If you Google “Ethernet patch cable” you’ll get well over 1 million hits. It’s no wonder that shopping for patch cables can be confusing. For starters, there can be uncertainty about the difference between the terms “Ethernet cable” and “Ethernet patch cable.” But most of the confusion is due to there being so many cable categories, such as Cat 5e, Cat 6, and Cat 6a.

After clearing up what makes a patch cable a patch cable, this blog post outlines the main differences between the two most popular kinds, Cat 5e and Cat 6. We conclude with a table showing the main specifications and uses of Cat 5e, Cat 6, Cat 6a, Cat 7, and Cat 8.

Ethernet Patch Cable vs. Ethernet Cable

Ethernet patch cables are short, pre-terminated cables (commonly with RJ-45 connectors) used to connect individual devices to a network switch, router, or another network device. They are typically used in offices, home networks, and data center rack setups for connecting computers, printers, and other peripherals to a local area network (LAN). Patch cables are available in various lengths and categories. Because they are pre-terminated, with a connector on each end, they are made for immediate use.

“Ethernet cable” is a generic term that refers to any cable used to connect network devices, including a patch cable. A common type of Ethernet cable is Ethernet bulk cable, which comes in long lengths that can be routed through walls, ceilings, or conduits to connect different network rooms or areas in buildings and data centers. So that bulk cable can be cut to fit custom lengths, it is not terminated with connectors at the ends. The termination must be done manually by stripping the wire ends, inserting them in an RJ-45 connector and crimping the connector.

What Patch Cables Do

In a typical corporate office, the PCs are connected via Ethernet cables to a central network hub or switch, located in an IT room or closet. The hub or switch allows the PCs to communicate with one another on the network and to access files from servers. Also in the room are other network devices such as servers, routers, and network media players. All these devices are connected, typically through Ethernet patch panels. With its multiple ports, a patch panel is a switchboard of sorts that employs short Ethernet patch cables with connectors on both ends to make it easier to reconfigure the routing of the devices.

Cat 5e vs. Cat 6

Like the longer Ethernet cables, Ethernet patch cables are offered in different categories. Below are the four most crucial items to consider when deciding between Cat 5e and Cat 6 Ethernet patch cables:

  • The cable’s maximum data rate, which is measured in megabits or gigabits per second.
  • The longest distance it can maintain that data rate.
  • The cable’s bandwidth (in megahertz), which determines how much data can be transferred at any one time.
  • Whether or not the conductors are shielded – with unshielded cables being more flexible and thus easier to install, and shielded cables offering more protection against electromagnetic and radio interference (EMI/RFI).

 

To help you simplify your purchase decisions, we offer a summary of the main specifications and uses of the most popular categories.

 

Ethernet Patch Cable Specs and Applications

Cable Category

Main Specifications

Main Applications

Cat 5e

·        Bandwidth: 100 megahertz (MHz)

·        Maximum data rate: 1 gigabit per second (Gbps) at up to 100 meters (328 feet)

·        A big but affordable upgrade over the 10 to 100 megabits per second (Mbps) data rates of Cat5
  • The minimum standard unshielded, twisted-pair cabling used for LAN connections
  • Used in 100Base-T Ethernet.
  • Power over Ethernet (PoE)

 

Cat 6
  • Bandwidth of 250 MHz is twice that of Cat5e, with faster upload and download speeds
  • Max. data rates: 1 Gbps at up to 100 meters and 10 Gbps at up to 37 meters (121 feet)
  • Cable with shielding (STP) protects the inner wires from interference, delivering less cross talk and system noise than Cat 5e

 
  • Can carry gigabit Ethernet (GbE) in commercial buildings
  • Also used for phone lines and in residences
  • For those with an internet plan less than 1 Gbps and who want to improve their network’s stability
  • PoE

 

Cat 6a
  • Bandwidth of 500 MHz is twice that of Cat 6
  • Max. data rate: 10 Gbps at up to 100 meters
  • All Cat 6a cable is shielded to eliminate interference

 
  • 10 Gigabit Ethernet in data centers and commercial buildings
  • High-speed office networks
  • For those with internet speeds exceeding 1 Gbps who want to ensure they are investing in a system that won’t be outdated in the next several years
  • PoE

 

Cat 7
  • Bandwidth of 600 MHz is 100 MHz more than Cat 6a
  • Max. data rates: 10 Gbps at up to 100 meters, 100 Gbps at up to 15 meters (49 feet)
  • Shielded cable
  • Instead of using the standard RJ-45 Ethernet connector of Cat 6 and Cat 6a, uses modified GigaGate 45 connector

 
  • 10 Gbps core infrastructure
  • Data centers and server rooms
  • High-speed direct connections between servers, switches and computer networks
  • Uploading and downloading large files
  • PoE

 

Cat 8
  • Bandwidth: 2 GHz over 30 meters (98 feet)
  • Max. data rate: 40 Gbps
  • Extra cable shielding makes it less flexible in tight spaces

 
  • Switch-to-switch communications in a 25Gbase-T or 40Gbase-T network
  • Data centers and server rooms
  • PoE

 

 

Cable Jacketing

Jacket type is another key factor to consider when choosing an Ethernet patch cable. The jacket you need depends on where the cable will be located – indoors, outdoors, under a drop ceiling, near chemicals and so on. For a summary of jacket choices and features, click here.

ShowMeCables offers a big selection of all the types of Ethernet cables discussed here, from Ethernet patch cables to bulk Ethernet cable to custom Ethernet cables. The vast majority of our products are in stock and available with same-day shipping. In-stock products ordered before 5 p.m. ET ship the same day. Flat-rate UPS ground shipping is only $8.99.

Questions? Contact our U.S.-based customer service at +1 (888) 519-9505, email us or chat.