Why is cat6 better than cat5

But hardware gets upgraded over time; it is much easier to upgrade hardware than to lay in new cables. The price difference between CAT5e and CAT6 is not high and it is usually a good idea to opt for the better quality cable, thus preparing the network infrastructure and performance for the near future. The facts show that an inferior cabling system can cause up to 70 percent of network downtime even though it usually represents only 5 percent of an initial network investment.

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More information. Shopping Basket Sign in Contact Us. Copper Cable. Find out what we can do for you: » Solutions » Black Box Explains. All three cables can work with Gigabit Ethernet. The old-fashioned Cat 5 cable is no longer a recognized standard, but it technically supports gigabit speeds--just not well. Cat 5e cable is enhanced to reduce interference so that it can reliably deliver gigabit speeds.

However, Gigabit Ethernet still pushes the cable to its limits. Cat 6 cable is full-on certified to handle Gigabit speeds--it's meant to handle it and it does it the best.

It's also suitable for any Gigabit uses that may come along someday; although at that point, you're pushing the limits of Cat 6. And let's not get into Cat 7 and it's fairyland of Gigabit speeds. Cat 6 cable also has more stringent specifications for crosstalk and system noise than Cat 5e does. That means you'll get fewer errors on a system operating via Cat 6. Cat 6 isn't all roses though. Some folks think Cat 6 is harder to install. Cat 6 conductors are twisted more tightly, and there's more insulation.

So if you need to cut cables you need to go a little more slowly. They are the more appropriate choice for video streaming and multitasking because they are capable of handling the faster download speeds and heavier data load that is required for such tasks. Longer ethernet cables are usually going to have slower transmission speeds compared to shorter cables and may have more interference as well. Regardless of the distance restriction on their speed, Cat6 cables are still more capable of handling the fast pace of Gigabit Ethernet networks, and unquestionably worth the few extra dollars.

If you want a speedier and smoother user experience, Cat6 is the more reliable option for you. Are you still using a computer from ? Probably not. It would be a true task to work on a computer that has been around for a quarter of a century. These devices become obsolete because the newer equipment and software have been further developed and are far more superior. So why would you still be using an ethernet cable from ?

Cat5 cables are becoming increasingly outdated and getting phased out all the time because of this. Overall, Cat6 is going to outperform Cat5 and its variants in the majority of situations. Its faster speed capabilities and proficiency to muffle or silence crosstalk make this Category far more exceptional than its outdated network cable forerunners. All of the aforementioned is plenty supportive evidence as to why Cat6 is the optimal choice compared to Cat5. Cat6 cables are going to be the answer to your network needs.

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