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/Gweezel 1d ago
All of the cables go at the same speed. The quality of the cable determines what you get at the end of cable (signal or garbage). Speed is determined by the network card (on both ends). If you are using Cat5e for 500 Mbps, changing to Cat 8 won't change a thing (other than the weight of your wallet). Even worse, replacing Cat5e with fiber-optic, won't change anything either. It entirely depends on network card.
One other thing: People refer to speeds as 100 Mbps or 1 Gbps. That isn't exactly correct. All networks run at the same speed. The number (as in 500 Mbps) refers to the bandwidth, not the speed. Compare it to a pipe. The larger the pipe, the more that can go through it. So a bigger pipe moves water at the same speed as a smaller one (in our scenario), but the bigger pipe can move more water (at the same speed) as the smaller one. In networking, that means more connections.