Gigahertz Network - Cat 5e or Cat 6 better?

[Bob Day]

Using latest Windows XP Pro SP3 with all latest updates...

If there is a better forum for this question, please advise.

For my home network, I have 3 computers peer to peer networked via Gigahertz
speed and everthing works fine at that speed. All current cable is Cat 5e
most running short distances, but some running long distances (i.e. 100 feet).

I went to buy a new ethernet cable, and the boxes of the Cat 5e cables said
for a 10/100 network, where as the boxes of the Cat 6 cable said 10/100/1000.
I found this confusing and contrary to my understanding...therein lies the
question.

What is the difference between the two (cat 5e and cat6)? Can you use Cat
5e for a gigahertz network (I am doing that currently) or would you get
better performance with a Cat 6 cable?

Thanks!
Bob

 

[JS]

See: http://www.lanshack.com/cat5e-tutorial.aspx

JS

 

[smlunatick]

Using latest Windows XP Pro SP3 with all latest updates...

If there is a better forum for this question, please advise.

For my home network, I have 3 computers peer to peer networked via Gigahertz
speed and everthing works fine at that speed.  All current cable is Cat5e
most running short distances, but some running long distances (i.e. 100 feet).

I went to buy a new ethernet cable, and the boxes of the Cat 5e cables said
for a 10/100 network, where as the boxes of the Cat 6 cable said 10/100/1000.
 I found this confusing and contrary to my understanding...therein liesthe
question.

What is the difference between the two (cat 5e and cat6)?  Can you use Cat
5e for a gigahertz network (I am doing that currently) or would you get
better performance with a Cat 6 cable?  

Thanks!
Bob

CAT6 cable have better "tolerance" for the network signals. Unless
the wires are in the walls, I would probably only use CAT 6 wires for
a more stable GIGABIT network (1000.)

 

[John McGaw]

Using latest Windows XP Pro SP3 with all latest updates...

If there is a better forum for this question, please advise.

For my home network, I have 3 computers peer to peer networked via Gigahertz
speed and everthing works fine at that speed. All current cable is Cat 5e
most running short distances, but some running long distances (i.e. 100 feet).

I went to buy a new ethernet cable, and the boxes of the Cat 5e cables said
for a 10/100 network, where as the boxes of the Cat 6 cable said 10/100/1000.
I found this confusing and contrary to my understanding...therein lies the
question.

What is the difference between the two (cat 5e and cat6)? Can you use Cat
5e for a gigahertz network (I am doing that currently) or would you get
better performance with a Cat 6 cable?

Thanks!
Bob

For "future proofing" it is always wisest to install the best current
technology and for a new installation I would not hesitate to use CAT6
cable. I'm left with legacy CAT5 cable in my home and find that the gigabit
legs never get above 250mbit throughput. I'm not about to re-wire the house
with everything already buried in the walls and will simply have to live
with it but if I were doing it new I'd definitely bite the bullet on price
and use CAT6.

CAT6 cable has tighter tolerances than previous versions allowing it to
manage higher data rates due to reduced signal reflections and losses -- at
least as long as it is installed and terminated properly. I've not used any
myself but reading the documents it doesn't look as though terminations are
any more tricky than earlier versions. It appears that the biggest
challenge is keeping the strip short and maintaining the twist up to the
connection point.

John McGaw
http://johnmcgaw.com

 

[Twayne]

1. Research it using search engines.
2. You don't mention what it's going to be used for. Simple 10/100
NICs? You might not even need to do anything; use what's there for now.
Yes, if you have 10/100/1000 NICs 6 is better and quite a bit more
expensive. Don't you expect wireless to come of age and negate the wire
questions anyway?
3. Wireless is best IMO; no cables at all except at setup time to get
some things organized well.

Using latest Windows XP Pro SP3 with all latest updates...

If there is a better forum for this question, please advise.

For my home network, I have 3 computers peer to peer networked via
Gigahertz speed and everthing works fine at that speed. All current
cable is Cat 5e most running short distances, but some running long
distances (i.e. 100 feet).

I went to buy a new ethernet cable, and the boxes of the Cat 5e
cables said for a 10/100 network, where as the boxes of the Cat 6
cable said 10/100/1000. I found this confusing and contrary to my
understanding...therein lies the question.

Well, 1,000 mbps is faster than 100 mbps; right? It depends in the NIC
(Network Interface card).
These questions are basic enough I'd recommend you do more research.
You need it in order to understand it fully, but you have enough right
there to make a decision; are you putting the cable in for YOU or for
posterity? Personally, I'd opt to go wireless in your situation; it
wouldn't cost as much different than a roll of 6 wire, in fact.

What is the difference between the two (cat 5e and cat6)? Can you
use Cat 5e for a gigahertz network (I am doing that currently) or
would you get better performance with a Cat 6 cable?

If you really mean GHz, then cat6. 1,000 MHz = 1 GHz, right? Or is
gigahertz simply a name somewhere in the system? Questions only you can
answer.

 

[Timothy Daniels]

[..........]
Well, 1,000 mbps is faster than 100 mbps; right? It depends in the NIC
(Network Interface card).
These questions are basic enough I'd recommend you do more research. You
need it in order to understand it fully, but you have enough right there to
make a decision; are you putting the cable in for YOU or for posterity?
Personally, I'd opt to go wireless in your situation; it wouldn't cost as much
different than a roll of 6 wire, in fact.

A couple reasons to go with cable is if one is worried about security,
and if one has neighboring wireless networks which would cause slow-
downs due to packet collisions. If one observes good cabling techniques,
5e would probably be good enough for 1GHz over distances up to 100',
but few people know good cabling techniques. At one time, Siemon
offerred a hard copy handbook on good cable installation techniques,
but I haven't been able to find it on their extensive website. There some
pointers, though, and there is a lot of information comparing cat 5e and
cat 6 specifications.
Start here: http://www.siemon.com/us/learning.asp
Links galore: http://www.siemon.com/us/standards/
Cat 5e characteristics: http://www.siemon.com/us/standards/5elimits.asp
Cat 6 characteristics: http://www.siemon.com/us/standards/6limits.asp
Cable specs in general:
http://www.siemon.com/us/white_papers/07-03-01-demystifying.asp
Cabling practices:
http://www.siemon.com/us/white_papers/07-03-01-demystifying.asp,
http://www.siemon.com/us/standards/13-26_twisted-pair_cabling_installation_practices.asp
Basically, don't kink it, stretch it, or put dimples in it - be gentle with it,
and it won't change impedance at a point (which induces signal reflections).

*TimDaniels*