Gigabit with cat5 cable

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Solution 1

You can use Cat5 for really short runs in a Gigabit environment, but it isn't recommended. Cat5e is fine in almost all scenarios, but if you're wiring from scratch, use Cat6, it's only fractionally more expensive.

Good Wikipedia info here - particularly the link about "far-end crosstalk".

Solution 2

Theoretically, CAT5 should suffice.

Practically, most switchs will require CAT5e or higher (CAT6 etc.) to work properly and will throttle back to 100m if you try to hook them up with CAT5 or low quality CAT5e cabling.

Higher spec cables are not expensive so most of the times I'd recommend the upgrade.

Solution 3

1000 Base T was designed for use on standard CAT5 cable, however CAT5E is recommended due to its tighter specifications. I'd have a read of the Wikipedia article on CAT5.

A Gigabit link might "come up" on a CAT5 cable, however you may notice increased retransmits on the interface, due to interference issues.

Definately possible, but not recommended.

Solution 4

Sure, you're not going to get optimal results with CAT5, but it's all about your situation.

  • If you've already got CAT5 run, and you have the budget for GB switches but not new cabling, get the switches, you'll see results
  • If you haven't run cable yet, get 5e or 6, without a doubt

It's going to work, without a doubt, but not as close to rated speed as you'd get with a higher grade of cable.

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Updated on September 17, 2022

Comments

  • Mark
    Mark almost 2 years

    I have a PHP file with a mix of html, text and php includes name areaname-house.php. The text/html parts of the file contain the String "areaname" in various places. On the other hand I have an array of Strings with city names.

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  • pi.
    pi. about 15 years
    When I renovated I even used Cat7 everywhere. Only 1.4 times as expensive as Cat5 (when buying 500 meters). Future proof too.
  • oals
    oals almost 9 years
    I don't know what you mean by 'really short runs' but I have a ten-metre Cat5 cable from circa 2000 or earlier and it handles Gigabit flawlessly. Might just be luck though.
  • oals
    oals almost 9 years
    @pi. Just FYI, Cat7 does not exist in 2015 and did not exist in 2009. It's a manufacturer sham to drive sales.