whats the speeds supported for cat5, cat5e, and cat6?

[jjyiz28]

kinda confused on these diff cables. what the max speed supported for each?? and cat6 is still 4 pairs of wire or is it totally different??

 

[JackMDS]

CAT5e would support 10/100Mb/sec. and Giga NIC.

Link to: AnandTech - FAQ. CAT5 Straight, Crossover. What is CAT5, which one should I Use?

 

[jjyiz28]

"CAT5, is rated up to 100MHz

CAT5e (?e: for enhanced), CAT5e can tolerate higher frequency (350MHz.)

CAT6 - The new standard that will get to the mainstream market in the near future. This cable will be able to work smoothly with the new upcoming 1GHz."


how does 100mhz, 350mhz, and 1ghz translate to transfer speeds???

cat5 supports 100mbs/sec and is 100mhz. does this mean only cat6 with 1ghz can support 1gbs/sec???

 

[JackMDS]

No, CAT5e supports the Current Giga.

 

[jjyiz28]

im not getting any definitive answer.
is this right?

cat5 supports 100mb/sec
cat5e supports 1gb/sec
cat6 supports 10gb/sec

 

[JackMDS]

Unfortunately it is very hard to give a straight short answer.

Most of the issues concerning LANs beyond 1 Gb/sec. are currently evolving.

In short.

CAT5 supports up to 100Mb/sec.

CAT5e support up to the Current 1 Gb/sec.

The Giga Transfer is using the 4 pairs of the CAT cable as oppose to the 100Mb/sec. that uses only 2 pairs.

Giga on current Desktops is ?castrated? running on a 32bit Bus as oppose to possible 64bits Bus.

CAT6 is twisted pairs too (but twisted better); it can support more, but what is more?

The current more is 10 Gb/sec which is running on Fiber as Network Backbone and not as Desktop Connection.

By the time that 10 Gb/sec. hardware will be feasible for LANs (Desktops) there should be a CAT6e that will support it.

 

[jjyiz28]

thanks jacko. i have a quick question. is cat6 backwards compatible with cat5e, etc.. networks??? i know cat5e is backwards compatible and could work with 100 and 10baseT networks. i was wondering if cat6 is backwards compatible and can work in these slower networks too?

 

[JackMDS]

Yes it is.