Cat5 vs. Cat5e vs. Cat6 Ethernet Cables – Which upgrade is best for home use?

 If you are still stuck with a Cat3 Ethernet cable and wish to upgrade, you have a myriad of options. But given these three, which one would suit your home best?

You will agree with me that a good many of us are good at changing our lives in theory, but doing it in a practical sense becomes a tall order. For this reason, we have found ourselves maintaining stuff that does not work for us anymore.

And so comes in the issue of Ethernet connections. The Cat3 and Cat5 types have become old and obsolete, but they are still in use today. If you have been considering an upgrade, this article here is meant for you.

This article will shed light on the Cat5, Cat5e and Cat6 Ethernet cables, breaking down their characteristics and identifying the most appropriate one for your home upgrade. Read along!

What are the differences between the Cat5, Cat5e and Cat6 Ethernet Cables?

Category	Cat5	Cat5e	Cat6 (Winner)
Shielding	Unshielded	Unshielded	Unshielded/ Shielded
Maximum Transmission Speed	10/100Mbps	1000Mbps	1000Mbps/ 10Gbps
Maximum Bandwidth	100MHz	100MHz	250MHz
	Check Price Here	Check Price Here	Check Price Here

The Cat5, Cat5e and Cat6 Ethernet Cables – How do they compare?

Shielding

All three cables use copper wires, usually 8, to transmit electromagnetic impulses. The cables produce unwanted interference when they come into contact. For this reason, they are covered with thin pvc casing. The wires are then twisted in twos to make 4 pairs. The twisting reduces the occurrence of crosstalk.

In the Cat5 cable, the twisting in the copper wires is not so tight. This makes the cable highly susceptible to interference and subsequent crosstalk. Aside from the pvc casing around the copper wires, the only other cover is an outer pvc jacket that I quite flexible and easy to install, even in tight corners.

The Cat5e has a similar build, the only difference is that the twisting in the copper cables is tighter, making it less prone to interference and crosstalk.

The Cat6 cable has a stronger structure as compared to the other 2. It has a foil cover around the 4 pairs of copper cables, adding structure and lessening the possibility of crosstalk. The cable also has a spline, a pvc feature that runs its entire length. It works to enhance structure and durability of the cable and also keeps the wires from coming into contact.

Transmission Speed

The Cat5 cable is old technology and is considered obsolete. It has a maximum transmission speed of 10/100Mbps which is quite low, especially in this day and age. It still works quite well for home connections.

The Cat5e has a maximum transmission speed of 1000Mbps which is quite the upgrade from the Cat5. It is able to work quite well in home and small office settings.

The Cat6 has a maximum speed of 10Gbp, but only within a distance of 37-55 meters. Anything beyond this length causes the speed to reduce to 1000Mbps.

Maximum Bandwidth

The Cat5 has a maximum bandwidth of 100MHz. This bandwidth seems quite low, but it allows this cable to work just fine.

The Cat5e cable, though an upgrade of the Cat5, maintains the same bandwidth of 100MHz.

The Cat6 cable came as an upgrade of the Cat5e. It has a maximum bandwidth of 250MHz, which is more than twice the Cat5’s bandwidth. This gives it the ability to transfer huge amounts of data within a short time.

The Cat5, Cat5e and Cat6 Ethernet Cable Overview

Cat5 Ethernet Cable

The Cat5 cable came as an upgrade of the Cat3. It is considered old and obsolete technology, but it remains in use. It has a maximum transmission speed of 10/100Mbps. This speed, combined with its 100MHz bandwidth, make it ideal for use at home. It, however, remains quite slow as compared to the others.

It has a simple build that does not include a shield between the copper wire pairs and outer jacket. This makes it quite flexible and allows it to go easily into corners and tight bends.

Pros

• It is easy to bend and install in corners and tight bends
• It can support basic home and office use
• It is quite affordable

Cons

• It is not built for heavy crisscrossing and could easily become damaged

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The Cat5e Ethernet Cable

This cable came as an upgrade for the Cat5 Ethernet cable. While it maintains the same 100MHZbandwidth as its predecessor, it packs a much faster transmission speed. It is able to transmit at a maximum speed of 1000Mbps, but this speed is affected by long distances that exceed 100 meters.

It also has a simple build, and has no shield between the twisted copper wires and the outer jacket. It is also quite flexible, making it easy to install into corners and tight turns. It may not be able to handle heavy crisscrossing. The twisting in the copper wires is tighter, making it less susceptible to crisscrossing.

Pros

• It has a higher maximum transmission speed than its predecessors
• It has tighter twisting in its copper wires
• It can handle faster data transfer within a shorter time

Cons

• It is more expensive than the Cat5

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The Cat6 Ethernet Cable

This cable is an upgrade of the Cat5e and it brings a lot of improvements to the table. For starters, it boasts as transmission speed of up to 10Gbps, which is quite fast. However, when the distance exceeds 100 meters, this speed declines to 1000Mbps. It has a bandwidth that stretches to 250Mhz which supports its capacity to transfer massive amounts of data within a short time.

This cable boasts a much stronger build. It has a shield between its copper wire pairs and the outer jacket which adds strength and stability. Aside from this, it has a spline that runs through the entire cable that works to support the structure of the cable and prevent the occurrence of crosstalk.

Pros

• It has a higher transmission speed than the Cat5 and Cat5e cables
• It has a broader bandwidth
• It is more structurally sound
• It has a spline that makes it stronger

Cons

• It is more expensive
• The spline makes it hard to bend

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Conclusion

These three cables are able to sustain home use without many qualms. The Cat5 is, however, old technology and has become obsolete. The Cat5e and Cat6 are fast and able to handle home and office use.

Verdict: So, Which one is best for home use – Cat5, Cat5e or Cat6?

The Cat6 is the most ideal cable for home use. It has a high transmission speed, a broad bandwidth and a strong build. The whole idea of an upgrade is to improve what you have, and the Cat6 will improve your experience entirely.

FAQs

1. What does the ‘e’ in Cat5e stand for?

The Cat5e cable came as an improved version of the Cat5, and the ‘e’ mean ‘enhanced’, indicating that this cable is the enhanced Cat5.

2. Can the Cat6 cable be used in a data center?

Unfortunately not. The cable does not have the capacity to fit and deliver in a data center.