CAT5e or CAT6? That is the question
CAT5E vs CAT6. What does it really mean?
Here is our opinion on choosing the right category of network cable for your office or business..
CAT5e – If you plan on running at 1000 Mbps (1 Gbps)
CAT6 – If you plan on running at 1000 Mbps (1 Gbps) or more.
CAT6 is also recommended if you are in areas that have lots of interference like near power lines, lights, manufacturing equipment, or a long distance 1000 Mbps (Gigabit) run.
It is advised that you run at least Cat5e or Cat6 cable in solid or partiton walls. CAT5e is great for patch cables from the patch panel to the switch or from the computer to the wall outlet. For most applications the CAT5E 350MHz network cables are best. They will run up to 1 Gig and are not as expensive as CAT 6 cables. CAT6 cables are great for “future proofing” your installation. They are rated to carry network speeds above 1000 Mbps (Gigabit). CAT5E 100MHz are rated to only run up to 100Mbps networks but are inexpensive.
The above comments are our opinion, and do not represent a solution for every situation. There are exceptions to these statements and a professional should be consulted prior to making a major network cabling decision. Please visit www.techitout.co.uk and speak to an expert..
Peter Lowe
Director of TechItOut
