Potentially dopey question regarding ethernet cables

kinger8938

kinger8938

kinger8938

Soldato
Joined
23 Mar 2011
Posts
11,331
Hi all!

I've never really bought new ethernet cables. I just still use ones I've had for years to connect my tv consoles and pc to router

Will I or should I notice any benefit by updating these to modern cables or are they still pretty much of the same standard?

Sorry for my ignorance :D
 
Hyburnate said:
No as long as they're Category 5e or above on the short runs you're doing you'll see no benefit.
Click to expand...

If by short runs, you mean both copper 5e and 6 are rated to identical maximum lengths for gigabit (100m or 328ft) then yes. It’s only when you get to 6a that anything significantly changes, and even then you’re only likely to notice that when you start running 10Gb and beyond (5e is still good to 40-45m which for domestic use shouldn’t be an issue). This all assumes that 5e isn’t garbage CCA and you haven’t terminated it with your teeth/ignored running it next to electrical cables over long distance/bent stupidly etc. most of that you can get away with in a domestic install. I recall one supplier telling me the 5e and 6 from at least one brand was identical in all but the details printed on the sheath and box and the price, it kind of makes sense from a production/scale perspective if you already make high end branded 5e as it allows you to simplify your production, not so much for the cheap stuff.
 
Thanks guys, I assume I have common type so am most likely fine. No issues, just wondered if I missed a trick by not upgrading cables over the years for better speed etc
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom