Ethernet Cable
- Thread starter SamSpade
- Start date
Tilted
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As you probably understand, it depends on what you typically do with your home network.
That said, if you're referring to Cat 5 and not Cat 5e, I'd say that it could matter. But I doubt that it would matter if you're comparing Cat 5e and Cat 6.
For most home use, I think the difference between Cat 5e and Cat 5 is more important (for now) than the difference between Cat 6 and Cat 5e. Particular Cat 5 cables can be capable of the same kinds of speeds as Cat 5e over shorter distances, but their specs are such that they won't necessarily be. And at this point we move enough data that the difference could matter.
If someone is running new cables (or buying new cables to connect devices to each other or to wall jacks), I'd recommend that they get Cat 6. In the future it might matter to have that instead of Cat 5e. But if someone already has Cat 5e installed, and they aren't experiencing problems that they think are caused by it, then for most people I wouldn't recommend that they go to the trouble or expense to change.
Keep in mind that the way we typically measure file sizes is different from the way we typically measure speeds. The former is usually in megabytes, the latter is often in megabits (per second). A theoretical speed of 100 Mbps (which the Cat 5 spec provides) means moving 12.5 MBs per second - maybe a couple of mp3s each second or five minutes for an HD movie.
Last edited:
Chris0nllyn
Well-Known Member
What speeds do you plan on having in your home network?
Chances are, Cat6 will be more than enough.
Chances are, Cat6 will be more than enough.
glhs837
Power with Control
I have three 50 foot runs of Cat5E running all sorts of stuff, boy usually streaming music or has a video while he plays League of Legends, I can be doing Battlefront or HD Netflix in the living room, and the boy might have a buddy over plugged into the guest 50 footer. No slowdowns or issues. And that's with the wife running netflix off of wifi. Oh, forgot the sister in law is wired into the network in the basement also.
Tilted
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Cat 5e should be plenty good enough then. Even if you were running 4 Netflix streams at the same time (through a single Cat 5e cable), you probably wouldn't have a problem. Your internet service (or other equipment) would more likely be a cause of any slowness you experienced.
