[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
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