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Cat5e or Cat6?

  • 13-07-2006 6:26pm
    #1
    exactiv
    Closed Accounts Posts: 546 ✭✭✭


    Hi. I'm upgrading some of the machines in work and will be switching some of them to gigabit network cards (and installing a gb switch).

    Do I actually need Cat6 cable? I thought gigabit would run totally fine on Cat5e. Am I wrong? Any clarity appreciated!

    Ex.


Comments

  • #2
    SwampThing
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 944 ✭✭✭SwampThing


    For a start, if you're network is pre-wired from patch panels, through walls and ceiling etc. to network points on the wall, what'd be the point in changing the patch leads? Chances are it's Cat5e wired anyway.

    Cat5e will handle gigabit fine enough but there's no guarantee.

    Suck it and see - you've nothing to loose by trying the Cat5e cables, have you?


  • #3
    lucernarian
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 9,235 ✭✭✭lucernarian


    There's no reason that I can think of that Cat5e cables will not handle Gigabit ethernet any worse than Cat6. Cat5e would have lower overall tolerances but it's still well able to handle Gigabit speeds at the full 100m.


  • #4
    exactiv
    Closed Accounts Posts: 546 ✭✭✭exactiv


    well, the whole building is wired with cat5e so I'll just give it a lash and see how it all turns out. I'd have to go re-wiring 15-20 sockets, patch panels & the like to put in cat6, so I'd say that's out...

    thanks for the replies. most appreciated.


  • #5
    Capt'n Midnight
    Moderators, Recreation & Hobbies Moderators, Science, Health & Environment Moderators, Technology & Internet Moderators Posts: 93,604 Mod ✭✭✭✭Capt'n Midnight


    Cat 6 also needs more care with termination than Cat5e. And both do gigabit speed. You get longer distances/more connectors with Cat6 but only really applies with very long runs and more than one patch panel.

    Some brands of network cards allow bonding eg: intel , some OS's do too
    so you can use more than one gigabit card per link

    Oh yeah you can get gigabit on plain old Cat5 if it's been installed properly.

    You might as well get some nice colour coded patch cables.


  • #6
    exactiv
    Closed Accounts Posts: 546 ✭✭✭exactiv


    Capt'n Midnight wrote:
    You might as well get some nice colour coded patch cables.

    I've been trying to get pink ones for ages.....


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