Cat5e vs. Cat6e Ethernet Cables – Which one suits the office best?

Both the Cat5e and Cat6e are built to handle Gigabyte transmission and would fit right at home in an office setting. But they are different. What sets them apart, and which one is better suited for an office setting?

Whenever setting up internet connection for office use, it is important to have in mind the kind of data traffic that is transmitted on a day to day basis. The market is loaded with a variety of Ethernet cables that can easily be able to handle the job. Having narrowed down the choices to the Cat5e and Cat6e, which one would be most ideal?

The Cat5e Ethernet cable came as an advanced or enhanced version of the Cat5 cable, and it bears a better capacity to transmit Gigabyte data. It is ideal for home and moderate office use. The Cat6e Ethernet cable boasts a strong and durable build, and also fast transmission speeds and broad bandwidth, placing it in a great position to handle all sorts of offices.

So which one of these cables makes for a better office transmitter? Which one should you pick, and why? This article looks into both cables and their features to see which one would be the best.

What are the differences between the Cat5e and Cat6e Ethernet Cables?

Category	Cat5e	Cat6e (Winner)
Shielding	Unshielded	Shielded
Maximum Transmission Speed	1000Mbps	10Gbps
Maximum Bandwidth	100MHz/ 350MHz (Throughput Test)	600MHz
	Check Price Here	Check Price Here

Cat5e vs. Cat6e Ethernet Cables – How do they differ?

Maximum Transmission Speed

The Cat5e cable came as an enhancement of the Cat5 Ethernet cable. It comes with a much higher transmission speed of up to 1000Mbps. This speed makes it amply able to transmit more data over a short period of time. The cable can sustain this speed at a distance of 100 meters, but this speed lessens significantly at distances beyond this.

The Cat6e boasts a much higher maximum transmission speed of 10 Gbps. This places it I a position to handle not just office transmission but also data centers. The cable can be able to sustain this speed at a distance of up to 100 meters.

Maximum Bandwidth

The Cat5e cable seems to have maintained the same 100 MHz bandwidth as its predecessor. This gives the cable a better ability to handle lots of data transfer over a short period of time.

The Cat6e has a maximum bandwidth of 600 MHz, placing it way above the Cat5e in terms of transmission capability. This bandwidth, along with the transmission speed, allows this cable to fit right at home in data centers.

Shielding

The shielding of a cable is quite important as it ensures the integrity of the cable. Ethernet cables essentially transmit electromagnetic impulses, and for this reason, they have copper wires in their centers. This wires must never come into contact and are therefore covered in thin pvc casing. The wires are usually 8, and after being encased in the pvc, they are twisted in twos, ending up with 4 pairs. The reason for the twisting is to reduce the chances of crosstalk and to enhance the structure of the cable.

In the Cat5e cable, the twisting is not too tight. This cable is considered unshielded since there is no foil casing around the copper wires pairs. The outer cover of the cable consists a pvc jacket ha is considerably flexible. It is not very durable and may not be able to handle heavy crisscrossing.

The Cat6e cable is considered shielded since it has a foil over around the four pairs of copper wire. This foil helps to reduce the chances of crosstalk and to also enhance the structure of the cable. This cable also has a spline running through its whole length. It is a pvc feature that ensures low crosstalk, if any, and also a strong build.

Cat5e vs. Ca6e Ethernet Cable Overview

Cat5e Ethernet Cable

This cable essentially came as an improvement to the Cat5 cable. It has a higher maximum transmission speed of 1000Mbps, which is quite an upgrade to the Cat5’s 10/100Mbps. This cable is able to work well in a home and medium size office setting. It also has a 100MHz bandwidth that helps it in its transmission.

The cable is not shielded. It has pvc casing around the 4 pairs of twisted copper wire. This pvc casing acts as the outer jacket that protects the wires from damage. It also makes the cable quite flexible and easy to install in corners and sharp turns. It however, remains unable to handle heavy crisscrossing in offices that have many cables running in the same places.

Pros

• It is an affordable cable
• It can support medium office use
• It is quite flexible and can be installed in tight corners

Cons

• It is prone to quick damage in places with heavy cable crisscrossing

View Price on Amazon

Cat6e Ethernet Cable

What you might not know about this cable is that the TIA does not recognize it as an actual cable. However, manufacturers have taken up its specs and are producing cables that are labeled Cat6e.

This cable comes with a maximum transmission speed of 10Gbps. It is able to sustain this speed for a distance of up to 100 meters. This speed, combined with its 600MHz bandwidth, makes it able to handle massive data transmission over incredibly short periods of time.

It has an incredible build and is shielded. There is a foil shield between the 4 copper wire cables and the outer jacket. This foil makes it more structurally sound and also significantly reduces the chances of crosstalk. This cable also has a spline that helps to keep the copper wires from causing interference and also helps to maintain the structure of the cable. This spline, however, makes it difficult to bend the cable.

Pros

• It has a high maximum transmission speed
• It has a broad bandwidth
• It is shielded
• It has a spline that makes it stronger

Cons

• The spline makes it hard to bend, making it difficult to install in sharp bends and corners

View Price on Amazon

Conclusion

Both of the Cat5e and Cat6e Ethernet cables are well suited for office use. They both have good transmission speed for this work. The Cat5e, however, has a really low bandwidth, putting it at a slight disadvantage. It is also not shielded, making it a weaker cable.

Verdict: So, which one is better – The Cat5e or Cat6e?

Even though the Cat6e is not officially recognized by the TIA, it would be the best fit for an office setting. It combines fast transmission speeds, a broad bandwidth and a strong build, making it able to handle huge amounts of data within a short time and also quite durable. It has no qualms being in an environment of heavy crisscrossing.

FAQs      

1. Some manufacturers have indicated that the Cat5e has a bandwidth that stretches to 350 MHz. Is this accurate?

The standard Cat5e bandwidth is 100 MHz. However, different manufacturers give varying information. The cable has been subjected to throughput tests that indicate that some Cat5e cables have bandwidths that stretch to 350 MHz.

2. How is the Cat6e different from the Cat6a?

They have the same transmission speed but the Cat6a has a 500MHz bandwidth.