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CAT 5e Cable performance benefits

[Q] Are there performance advantages to upgrading to CAT 5e Cable?

[A] Many. The original CAT 5 Cable was designed to operate at speeds up to 100 Megabits Per Second. While this was a good thing, modern computers have advanced data processing capabilities, and the ability to handle heavier data streams has become critical.

The ability to process data at 100 Megabits Per Second will meet the demands of most casual computer users today, even when operating on a large network. There are some instances where a little extra throughput would be useful.

Certain applications, like pushing extremely large files through a network for Computer Aided Drafting purposes, can benefit greatly from increased bandwidth. Online gaming applications such as Counter-Strike, will operate much more smoothly given a larger bandwidth signal to work with.

CAT 5e Cable brings with it many advantages over CAT 5 Cable. First, it was designed with a improved twist ratio of the pairs that reduces the degree of cross-talk (interference) between the pairs. Also, even though it was intended for 100 megabit transmission speeds, it was discovered that a high quality CAT 5e Cable would actually operate at or near 1000 Megabits Per second (or 1 Gigabit). This obviously opens up a whole range of new possibilities for the use of this type of networking cable.

If you are considering CAT 5 Cable for your networking project, take a close look at CAT 5e. You will find it is easier to get, and will operate as effectively as the much higher priced CAT 6 Cable. Get the best possible performance out of your network.

The following represents some brief vital statistics for the three cable types that we have mentioned in this discussion:

Cat5 - A twisted pair cable (typically 4 pairs) designed to operate at speeds up to 100 Megabits Per Second.

Cat 5e - A twisted pair cable, with improvements to the transmission speed and twist ratio of the pairs. Designed for less cross talk between pairs, and allows transmission speeds up to 1 Gigabit Per Second. In order to achieve Gigabit Ethernet, this would be the minimum standard cable to use. Cat 5e cable is the choice for almost all new installations, including the use of patch and crossover cables. Because a good quality Cat 5e will operate at the same speed as Cat 6, most installers and end users alike are opting not to waste the extra money for Cat 6.

Cat 6 - A twisted pair cable, almost identical to Cat 5e. Specifically designed for Gigabit Ethernet. This cable is basically just a higher standard Cat 5e cable that will consistently deliver 1 Gigabit Ethernet. The other major difference in this cable is the plug. Even though it is still an RJ45 connection, (like cat 5 and cat 5e) the RJ45 plugs used in the construction of Cat 6 cables are slightly different from those used in Cat 5 or cat 5e. Many of the plugs have the pairs offset at any angle, as opposed to the Cat 5 and Cat 5e plugs that have all 8 wires side-by-side in the plug. No concern to the end user whatsoever. This is more of an observation to those who terminate these cables.

CAT 5 Cable Company provides CAT 5 and CAT 5e patch and crossover cables for all networking applications in 9 colors, and any custom length. Hand assembled and 100% tested to ensure the finest quality.

RELATED FAQ QUESTION: What is the difference between CAT 5 and CAT 5e cable?

Keywords: Cat 5, Cat 5e, Cat 6, Ethernet cable, patch cable, crossover cable



CAT 5 Patch Cable :: CAT 5 Crossover Cable :: Cat 5e Patch Cable :: CAT 5e Crossover Cable
CAT 6 Patch Cable :: CAT 6 Crossover Cable :: Shipping :: About Us :: Contact Us :: Help :: Home