What is the difference between different categories of Ethernet cables? (CAT5 / CAT5e / CAT6 / CAT6a

  Different categories of UTP (Unshielded Twisted Pair)?cabling?were created for better performance in certain applications. As a general rule, the higher the category number, the?higher the noise reduction and lower attenuation, and consequently the higher the bandwidth. For example,?CAT6 can handle higher data rates at longer distances than CAT5 can. Newer categories have been added since the original revision to achieve these higher data rates.

  The most widely used cable for Ethernet is CAT5e, which is good for most gigabit Ethernet applications. StarTech.com offers CAT5e, CAT6, and CAT6a Ethernet cables.

  Any cable type can be used in any application as long as it meets the transfer speeds required for the application.

  The following table compares the UTP cable categories:

  Category

  Typical Application

  Maximum frequency

  Maximum length for application

  CAT5

  10/100 Mbps Ethernet

  100 Mhz

  100 meters for 100BASE-T

  CAT5e

  10/100/Gigabit Ethernet

  100 MHz

  100 meters for 1000BASE-T

  CAT6

  Gigabit Ethernet

  250 MHz

  100 meters for 1000BASE-T

  CAT6a

  10-Gigabit Ethernet

  500 MHz

  100 meters for 10GBASE-T

  Note: The performance of any UTP cable is dependent on the length used and how the cable is terminated.