Cat 5 vs. Cat 5e – Differences & Comparison

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Cat 5 and Cat 5e are two types of cablings that we use for the Ethernet networks. Both cables are made up of four pairs of twisted copper wires.

Main Difference

Cat 5, or Category 5, is a cable that supports up to 100 Mbps and is constructed of copper wire. Cat 5, on the other hand, is also made up of copper wire and is the latest version of Cat 5. The complete form of Cat 5e is Category 5 enhanced.

Cat 5e has the most considerable capability to transfer data compared to Cat 5. Moreover, Cat 5 and Cat 5e are similar in many ways and have some key differences. Let us discuss the main differences between Cat 5 and Cat 5e.

What is Cat 5?

          

Cat 5 is a cable constructed of four pairs of twisted copper wires. The complete form of Cat 5 is Category 5. It is an older standard that can handle 100 megabits per second Ethernet. Moreover, these cables have a bandwidth of 100 MHZ.

Cat 5 has a better interface between lines than other versions, decreasing the likelihood of errors and data loss. Furthermore, the maximum cable length of Cat 5 is 100 meters. In addition, Cat 5 is less expensive, and everyone can afford it.

Features

  • Less expensive
  • Less stringent
  • Highly compatible
  • Better crosstalk
  • Good speed

What is Cat 5e?

Cat 5e is a cable that is made up of four pairs of twisted copper wires. The complete form of Cat 5e is Category 5 enhanced. Cat 5e is the latest version of Cat 5 that supports higher data transfer speeds of up to 1 Gbps (Gigabit per second).

Moreover, it has tighter specifications for crosstalk and system noise. Due to this, performance and readability improved. In addition, the cost of Cat 5e is slightly expensive.

Features

  • More stringent
  • Slightly expensive
  • Tighter crosstalk specification
  • Compatibility is great
  • Faster

Key Differences between Cat 5 and Cat 5e

  1. The maximum data transfer speed of Cat 5 is 100 Mbps. On the flip side, the whole data transfer speed of Cat 5e is 1000 Mbps.
  2. Cat 5e is more stringent, whereas Cat 5 is less stringent.
  3. The system noise specification of Cat 5 is less stringent. Cat 5e, on the other hand, is a specification of Cat 5e is more rigid.
  4. Cat 5e is slightly more expensive compared to Cat 5.
  5. Cat 5e offers much better and more advanced features than Cat 5.

Comparison chart

Features    Cat 5 Cat 5e
Introduced in 1995 2000
Data transfer speed 100 Mbps 1000 Mbps
Crosstalk specification Less stringent More stringent
Cost Less expensive Slightly expensive

Conclusion

We conclude that Cat 5 and Cat 5e are pretty different. Cat 5e is more advanced and compatible than Cat 5. The choice between Cat 5 and Cat 5e depends upon the user’s preference

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