires for the ethernet both differ dramatically in transmission performance. Cat5 is a twisted pair cable that is used in structured cabling for ethernet. Cat 5e which are compatible backward with cat 5 supported installations but maintains the bandwidth at 100 mhz. Cat6 cables also called category 6 or cat 6 cables provide lower crosstalk a higher signal to noise ratio and are suitable for 10gbase t 10 gigabit ethernet while cat5e cables support only up to 1000base t gigabit ethernet.

Cat 5e has been defined by the tia eia 568 b and is recognized by the same. The differences between each of these cables are in their capabilities as well as the methods and materials used to create them. It has almost been abandoned by the market now. Both the cable utilizes for the same end port piece that commonly known as rj 45.

Similarities between cat5 vs cat6 cables it is worth noting that both cat5 vs cat6 cables utilize the same end piece i e. While cat 6 consists of four pairs of twisted copper wire just like cat 5 cable it can handle twice the bandwidth. It is the oldest and the slowest of all cables. The cost is about 20 35 higher than cat6 but the maximum cable length is 100 meters across all systems and conditions for gigabit ethernet.

Difference between cat5 and cat6. Cat6 is an upgraded version of cat5 cables. Cat 6 contains an extra component that prevents crosstalk between the pairs of wire. When it comes to cat5 and cat6 ethernet cables there s no right or wrong choice.

The main difference between the two is total bandwidth available on the cable.