Cables are primarily used for computer networking. Until the introduction of latest technology, namely wireless adapter, most of the computers have been using a Local Area Network (LAN) cards. When connected with network cards and network cables computers can share data with one another. So far various categories of cables have been introduced to the markets offering improved transfer rates. Among these, cat5e and cat6 are the standard cables that have earned dominant status due to their high specifications.
In appearance, there is no significant difference between cat5e and cat6 cables. Both come in similar colors like yellow, gray red, black or white. They both look rubbery as if they are the enlarged and modified versions of standard phone line. However, they are different from one another in terms of their inside copper wires. In cat6 the copper wire is thicker and tightly twisted to give higher transfer rates, faster bandwidth, reduced noise interference and immunity to crosstalk and many other advantages in comparison with cat5e.
While analyzing the compatibility performance of cat5e vs cat6, it appears that both are similar in that they are backward compatible, meaning thereby they can connect to older forms of technology. However, for greater connection rates and newer technologies, cat5e lags one step behind cat6.
As far as the speed potential of both cables is concerned, it should be noted that cat5e was developed prior to cat6. Therefore, the newer cable will be faster than the older one. In fact, cat6 technology comes with double performance as compared to cat5e. Generally cat6 cable can function at a rate of up to 250MHz whereas cat5e cables reach up to 100MHz maximum. This difference is of no significance in typical business but as data transfer grows larger and becomes more demanding, the difference will become more significant.
Another feature of cat6 cables is that they have more twists on each wire pair and each pair is insulated with its own sheath. As a result cat6 cables minimize crosstalk interference better than cat5e. Again this contrast between cat5e vs cat6 makes no considerable difference in a home environment; nevertheless, when your computers are in an area where there are greater intervention of power lights and other manufacturing equipment, cat6 will be better for transferring stronger signals at faster speed.
As for the price of both categories, there is no significant difference between 50 feet of cat5e cable and 50 feet of cat6 cable rates, with cat5e costing $16 and cat6 $19. Because of this little difference and open-ended technological advancement it is better to choose cat6. As per predictions and analysis, newer installations will be employing cat6 cables in the days to come. Besides, it is also a plus point of cat6 cables that they are backward compatible as well. So customers can find it easy to purchase cat6 for all their uses, older forms of facilities or the latest ones.