Do You Know The Speed Of Different Types Of LAN Cables?

Ethernet cables are the default connection for today's home or business networks connectivity. People always want to buy high-speed Ethernet cables to enjoy high-speed network transmission. But do different ethernet cable speeds actually affect your network? Here, we'll discuss the speeds of the most popular Ethernet cable types (Cat5, Cat5e, Cat6, Cat6a, Cat7, and the latest Cat8).

Different categories of Ethernet Cable Speeds

Below is an overview of Ethernet cable speeds for Cat5, Cat5e, Cat6, Cat6a, Cat7 and Cat8.

Cat5 Ethernet cable speed: 10/100Mbps for 100m

Cat5 Ethernet cables are the oldest type of these cables. It can support speeds of 10Mbps or 100Mbps with bandwidths up to 100MHz, the first Fast Ethernet to be able to be introduced. However, with the development of technology, this old-fashioned cable is no longer the accepted standard, and it is difficult to find it in stores today.

Cat5e Ethernet cable speed: 100m 1000Mbps

Cat5e is an enhanced version of Cat5 cable. This Ethernet cable has speeds up to 1000Mbps or "Gigabit" speeds. In theory, it could be ten times faster than Cat5. Additionally, it reduces the crosstalk that occurs between the two wires within the cable. Cat5e Ethernet cables are the most widely used category on the market.

Cat6 Ethernet cable speeds: 100m for 1000Mbps, 55m for 10Gbps

Cat6 is certified to handle gigabit speeds of up to 250MHz of bandwidth. Ideally it can reach speeds of 10Gbps. Cat6 Ethernet cables have some improvements, such as better insulation and thinner wires, providing a higher signal-to-noise ratio. Therefore, it is very suitable for environments with high electromagnetic interference. Note that Cat6 Ethernet cables come in two forms, shielded twisted pair (STP) and unshielded twisted pair (UTP).

Cat6a Ethernet cable speed: 100m 10Gbps

Cat6a Ethernet cables allow 10Gbps data transfer rates with bandwidths up to 500MHz. Its transmission distance can reach 100 meters, which is longer than the 37-55 meters of Cat6 cables. Cat6a is usually available as STP. This cable is ideal for industrial environments, but lacks the flexibility typically required for residential deployments.

Cat7 Ethernet cable speed: 100m 10Gbps

Cat7 Ethernet cable speeds up to 10Gbps and bandwidth up to 600MHz. It consists of shielded, shielded twisted pair wires that completely eliminate alien crosstalk. It is more suitable for data center than home use.

Cat8 Ethernet cable speed: 20m for 40Gbps

Cat8 is capable of supporting bandwidths up to 2000MHz. This Ethernet cable can go up to 25/40Gbps. It is the fastest Ethernet cable, not suitable for office environments, but suitable for connecting equipment in data centers, such as connecting servers to switches.

For better reference, the following table lists the Ethernet cable speeds and bandwidths for these cables.

This article will help you make an informed choice when you choosing network cables for your home and office connectivity.