Which is Better.. Cat6 or Cat6a Ethernet Cable?

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  1. Posts : 654
    10
       #1

    Which is Better.. Cat6 or Cat6a Ethernet Cable?


    I need an ethernet cable for my PC in my bedroom. I download large files. Which is faster and better? Cat6 or cat6a? Any large difference between the two?
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  2. Posts : 7,871
    Windows 11 Pro 64 bit
       #2

    Cat 6 has 250Mhz bandwidth and Cat 6a 500MHz. It doesn't matter which you use unless you have a super fast broadband connection. The prices are similar so you may as well the 6a cable.

    You can work out the actual bandwidth you need by knowing the data rate, modulation scheme and signal to noise ratio!
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  3. Posts : 18,424
    Windows 11 Pro
       #3

    Cat6a will have higher speed capacity, but it is highly unlikely that a network adapter in a home PC connected to a consumer grade router will come even close to being able to utilize it.
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  4. Posts : 654
    10
    Thread Starter
       #4

    Steve C said:
    Cat 6 has 250Mhz bandwidth and Cat 6a 500MHz. It doesn't matter which you use unless you have a super fast broadband connection. The prices are similar so you may as well the 6a cable.
    NavyLCDR said:
    Cat6a will have higher speed capacity, but it is highly unlikely that a network adapter in a home PC connected to a consumer grade router will come even close to being able to utilize it.
    So in my home I got 4 devices utilizing the net. Right now I have cat5 cable which slows things down when all devices are used at the same time. So would it still be best to get cat6 and not cat 6a? I ask because my ISP doesnt carry cat6a but they do provide cat 6 for free.

    Btw should I get shielded or unshielded?
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  5. Posts : 18,424
    Windows 11 Pro
       #5

    Your modem, router and network adapters are 99% guaranteed to be gigabit (1000mbps) maximum. And you might want to check that hardware because you might have fast Ethernet (100 mbps) hardware in the mix somewhere. Any network connection will run only as fast as the lowest part of it.

    Also, if you are talking about internet speed, what speed plan are you on with your ISP and is your modem capable of that speed on the WAN side.

    Cat5e, Cat6, and Cat6a cables are more than capable of carrying Gigabit ethernet traffic. If Cat6 is free from your ISP then don't waste your money on buying Cat6a. It's not going to help.

    If you are currently running Cat5 cable, it is only rated for fast (100mbps) ethernet, although some better Cat5 cables may very well carry gigabit ethernet.
    Last edited by NavyLCDR; 02 Nov 2019 at 17:58.
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  6. Posts : 654
    10
    Thread Starter
       #6

    NavyLCDR said:
    Your modem, router and network adapters are 99% guaranteed to be gigabit (1000mbps) maximum. And you might want to check that hardware because you might have fast Ethernet (100 mbps) hardware in the mix somewhere. Any network connection will run only as fast as the lowest part of it.

    Also, if you are talking about internet speed, what speed plan are you on with your ISP and is your modem capable of that speed on the WAN side.

    Cat5e, Cat6, and Cat6a cables are more than capable of carrying Gigabit ethernet traffic. If Cat6 is free from your ISP then don't waste your money on buying Cat6a. It's not going to help.

    If you are currently running Cat5 cable, it is only rated for fast (100mbps) ethernet, although some better Cat5 cables may very well carry gigabit ethernet.


    Thanks man.. i'll get the cat6 from my isp.
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  7. Posts : 9,765
    Mac OS Catalina
       #7

    Your ISP will not supply Ethernet cabling (free). You pay for it in some way or another.Cat-5e will suffice for home use for gig networks.
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  8. Posts : 1,935
    Windows 7 Home Premium x64
       #8

    yahanna said:
    Thanks man.. i'll get the cat6 from my isp.
    you can buy Cat6 ethernet cables online from amazon or ebay (maybe even newegg), yahanna - no need to obtain one from your internet provider.

    and Cat5e is so last decade, bro67
    go with Cat6 since I bought a cheap cat6 cable months ago and the ethernet/lan adapter in my PC and the cable modem from my ISP support 1Gbit max

    Edit: diff between Cat6 vs Cat 6a
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  9. Posts : 654
    10
    Thread Starter
       #9

    erpster4 said:
    you can buy Cat6 ethernet cables online from amazon or ebay (maybe even newegg), yahanna - no need to obtain one from your internet provider.

    and Cat5e is so last decade, bro67
    go with Cat6 since I bought a cheap cat6 cable months ago and the ethernet/lan adapter in my PC and the cable modem from my ISP support 1Gbit max

    Edit: diff between Cat6 vs Cat 6a
    But I got 5 devices that are sometimes connected at the same time. I got 2 PCs the rest on wifi on the same wifi modem router. Do you think its wise to get 6a? I've noticed on my current cat5 that connection is spotty at times because if this.
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  10. Posts : 13,900
    Win10 Version 22H2 Pro and Home, Win11 Pro and Home
       #10

    As far as Shielded or Unshielded, most time the Unshielded will be fine, the Shielded type needs different types of ports so as to drain any interference away from the conductors.
    Why Would You Use Shielded Ethernet Cables? | All About Ethernet
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