Does an Ethernet cable affect internet speed?

If you have a business or home network, you likely have an Ethernet cable strung around somewhere. These cables provide a physical connection to various connected devices, allowing them access to the internet. However, does an Ethernet cable affect internet speed?

Whether in a home or business setup, having an unreliable or slow internet connection is frustrating. Even though the industry moves to a new age of wireless technology, wired connections are still essential in providing stable internet connections at high speeds.

There are different types of Ethernet cables available on the market. Whether directly or indirectly, these cables affect the performance of your internet speed. Let us look at each individual cable and see how their performance affects your internet speed.

Cable standard	Maximum transmission speed (100m)	Maximum frequency
Cat5	10/100Mbps	100MHz
Cat5e	1000Mbps/1Gbps	100MHz
Cat6	1000Mbps/1Gbps	250MHz
Cat6a	10,000Mbps/10Gbps	500MHz
Cat7	10,000Mbps/10Gbps	600MHz
Cat7a	10,000Mbps/10Gbps	1000MHz

Types of ethernet cables and how they affect speed

Cat5 cables

As the oldest functional cable standard, Cat5 cables support either 10Mbps/100Mbps throughput speed at a maximum bandwidth of 100MHz. It consists of two pairs of unshielded twisted pair wires as it was the first Fast Ethernet introduced on the market.

As a result, it contains old-fashioned concepts that are no longer in use with today’s technology. If paired with today’s newer technology, you will not enjoy the full value of high internet speeds, as most home networks have a minimum rate of 1Gigabyte.

Cat5e

Being an enhanced version of Cat5 cables, Cat5e offers a maximum transmission speed of 1000Mbps throughout its 100-meter range, meaning that it is theoretically ten times faster than the ordinary Cat5 cables. However, both cables have an optimum frequency of 100MHz.

Cat5e cables feature reduced crosstalk and noise interference between its twisted-pair cables. They use four twisted-pair wires that allow them to carry more data than that specified in its rating.  It is also the most affordable and most popularly used cable on the market.Cat6 Cables

Certified to support Gigabyte performance at a frequency of up to 250 MHz, Cat6 cables offer a maximum data transmission speed of 10Gbps in ideal circumstances. These cables also come with advanced features such as better insulation for the inside wires, and overall thinner wires that aid in allowing a higher signal-noise ratio. As a result, you can use these cables in areas with high electromagnetic fields comfortably as they come in two forms; unshielded twisted pair (UTP) and shielded twisted pair (STP).

However, it is vital to note that Cat6 cables offer 10Gbps performance speeds up to 55 meters, while the rest of the range up to 100 meters enjoys 1Gbps. They are also quite flexible, making them ideal for installing around tight corners in any home.

Cat6a cables

Cat6a Ethernet cables support 10Gbps of data transmission at a maximum bandwidth of 500MHz through the entire distance of 100 meters. These cables are available in the shielded form, meaning they completely eradicate crosstalk and noise interference, allowing the signal to go further without dissipation. Due to their shielding feature, these cables are less flexible than Cat6 cables, making them more ideal for industrial applications than home use.

Cat7 cables

Cat7 Ethernet cables are the fastest cables available on the market. Their data transfer speeds can reach up to 10Gbps at a much higher bandwidth than Cat6a cables of 600 MHz. These cables also consist of shielded and screened twisted pair wires that help in eradicating Alien Crosstalk (AXT). As a result, Cat7 cables are more popularly used in data centers than in home networks.

Cat7a cables

Although they are not widely used, Cat7a cables offer the highest speed and frequency specification available. These cables support data transfer rates of 10,000Mbps at a maximum bandwidth of 1000MHz. Their unpopularity is attributed to their niche application and high price tag.

What is the primary difference between Ethernet cables?

From the discussion above, each cable standard comes with its rating specifications. You may also have noticed that as the category number of the cable increases, so does its maximum transfer speed and frequency. Each cable standard undergoes a rigorous series of tests to ensure it is more advanced and has substantially less crosstalk than its predecessor. Manufacturers also ascertain that they add insulation to improve the durability and reliability of the cables.

Similarly, the primary physical difference of these Ethernet cables is their unique construction and isolation levels that allow faster speeds while eradicating interference. For instance, Cat6a, Cat7, and Cat7a use screened and shielded twisted pairs made from aluminum foil to reduce crosstalk while Cat5 and Cat5e cables are unshielded. As a result, Cat6a, Cat7, and Cat7a have better performance compared to their predecessors.

Conclusion

Depending on the intended application of Ethernet cables, they all offer unique and reliable features for stable internet connections. If you are looking for a cable for home use, Cat5e and Cat6 cables are ideal options. However, if you are looking for cables for areas with high requirements for transmission speeds, like data centers, the faster the performance of an Ethernet cable, the better.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is my Ethernet so slow?

Most Ethernet cables are slow because of hardware failure or your router’s settings. Check your Network Adapter settings or disable Large Send Offload (LSO) on your LAN network.

Can a bad Ethernet cable slow down internet speed?

Whether you kick it or set a book down on its part, it is easy to end up with a bad cable as it causes several problems, including lagging.