But since the release of Cat6, that’s changed.
Cat6 is now considered the minimum standard for networking, and for good reason.
Here’s what’s different between Cat5 vs. Cat6 for wired networking.
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Overall Findings
Cheaper.
Supports 100 Mbps Ethernet at up to 100 meters.
Built to lower manufacturer specifications.
Rarely sold with shielding.
Cables without shielding can be thinner and more flexible.
Supports 1,000 Mbps up to 100 meters, and 10,000 Mbps up to 55 m.
Backwards compatible with Cat5.
Thicker cables can be harder to route.
Cat5 and Cat6Ethernet cablesaren’t entirely distinct.
They both utilize theRJ45 headerto connect to devices and networking hardware and are built using twisted copper pairs.
They both transfer data at high speed across networks at low latency.
However, the raw capabilities of Cat5 and Cat6 cables are quite distinct.
Cat6 cables can transfer more data much more quickly than Cat5 cables.
Performance: Cat6 Is Faster and Better Made
Considerably slower than most Wi-Fi standards.
Can’t support internet speeds faster than 100 Mb.
Maximum speeds supported by a wider range of networking hardware.
Supports even the fastest internet connections.
There’s no real comparison between Cat5 and Cat6 Ethernet cables when considering raw performance.
However, faster networks are increasingly common today, and 100 Mbps is considerably slower than even olderWi-Fi standards.
Lack of shielding makes cables lighter, easier to install, and cheaper.
Lower manufacturer specifications make cables themselves more susceptible to EMI and crosstalk.
Options for foil wrapping, metal braids, and splines.
Shielding and thicker wire gauge can make cables thicker and harder to route through tight spaces.
Higher build quality makes cables better protected against EMI.
Futureproofing: Cat6 Is the Minimum Standard
Outdated performance.
Much less convenient than Wi-Fi.
Works with newer Ethernet standards.
Supports performance well in excess of what most people need.
Is backwards compatible with Cat5 and other older Ethernet standards.
Cat5 is old and outdated and has limited shielding options.
