Cat5e vs Cat6
Cat5e and Cat6 look identical on the outside and use the same RJ-45 connectors. The internal construction differs — Cat6 has a tighter twist, a plastic spline separator between pairs, and stricter crosstalk and return-loss specs.
Comparison
| Property | Cat5e | Cat6 |
|---|---|---|
| Bandwidth | 100 MHz | 250 MHz |
| Max speed at 100 m | 1 Gbps | 1 Gbps |
| Max speed at 55 m | 1 Gbps | 10 Gbps |
| Crosstalk (NEXT) | ≥35 dB at 100 MHz | ≥44 dB at 100 MHz (better) |
| Typical cable OD | ~5.5 mm | ~6.5 mm (spline adds bulk) |
| Connector compatibility | RJ-45 (standard) | RJ-45 (standard) |
| Backward compatible? | Yes — works in any Cat5/5e/6 port | Yes — works in any Cat5/5e/6 port |
| Relative cost | Lower | Slightly higher |
Verdict
For new cable runs, choose Cat6 — the price difference is minimal for the extra 250 MHz headroom and better crosstalk performance. Use Cat5e only when replacing existing Cat5e patch cables or working within a legacy Cat5e structured cabling installation.
If you plan to run 10 Gbps at the full 100 m, choose Cat6A instead — Cat6 only does 10G up to 55 m.
When Cat5e is fine
- Replacing a short existing Cat5e patch cable
- 1 Gbps networking where you have no plans to upgrade to 10G
- Budget-limited home runs where the full 100 m is needed