What network cable should you buy? - Overview of Ethernet cables (cat 5e vs cat 6 vs cat 8)

People often go onto Amazon when they need a new ethernet cable and simply purchase the highest rated cable that there is, currently CAT8, however that is completely unnecessary as there is currently not a device on the market that can use CAT8. Currently there are really just three types of ethernet cable that you should look at: CAT 5e, CAT6 and CAT6A and the choice between them is simple:
Do you need 1GbE: CAT 5e
Do you need 10GbE less than 55m: CAT6
Do you need 10GbE greater than 55m: CAT6A.

CAT 7 really does not have a use case what so ever and CAT8 will be able to run the 40GbE standard when it does come out.

#CAT8 #CAT6 #10GbE #Networking #HomeLab

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[bneyens]

I have been the lead product designer for 3 different low voltage cable companies over the past 20 years. Cat 8 is nice because it can handle the 40GB fiber speeds, but is backwards compatible with legacy equipment. So it handles the past and the future. If you are prewiring a house, this is a nice feature. It also supports POE, which fiber doesn’t. Also, I would have recommended a shielded cable for long runs as the cable is going to intersect high voltage lines and can interact with various lighting types.

[jacobp]

Considering how much work it takes to run the cables and the moderate price for the cables, even the price for cat 7 or cat 8 isnt much in my opinion, then I would anytime take the highest standard available. -If not for anything else, then to avoid changing the cables in 10-15 years!

[ghammer]

For those who got excited when he popped up "high interference environments" on the lower third when talking about CAT8: CAT6 and CAT6A come in the STP (shielded twisted pairs) flavor. While the shielding will still offer a little more of a nuisance if you're terminating your own cables, it should be considerably easier and less costly than CAT8, while maintaining compatibility with your existing ports.

[huy]

if you're just running ethernet cable for LAN, then you should use Cat6a. 6a is probably okay for most PoE devices too. However, if you're like me, and plan on making 4 - 8 runs to each room, then you'll most likely have a mixture of different categories of ethernet cabling. I'm running 10Gb LAN with redundancy to each room in my home. Half of the rooms will also be getting two runs of Cat8 double-shielded because I'm going to be running 4k/120 with HDCP and eARC support over ethernet. Cat6a won't/can't (in my experience) support more than 1080p/30. You stated and made a case for using fiber instead, however that doesn't work for my application as I'm not stripping all my walls down to the studs. For new construction, I would agree with the assessment of using fiber instead. You also mention that "Cat8 is difficult to work with" (like hard to punch down, etc) — you might be using the wrong tools and the wrong terminations. Cat8 typically will not work with cat6 terminations as the wires are normally a larger gauge. IE: I have grounded field termination keystones and RJ45 connectors for my Cat8 cable because the cat6 ones just won't work with the thicker wires.

[antonip]

Cannot agree with this video. For the tiny little difference in price, just go for cat8. Much more future proof!

[Dr.LaserBeam]

Well, that problem with CAT8 lies typically not with the cable, but the connectors. They also have to pass the very stringent shielding requirements. So initially they developed some type of new connector for CAT 7, but that was not adopted by the market at all - to CAT8 will be similar to RJ45 again. In 99% of the home applications CAT6a should be enough. We run CAT8 with special connectors from Dätwyler at our lab, but it is for some very specific Matrix KVM system, pretty expensive.

[RoyalLion]

Yeah 100% I agree with some of these comments but also agree with points made in the video. If you are going for a new home install I would just do cat8 so you are future proofing the house even if it's 10- 20 years that'll be a very nice thing to have instead of having to rewire the house later. I'm having to rewire things now and it's a total P.I.T.A!!! Also it's crazy how fast time flies! If you just need a cable right now to connect a device to like a router or whatever I would say cat8 is overkill 100%. I also agree with liking the POE option over fibre as this is great for security cameras etc.

[valeenoi]

I have a small home network, basically everything wired under my giant desk, plus the wiring POE to my AC.
I updated everything to CAT8 two years ago for about $250 (exposed by hidden, nothing in the walls). These cables need an alligator jaw to twist and turn. If I only knew...
But my entire network is now future proofed for the next 15 years.

[cleantones]

Was thankful to be able to add CAT6a to my condo a few years ago. Managed to go from basement to 1st (4ports), 2nd (2ports), and 3rd floor (4ports) because I was doing some soundproofing work.

[Galileocrafter]

One other thing, you have to differentiate between patch cabling and structural cabling (no idea if that term is correct, you use it for permanent runs). The CAT 6A and 5E cable you have shown is patch cabling therefore quite flexible, any structural cabling will be stiff, even CAT 5E cabling. And if the CAT 6A one has stranded wire, it might be patch cabling too, just with a bit more shielding than the CAT 6. Structural cabling usually has solid conductors that's also a part of why it's stiffer than patch cabling.

[gianlucapx]

The differences in those cables are much bigger than one can think and in the end one should buy what better fits his needs, something that can depend from different factors. The type of the shielding, the bandwidth (MHz), the distance to cover, the number of the machines connected, the internet speed provided by the ISP, if someone is running a server, if the cables have to pass inside the walls, if the person is planning to stay in that house for many years to come or for few years, etc. Everyone is different and has different needs.
So, people have to inform themselves and think carefully what is best suited for their needs, now and in the long term.
Cat 6A and Cat 8 may be rigid and difficult to pass through walls, but that's not a problem: the tubing where they have to pass can be large enough and with the help of some lubricant you will do it.
The bandwidth is the speed at which the data is pushed inside the cable: the higher it is, the earlier it will reach destination. This can translate in less latency and in a more stable connection. So, for example, the cable that connects the modem to the ONT (optical network terminal) is better to be Cat 6A or 8, in my opinion.

[James_Knott]

It's nice to see a presentation about Ethernet cable that doesn't talk nonsense. Incidentally, Gb Ethernet was designed to run up to 100M over plain CAT5 cable and predates 5e. In my condo, I have plain CAT5 and it was installed in the late 90s. I have worked with both CAT5e and CAT6 in my work, and there's not much difference in working with them. I have also installed fibre in data centres.

Bottom line, as you said, 5e is fine for Gb and perhaps higher, though I haven't used it with anything above 1 Gb. But if I was putting in new cabling today, I'd likely go with CAT6.

[Chasing_The_Dream]

The honesty. I don’t really have the work flow for that, I just want to. Not the actual quote, but basically what I tell my wife for every project

[wisteela]

Great guide. I'm using Cat 5e, and Cat 6 for longer runs. All of this in my living room, with the cables just run round.

[Burnman]

Ok, I gotta put some statements in here for everyone that is NOT from the US or Canada:
1. From numerous videos we all know how easy it is to re-cable, your North American wood-framed houses, but that does not apply for the rest of the world that is mainly relying on solid walls. In the old world, you have to plan ahead at least 25-30 years, because it is a huge cost-factor to actually open walls and put new cables into it. The "this will not get you something within the next 10 years"-argument does not cut it, if you are failing to take the next speed-bump in 11 years.
As an example, my father in law renovated his house 20 years ago and put some Cat.7 cables which was the hot new stuff 20 years ago, but never used them. Now that I'm actually putting a proper network into his home this means we do not have to open the walls in an entire floor and just top-up some rooms and as he wants 10g, it would have been depressing if he fell for a "this will do the job" argument and had installed 5e instead. It ALWAYS makes sense to go for an up-to-date cable for the time which you will profit from later on.
2. You should not use patch cables for a demonstration that is about installation cables with solid cores. Also, you should have mentioned the difference between the shielded and unshielded versions.
3. Here in central Europe, Cat.7 was and is the industry standard for quite some time, and the private sector pretty much adapted that. The reason is, that the cost difference is minimal, but you can pretty much skip the next cabling job, which makes you come out cheaper in the end. Also, the argument about "but the connectors for Cat.7 are so much more expensive" does not count, as you can exchange just the ones you need for high speeds later on and you have an upgraded connection without having to do any re-cabling at all.
4. The argument about shielding "that sometimes does more harm than it helps" (your comment) is yet to be explained. Shielding does nothing if you don't connect it, it just makes the cable stiffer, which is bad for the cabling comfort, but good to protect the cables from kinking. If you connect the shielding properly to ground, it ALWAYS helps. There is simply no scenario where shielding makes things worse.
5. "The cables will not fit into your connectors"? What connectors are you guys using? The best cables I typically use is Draka 1500MHz Cat.7a cable. That is AWG22 and pretty much has the same shielding as Cat.8. They are about 1.5x to twice as thick and stiff as your typical Cat.6a/Cat.7 cables, and I NEVER had any problems stamping them in or terminating them with a keystone. Maybe you might run into problems trying to crimp some random RJ45 connectors onto it, but... well... that is bad practice anyway =)

Do I recommend Cat.8? No.
But I definitely don't recommend Cat.6 either.
The difference between between Cat.6a and Cat.7 is minimal, but as they also cost just as much, I always recommend going for Cat.7. They might even be good enough to do very high speeds >10g later on for short runs and are just best practice.
For enthusiasts, I always recommend a good Cat.7a cable that uses AWG22 and is certified for 1500MHz. Not only will these do 40Gb/s without a problem without the additional cost of Cat.8, but they are also ready for all the nice and new PoE standards supporting 60W+ going forward and if not needed for LAN, you can basically use them for anything, even KNX or other bus or direct steering systems.
Just don't ever use unshielded cables. Just... don't... if you ever happen to get your hands on a proper Fluke or other certification tool, you will understand where I'm coming from.

However, I fully agree on the fiber part. If you are enthusiast and you have open walls: Put OM4/OS2 into it. Just leave it there and be happy later on.

[jrzamora]

Just finished upgrading my cat5e to 6a, and you are absolutely correct it is much harder to work with. That being said if you are going to go through the trouble of doing it I figure might as well do it right.

[gulielmi]

I put cat6 solid in my house. It was no more difficult than running any other cable/wire thru the wall. The only issue I ran into was not the cable itself, but fire blocks on the first floor. I have a two story house and every room (including the kitchen and dinning room has ethernet). If you are wiring up your house, get cat6 solid wire. It's easy to run, terminate, and offers great future proofing.

[oppie]

welcome to Huntsville. I've been here for about 4 years now. Moved from Philadelphia. You'll love this town.

[Pozer]

The best and clearest explanation I've found, thank you!

[eastcoastmodz]

I actually use Cat8 in my house. As for the ends I place 'pass-through' keystone jacks into the wall boxes so I don't have to 'punch down' the individual wires. I also use Cat8 because of the shielding. EMI can cause packet loss or sometimes a lot of 'noise' that affects the transmission of data. So for me I prefer Cat8 but Cat6a is a very good standard for most people. Use what your comfortable with. :)