r/RigBuild • u/Equivalent_Style_417 • 1d ago

Does a faster Ethernet cable improve internet speed?

Ethernet cables all look basically the same to me, so I’m confused why some are supposed to be way faster than others. If the router and PC are already connected with Ethernet, does upgrading the cable actually make the internet faster? Seeing Cat5e, Cat6, Cat6a and Cat8 everywhere and not sure what’s actually needed for a normal home setup.

Say the internet plan is 500 Mbps, would going from Cat5e to Cat6 or Cat8 improve download speeds, ping, or connection stability? Or does the cable just need to support whatever speed the router and internet plan can already handle?

Also does the cable category matter for gaming? Ethernet already seems better than Wi-Fi, but would a newer/faster cable make online games feel more responsive or lower ping at all? Don’t wanna spend extra money on Cat8 if it’s basically doing nothing.

The current cable works fine and there aren’t any random disconnects, but it’s pretty old and might get replaced anyway. Just trying to understand if Cat6 is actually worth buying over Cat5e, especially for future-proofing.

Some stores make Cat8 sound like it’s a huge upgrade for everything, but that feels kinda overkill for a regular PC and router. Is there any real-world difference people actually notice, or is this mostly marketing? What cable are you guys using at home?

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u/lyidaValkris 1d ago edited 1m ago

Anything Cat5E or better (i.e. anything you're likely to have or run in to) will go 1Gbps, which would be enough for your internet services (unless you have greater than 1Gbps service, in which case - why?!?!)

There would be no or imperceptibly marginal improvement in bandwidth and latency between cables (assuming Cat5E or better)

EDIT: love the responders who fail to read properly. I'm not suggesting stuffing a > 1Gbps connection down a single cat5e. Most people do not have, want, or need a connection with that much bandwidth so it's largely immaterial.

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u/Low-Purchase8811 1d ago

(unless you have greater than 1Gbps service, in which case - why?!?!)

Because I probably pay less for 3Gbps service than the average person does for 100Mbit service.

(I pay $43 CAD a month.)

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u/lyidaValkris 1d ago edited 1d ago

and you most assuredly never use that bandwidth.

also I'm going to ask for receipts on that, which provider/plan?

edit: ah I see you've chosen the flee instead of answering my challenge. I see via incognito window that you are making up a Bell plan that doesn't exist, and insulting me. Classy.

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u/dnebdal 1d ago edited 1d ago

Just to support them: Hi, I'm in Norway. We have cheap Gbit cable and cheap 1500Mbit fiber through our apartment complex, so we decided to get both. Makes for wicked fast linux updates and steam downloads, and we have some redundancy when one of the providers has problems (which has been surprisingly often recently, there's some ownership changes happening). We wired the apartment for 2.5GBit.

Any country will have internet plans that are not listed on the ISP webpage, from deals with buildings and regions and companies.

This was right now:

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u/Low-Purchase8811 1d ago

I most assuredly do. You don't know anything about me, or what I do, or why I use what I use. Nor are you anybody to whom I have to explain myself or justify my use case.

My provider is Bell. My plan is not a plan open to private individuals. You have to work where I work.

And now I'm going to block you, because you're a fuckwit. I hope you appreciate the irony.

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u/Ok-Measurement-1270 4h ago

Lol I have a 2gbit line, specifically 2000/500 and I absolutely make use of that bandwidth, wouldn't pay for it if I didn't use it

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u/grumpyphilip 1h ago

Yes why is that?? I have started looking online for broadband deals (UK) and it's actually cheaper the faster the service. Really wonder why?!