Different Ethernet cables

amulsingh01 · Jan 15, 2017

I am planning to run a ethernet cable from my Modem to my PC, but there are so many different types of ethernet cable and I do not know which one to get. What would you guys recommend?

Thank you.

bill001g · Jan 15, 2017

Which ever one you can get cheaper...and maybe which color you like best

Although I have seen some crappy cables at the dollar store pretty much any cable you find should work.

frostedtim · Jan 15, 2017

You will be fine with standard CAT 5e or CAT 6. CAT 7 would be a waste of money for your scenario.

13thmonkey · Jan 15, 2017

just get something cat5e, so that you can get gigabit if your hardware supports it, should be no more expensive than cat5 as they are very common, you do NOT want a cross over cable (but these are very very rare these days)

Chicano · Jan 15, 2017

Any cable will do, but get one that has an protecting extension for the clear plastic lock.. that lock is easy to break off.

There are different priced types so spend more than the regular low price and get the best type you can afford.

The retractable type is practical for cable management.

ghdavis · Jul 14, 2017

amulsingh01 :

ghdavis · Jul 14, 2017

Actually , I was really surprised at some of the answers you got, like one said pick the color you like? Huh? It's worth spending a little time on this. For example, my older cables were categorized as Cat 3. Now recently (for me) I just read about & purchased Cat 7 cables (there are also Cat 5, 5E, etc) that were braided (shielded) and were FLAT rather than round making it easier to handle. In addition, the better cables have 24ct gold tips as gold I believe is the best conductor of electricity, yada ,yada ,yada . Do a little reading you will be glad you did. I got some great deals on Amazon Prime!

frostedtim · Jul 14, 2017

ghdavis :

Having gold contact points on cables is for the most part a wast of materials. It might be efficient right at that point of contact, but unless the rest of the cable is made of the same material, you are likely not going to get the same rated conductivity. Cat 5e can get up to gigabit speeds, Cat 6 has some additional insulation in it, and Cat 7 has individually shielded pairs of wires. Most people wont need better than Cat 5e, though Cat 6 prices are almost negligible depending on where you shop. Dont waste money on gimmicks that only serve to jack up the price with no real benefit.

ghdavis · Jul 15, 2017

frostedtim :

ghdavis :

Having gold contact points on cables is for the most part a wast of materials. It might be efficient right at that point of contact, but unless the rest of the cable is made of the same material, you are likely not going to get the same rated conductivity. Cat 5e can get up to gigabit speeds, Cat 6 has some additional insulation in it, and Cat 7 has individually shielded pairs of wires. Most people wont need better than Cat 5e, though Cat 6 prices are almost negligible depending on where you shop. Dont waste money on gimmicks that only serve to jack up the price with no real benefit.

ghdavis · Jul 15, 2017

Hi, yes, your pretty much right for the most part. I'm not sure you read the thread. My answer to the recipient was ONLY to make this point. All cables are not created equal. I wasn't making the case for gold contacts, etc., I was only refuting a previous responder that told him, "pretty much, a cable is a cable, any should work, just pick a color", yada, yada, yada

frostedtim · Jul 16, 2017

ghdavis :

Ok, if your point is that "Any cable should work," then understand that the different versions of Category cable over the years are rated to do different things. The older Cat 3 cables you have are rated for 10BASE-T Ethernet, Token Ring, and 100BASE-T4 speeds.

Newer methods of manufacturing allowed for faster speeds, which led to the higher numbered Cat versions, which Cat 5e and 6 are most common. Both are able to reach gigabit ethernet speeds which is common in most of the network adapters sold in computers today.

So not just any cable will do. Your older cable, wile venerable, just will not match newer cables on modern networks. Cat 3 may do in a pinch if needed, and you may not notice the difference if your internet speed falls under what it Cat 3 is rated for, but beyond that, it is inferior to the newer standards, including the features I previously listed.

ghdavis · Jul 17, 2017

frostedtim :

ghdavis :

Ok, if your point is that "Any cable should work," then understand that the different versions of Category cable over the years are rated to do different things. The older Cat 3 cables you have are rated for 10BASE-T Ethernet, Token Ring, and 100BASE-T4 speeds.

Newer methods of manufacturing allowed for faster speeds, which led to the higher numbered Cat versions, which Cat 5e and 6 are most common. Both are able to reach gigabit ethernet speeds which is common in most of the network adapters sold in computers today.

So not just any cable will do. Your older cable, wile venerable, just will not match newer cables on modern networks. Cat 3 may do in a pinch if needed, and you may not notice the difference if your internet speed falls under what it Cat 3 is rated for, but beyond that, it is inferior to the newer standards, including the features I previously listed.

ghdavis · Jul 17, 2017

You guys are NUTS! Doesn't anyone know how to read anymore? It must be the product of a "Public School" education. ONE MORE TIME, to all the tech geniuses (not) out here, I NEVER ASKED A QUESTION! I tried to help someone who did!

frostedtim · Jul 18, 2017

ghdavis :

Mock my education all you like, but you decided to "help" in a thread where the OP already got a proper answer (seven months ago), and you couldnt even give good info. Before you try to insult anybody about wherever they got their education, make sure you educate yourself on the topic you are speaking about first.

I commented on this thread when it was originally submitted. I was pretty sure the OP had his answer and that was that. The person who got selected for best answer gave good info and was to the point, so no surprise he was selected. I chimed in again, Ghdavis, because you offered mostly marketing BS that you read from the seller descriptions or packaging. I work with this stuff on a regular basis. I know the factual usage of these wires verses the marketing mumbo-jumbo.

If you had just recommended that Cat 7 cable you talked about from Amazon, which Ive seen and it isnt a bad deal for a fifty foot pre-crimped cable, way longer than what the OP needs, I would have left things alone.

13thmonkey · Jul 18, 2017

We're keeping things nice and civil at the moment, lets try and keep it that way. Thanks.

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Different Ethernet cables

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