Ethernet Cable Quality.

[Pogolauncher]

So, i am going to be taking up PC gaming soon, I am going to go with a wired connection as most would recommend because of connection but i am stuck on one thing, does the quality of a cable effect the connection?

I understand that length, be it under 100m will not affect the speed or connection but is their speedier cables or are they all the same?

I am thinking of going with this cable (maybe a bit smaller)
http://www.amazon.co.uk/CAT5e-ETHERNET-NETWORK-PATCH-CABLE/dp/B000IAHNRK

Thanks in advance

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Harvey
Senior AnandTech Moderator/Administrator

 

[notposting]

As long as the cable meets the specifications, there won't be any difference. However, you also need the proper kind of cable for the job, and the proper installation of it. Check the stickied thread at the top of the forum for a primer on that.

 

[SecurityTheatre]

Yep, just get a Cat6 cable and you're set for any typical speed up to 10G. But even a Cat5e cable can run 1G network at 100m. Cable quality has no further effect on speed unless it's so awful that it is impeding the signal, at which point it probably won't work at all...

 

[Pogolauncher]

Yep, just get a Cat6 cable and you're set for any typical speed up to 10G. But even a Cat5e cable can run 1G network at 100m. Cable quality has no further effect on speed unless it's so awful that it is impeding the signal, at which point it probably won't work at all...

Thanks for the reply, do you think it is worth it forking out the extra money for a cat6 cable?

 

[brshoemak]

Thanks for the reply, do you think it is worth it forking out the extra money for a cat6 cable?

No. Just get any CAT5E cable that's long enough for your needs.

People will tell you to use CAT6(A) cables for "future-proofing" but there is no point in doing that. We're still a loooong way off to seeing 10Gbps switches and network cards at consumer friendly pricing.

 

[ScottMac]

No. Just get any CAT5E cable that's long enough for your needs.

People will tell you to use CAT6(A) cables for "future-proofing" but there is no point in doing that. We're still a loooong way off to seeing 10Gbps switches and network cards at consumer friendly pricing.

....and you're much more likely (as a novice installer) to install the system within spec. Cat6 & 6a have very tight specs and would be extremely difficult for a novice to do properly. Failure to properly install will result in sub-optimal performance.

Make sure all components are at the same rating (plugs, cable, panels, keystones ...)

 

[Pogolauncher]

....and you're much more likely (as a novice installer) to install the system within spec. Cat6 & 6a have very tight specs and would be extremely difficult for a novice to do properly. Failure to properly install will result in sub-optimal performance.

Make sure all components are at the same rating (plugs, cable, panels, keystones ...)

Okay, thanks for all of the replys, its greatly appreciated

 

[Mushkins]

No. Just get any CAT5E cable that's long enough for your needs.

People will tell you to use CAT6(A) cables for "future-proofing" but there is no point in doing that. We're still a loooong way off to seeing 10Gbps switches and network cards at consumer friendly pricing.

Ignore this guy, while he's right about people going overboard with Cat6a, there's literally no reason to buy a Cat5e cable these days.

If you're just buying a single patch cable to connect your PC to your router, there's no reason not to buy a Cat6 cable (not Cat6a, just Cat6) because the price difference is literally pennies. If you do plan on doing a whole house wired install through walls and all that, *absolutely* go with Cat6, as the cost difference is going to still be negligible, but you don't want to have to pull out Cat5e from the walls and replace it when 10GigE to the home becomes affordable, you just want to buy a new router and be good to go.

Most datacom contractors doing installs wont even consider installing Cat5e anymore unless you specifically demand it (no idea why you would).

 

[John Connor]

If you won't be sharing files over the network or have a NAS, then CAT 6 is a waist of money in my humble opinion. I never use NetBIOS anyways. I block it.

 

[Mushkins]

If you won't be sharing files over the network or have a NAS, then CAT 6 is a waist of money in my humble opinion. I never use NetBIOS anyways. I block it.

Seriously?

www.monoprice.com

A 3ft Cat5e cable is $0.78. A 3 ft Cat6e cable is $1.03. It's literally a quarter for the better cable, assuming you're not buying in bulk for a discount.

 

[ch33zw1z]

Wow, this thread went awry IMO.

Get whatever you can, 5e, 6, or 6a...it will all accomplish your goal.

I have a Cat5e cable that gives me the best speeds by about 100 mbit using iperf to test...why you ask? Well, I cut one open..and it's shielded

edit: the one from amazon.uk will work just fine.

 

[Zargon]

If you won't be sharing files over the network or have a NAS, then CAT 6 is a waist of money in my humble opinion. I never use NetBIOS anyways. I block it.

yes, because GIG one cat5e is slower than GIG on Cat6

 

[IBuyUFO]

Just get the cat6. That cable will still be good to use with new switches 8 years from now.

 

[Red Squirrel]

Seriously?

www.monoprice.com

A 3ft Cat5e cable is $0.78. A 3 ft Cat6e cable is $1.03. It's literally a quarter for the better cable, assuming you're not buying in bulk for a discount.

This.

If you are buying, just go with cat6, there is no reason not to.

If you happen to find a cat5/e cable lying around, then use that, it will also be fine. You can always run iperf on it to test. If this is online gaming, it's not your LAN that will be the bottleneck but your internet. Even for LAN gaming I don't think most games use more than 10mb so technically even a very old style network would probably be fine. Of course it's always nice to have full gig throughout the house, because it's so cheap to do it anyway.

 

[JackMDS]

If you all notice the OP linked to Amazon in the UK. His last post was 4 days ago.

I.e., who knows where he is at, and what are the prices in his neck in the wood.

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