Cat5 vs. Cat5e Ethernet Cables – Which one will be a better fit for you?

Both of these cables have been around for quite some time, and they are more commonly used in home settings for connections and internet transmission. But which one would be a better investment for you?

The Cat5 cable entered the market many years ago. It is now considered old technology and has been declared obsolete. For this reason, it has almost been faced out of the Ethernet cable market, and finding it could be a tall order. The Cat5e came as an improvement of the Cat5, and since its arrival, it became almost every home owner’s go-to Ethernet cable. It boasts higher transmission speeds and a better build.

What characteristic set these two cables apart, and would there be any need for you to use an Ethernet cable that is considered obsolete? Here are a few differences between the two cables that will help you decide whether an upgrade is worth the hussle.

Differences between the Cat5 and Cat5e Ethernet Cables

Category	Cat5 Ethernet Cable	Cat5e Ethernet Cable (Winner)
Maximum Transmission Speed	10 / 100 Mbps	1000 Mbps
Maximum Bandwidth	100 MHz	350 MHz/100MHz (Throughput test)
Shielding	Unshielded	Shielded
	Check Price here	Check Price here

The Cat5 vs. Cat5e Cables – What makes them different?

Maximum Transmission Speed

The Cat5 Ethernet cable, as earlier mentioned, is old technology that has become obsolete. For this reason, it has an incredibly low maximum transmission speed of 10/100 Mbps. This cable has no capacity to hasten the speed of transmission, and it only transmits what your router sends.

The Cat5e cable, an upgrade of the Cat5, boasts a much higher transmission speed that extends to 1000 Mbps. However, if the cable extends beyond 100 meters in length, this speed is significantly reduced. This internet speed is ideal for home use, or in a small 1 – 2 person office.

Maximum Bandwidth

The Cat5 Ethernet cable has a bandwidth of 100 MHz. Much as it is an upgrade of the Cat3 Ethernet’s 16 MHz, it is still quite low when compared to other Ethernet cables that are in the market. With the 100 MHz bandwidth, it is impossible to transmit large amounts of data at a time.

The Cat5e Ethernet cable has a bandwidth of between 100 MHZ to 350 MHz, giving it a much higher capacity to transmit lots of data at a time. This broader bandwidth allows this cable to comfortably support Giga Ethernet. Throughput tests have, however, indicated that this cable ranges at an average 100Mhz bandwidth.

Shielding

The Cat5 Ethernet cable uses copper wires to transmit electromagnetic waves. It is usual that the cable has a total of 8 wires. Each of these wires is covered in thin pvc casing that prevents them from coming into direct contact with each other. The direct contact would result in interference and crosstalk. The 8 copper wires are then twisted in twos, but the twisting is not so tight. The entire cable is then covered in pvc casing that is somewhat flexible. The Cat5 cable is not built for heavy crisscrossing and bending, and if it is subjected to this, it will last only a short time.  This cable is more susceptible to crosstalk since the winding of the copper wires is loose.

The Cat5e has a tighter twist in the copper wires. This causes the cable less likely to have crosstalk. Each of the copper cables is covered in thin flexible pvc, just like the Cat5 copper cables. The Cat5 and Cat5e cables are both unshielded cables since they lack an inner foil shield that acts as reinforcement for the twisted pairs of copper wire.

The Cat5 vs. Cat5e Ethernet Cables Overview

The Cat5 Ethernet Cable

This cable has been around for quite some time and it came as an upgrade of the Cat3 Ethernet cable. It is considered old technology and, for this reason, has become obsolete. But some people still use them. This cable is okay to use in a home setting or in an office with 1 or 2 persons.

It has a maximum speed of 10/100 Mbps which is quite low as compared to other Ethernet cables in use today. Its 100MHz bandwidth is quite something, especially because it has the ability to support data usage in the home and small office environments.

Seeing that this cable transmits electromagnetic impulses using copper wires, it is imperative that these wires stay covered to prevent interference. A thin pvc coating is applied on each wire, then the 8 copper wires are twisted in pairs to reduce the chances of crosstalk. This wire can be used in places where there are tight turns and corners as it is quite flexible.

Pros

• It is an affordable cable
• It can support basic home and small office use
• It is flexible enough to install in tight corners

Cons

• It has a low maximum transmission speed

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The Cat5e Ethernet Cable

A much needed and effective upgrade to the Cat5 Ethernet Cable, the Cat5e gives better speeds and a broader bandwidth, making it ideal to support Gigabyte speeds. It works effectively in home and small office settings, and has become quite popular for this reason.

According to some manufacturers, it has a broader bandwidth of up to 350 MHz (although some throughput tests indicate that the maximum is 100 MHz), making it ideal to transmit large amounts of data across devices within a short time. It happens to have a stronger build than the Cat5, with its copper wire twisted tighter. The increased tightness lessens the chances of interference that could cause crosstalk. Unlike the Cat6 Ethernet cable, the Cat5e does not have a spline for extra support. However, this becomes an advantage that allows for more flexibility. It can be installed in rooms that have sharp turns without snapping.

It is more expensive than the Cat5, but this is to be expected as a result of faster transmission speeds and broader bandwidth.

Pros

• It has a higher maximum transmission speed than the Cat5
• It has a broader bandwidth
• It has tighter twisting in the copper wires for crosstalk reduction
• It can be installed in sharp corners

Cons

• It is more expensive than the Cat5

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Conclusion

The Cat5 Ethernet cable has been around for quite some time, and even though it is still in use, it has become obsolete. The Cat5e has a better build, faster transmission speed and broader bandwidth.

Verdict: So, which one is better – Cat5 or Cat5e?

The Cat5e is definitely a much better cable for the simple fact that it is faster and has a wider bandwidth. For this reason, you would be better off replacing your Cat5 cable which has become obsolete with this one.

FAQs

1. Is the Cat5e backward compatible with the Cat5 Ethernet Cable?

Yes, all cables from the Cat5 onwards are backward compatible. This means that you can connect them seamlessly to each other.

2. I have a new appliance I would like connected and all I have is a Cat5 cable. Can I use it?

Yes, but you may end up disappointed. Cat5 cables are quite old and the chance that you will experience quality transmission is low. Much as you may want to save on cost, you may have to buy a new cable sooner than later.