[Q] What is the difference between CAT 6 and CAT 5e cable?
[A] Currently there is a great deal of confusion among Ethernet
cable buyers concerning whether to purchase Cat5e, or to use
Cat6. Most of this confusion comes from a misunderstanding by
the buyer that buying Cat6 cable will give them an "all gigabit"
network. This is not the case. Unless every single component
in the network is gigabit rated, then you will never have a
gigabit network, because your network will always run at the
speed of your slowest device. Cat5e cable of good quality can
run near or at gigabit speeds, it just cannot be "certified"
for this use. By comparison, Cat6 is designed especially for
gigabit use, and is certified to operate at said speed. It becomes
a matter of whether or not you want to pay all that extra money,
for little or no noticeable improvement in the performance of
you network. In most cases, it makes more sense to go with Cat5e.
It is for this reason that most of your new installations in
the private sector are going with Cat5e. It is more economical,
performs well, and is readily available in many colors. Many
IT professionals when asked about why they specified Cat6 for
a specific job, often responded stated that they "wanted the
best they could get." This is the line of thought behind many
purchases of cable. The average consumer often times is not
aware that there is no real benefit to them to use Cat6, so
they let someone talk them in to buying it. CAT 5 Cable Company
is committed to helping people make good decisions about cable
purchases and we are always standing by to help you.
RELATED
FAQ QUESTION: What
is the difference between CAT 5 and CAT 5e Cable?
Keywords:
CAT 5, CAT 6 Cable, Cat 5e Cable
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