What Is The Difference Between Cat5e And Cat6 Ethernet Cables?

Ethernet cables promise a wired Internet connection, unbreakable, un-hackable, and fast and efficient. Looking at different types of Ethernet cables though and eventually you run into the difference between Cat5e and Cat6. Both feature exceptional bandwidth speed and noise reduction, however, either or is appropriate for very specific scenarios.

Benefits Of A Cat5e Cable

Future-proof your networking with a Cat5e cable. First introduced in 1999, Cat5e is still used to this day.

At the time of its release, it increased Internet speeds up to 10 times over compared to Cat5 cables. It delivered a more efficient performance, usually with 24-gauge twisted pair wires, supporting gigabit Ethernet for up to 100 metres. An all-around excellent Ethernet cable.

Like Cat6, Cat5e cables use copper, typically twisted four over per cable.

Benefits Of A Cat6 Cable

A Cat6 cable was considered an upgrade over Cat5e in a lot of ways, first released in the early 2000s.

Cat6 Ethernet cables are backwards-compatible with Cat5, Cat5e, and Cat3 standards. Cat6 supports gigabit Ethernet for up to 100 metres but also has the ability to maintain 10-gigabit Ethernet albeit over a very limited distance.

If you decide to tap into 10-gigabit connections, expect the distance to drop to 50-55 metres.

Cat5e or Cat6, Which Is Better?

Both Cat5e and Cat6 are similar in the speed the cable can deliver which is 1,000 Mbps. Most connections are under 500 Mbsp. Having a Cat5e cable is no faster than Cat6.

There is a difference though in the bandwidth. Cat6 supports frequencies up to 250 MHz. Cat5e supports frequencies up to 100 MHz. A Cat6 cable can process more data simultaneously, handling more traffic.

If you are trying to choose an Ethernet cable for a home office, work-from-home space, or a commercial office, something like a Cat5e 24AWG UTP Solid Bulk Cable is an excellent and recommended buy.

Why we’d opt for a Cat5e cable over a Cat6 is simple. Cat6 is often priced higher than Cat5e, unnecessarily so as well when most properties’ networks wouldn’t ever exceed the limitations of Cat5e. While it can seem like a nice thought to invest in a more premium, longer-lasting Ethernet cable, unless you’re running a very big office where there is hardware, infrastructure, and performance that justifies a Cat6 cable, going with a Cat5e cable will knock off a few bucks and show no difference in overall Internet performance.

Buying Ethernet cable for you, have a close look at the difference between Cat5e and Cat6. Choose Ethernet over WiFi for faster, more reliable Internet and buy your cables at PrimeCables.ca today.

The Benefits Of A Cat6 Ethernet Cable – Read here!

Cat6 Ethernet cables are the ultimate resource for high-quality reliable Internet. Connect an Ethernet cable to your device and rest assured, there will be no WiFi signal drops, no security exposures, and no issues with speed.

Cat6 Ethernet network cables are available in different colors, different lengths, and varying quantities. Are you thinking about upgrading to Ethernet from WiFi or setting up a new Ethernet cable connection – check out our guide below. These are some of the benefits to choosing a Cat6 cable over WiFi.

Available In Different Lengths

Ethernet is sometimes put down as a disadvantage because the connection requires a wire. Distance isn’t an issue though. Ethernet cables exist that are as short as 12 inches as well as Ethernet cables that are up to 100 feet in length.

Maximize Internet Performance

WiFi can be interfered with in several ways as the signal is wireless. With an Ethernet cable, it’s wired. It’s a totally closed connection which means that nothing’s going to interfere with you getting maximum speeds at all times. See download speeds up to 10 Gb/s.

Reliable Internet That Doesn’t Go Down

In some houses, on different floors or in the basement, internet could be spotty. Ethernet will eliminate that issue. A signal is spotty when it can’t travel well. So long as you’re connected by cable, there’s nothing stopping you from getting a consistent internet signal 100% of the time.

Cat6 Cables Are The Commercial Standard

In new buildings requiring wired modems and wired internet, Cat6 cables are what’s used. Renovating old buildings, Cat5e cables are removed and Cat6 cables are put in. They have been the leading standard in Ethernet for nearly the past decade.

More Bandwidth, Higher Data Transfer

If you live somewhere that hasn’t been built in the last 5-10 years, chances are the building’s equipped with Cat5e cabling. Here are the specs you need to know about when it comes to comparing Cat5e and Cat6 Ethernet cables.

– Cat 5e has a bandwidth of 100 MHz and a maximum data rate of 1 Gbps.
– Cat6 has a bandwidth of 250 MHz and a maximum data rate of 10 Gbps.

They’re Affordable

Price-to-performance ratio, Cat6 Ethernet cables are the best. They’re a major step above Cat5e and aren’t as expensive as Cat7 Ethernet or more advanced cabling. Cat6 Ethernet is a go-to inside data centres, hospitals, and universities, and has been for quite some time. Affordability understandably has a lot to do with that.

PrimeCables We Make Stronger Cables

Tap into the benefits of Ethernet and Cat6 cables. Shop Ethernet network cables and more at PrimeCables.ca.

For Cheaper Cat 6 Ethernet Cables in Canada, visit Prime Cables

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Prime Cables has a wide selection of affordable, cheap Cat 6 Ethernet cables on sale today. Please feel encouraged to browse our selection here. For Canadian homes who are still using Cat 5 or Cat 5e cables and who are looking to upgrade, now is time. There are many advantages to using Cat 6 cables for your Ethernet home network. Here are just a few of them!

 

Double your Available Bandwidth

The average data transfer of a Cat 6 cable is more than double the average for a Cat 5 cable. In an Ethernet cable, with a Cat 6 cable, this can range as high as 10,000 megabits/second.

Better Safety Margins

Bandwidth limitations or related issues with the Cat 5 cables have been eliminated with the design of the Cat 6 cable.

Cat 6 Cables are compatible with Cat 5 Cables

As it pertains to these types of upgrades, many people worry about compatibility issues on their Ethernet networks. There’s no need to worry with Cat 6 cables as they have been designed to be backwards-compatible with Cat 5 cables.

 

With Cat 6, you’re looking to the future

By installing Cat 6 cables today, you are preventing yourself from having to update the entire network within a decade. Whether this is a home or business network, there will come a time in the future when your system begins to lag or where there become issues with a Cat 5 cable setup, if not already. Transitioning to a Cat 6 infrastructure may be costly down the line so if you have the opportunity to install that same infrastructure today, do it.

Cheap Ethernet Cat 6 cables have never been easier to find than at Prime Cables. As technology evolves, changes, and adapts, we have always prided ourselves on being on the cutting edge.

As data capacity continues to push out its limitations and with more processing power than ever before, take advantage of Cat 6 cable technology here. Many experts have predicted that data production will have increased by 44 times in 2020 compared to towards the beginning of the decade. The type and amount of data in your network is constantly growing. The cable you use plays a huge role in being able to meet and exceed these data requests. For a dependable Cat 6 cable that you know is not going to drop out when things get heavy, visit Prime Cables.