Networking has become an essential part of our work due to which data sharing takes place easily and efficiently. Local Area Network is one of the important kinds of networking that connects computers and devices in a limited area such as school, house, office, hospital and the like.
For networking one should have a router to control network traffic and networking cable to connect computers. Cat5 cable has been used as a networking cable for a long time. However, cat5e (category 5 enhanced), another variation on standard cat5 cable with modification, has also been used for some LANs. Both cat5 and cat5e look identically the same but in fact they are different from one another in terns of their functions.
While considering cat5 vs cat5e, it will appear that they support networks of different speeds. Cat5 cable can work for network standards that operate at the speed of 10 to 100 megabits (Mbps) per second. On the other hand cat5e cable can work for higher speed network standard ranging up to 1000 Mbps. It means cat5e is meant for Gigabit Ethernet connections which are ten times faster than 100 megabits, the speed of cat5 cable. So if you have high speed network connections, it is necessary to use enhanced version of cat5 cables; otherwise cat5 is enough to serve your needs.
When it comes to the data transfer capacity, scientifically known as bandwidth, cat5 cables are designed for 100 megahertz (Mhz) speed whereas cat5e is rated for four times higher speed, 350 MHz. It is pertinent to mention here that bandwidth determines the speed as well as the efficiency that a cable provides for transferring information from one end to the other. Thus cat5 vs cat5e shows that the latter is faster and more efficient in data transmission than the former. Again if you are using Gigabit Ethernet connections, then ask for cat5e cable to maintain higher speed and efficiency; otherwise, cat5 is suitable for megabit connections.
Cat5 vs cat5e can be viewed from another perspective. It is about crosstalk or in layman terms the disruption of communication. Crosstalk occurs when signals emanating from the copper wires of cables blend together, create interference and block communication. As a result not only the speed of network is affected but also the data transfer slows down to a considerable extent. In this regard cat5e cables are more efficient for they come not only with more twisted pairs but also with improved sheath over its four wire pairs. Therefore, cat5e reduces crosstalk interference more efficiently as compared to cat5 which has less twisted pairs and a bit weaker sheath.
Cat5 cables are made only for older forms of networking like megabit Ethernet. On the other hand, cat5e cable is primarily made for newer technologies such as Gigabit Ethernet connection but at the same time it is also compatible with older technologies as well. So at one point both perform on equal footings but for upgraded networks cat5e is alone to extend good performance.
A final difference between cat5e and cat5 network cables is that cat5e cable features a thicker PVC jacket than does cat5 cable, making it more durable and resistant to damage than ordinary cat5 cable.