cat 5 or cat 6 for network

I would suggest that the CAT6 would be preferable, as it has higher bandwidth spec, amongst other attributes, and would offer a little future-proofing.

There shouldn't be much price difference either.

But, really, CAT5 would do fine too.

If you're running a gigabit switch, get the Cat6. If it's a 10/100 router get atleast 5E.

I would go with the Cat6, given that most cables don't adhere to proper specs. If it doesn't perform at Cat6 levels, it'll atleast hit the Cat5E marks.

I just got a bunch of cables from cablestogo.

In my recent experience cat 6 is around double the price of 5.

Cat5e will be more than enough for any application in the home and is at the correct price point.

Its more than adequate in gigabit applications, most devices in a home network will not be transferring above 60MB/s anyhow

+1

Cable is inexpensive.  Run Cat6.  I have found in our installations that Cat6 is built (as a rule) more robust than Cat5 and the dangers of kinks, bends and damages are mitigated along with of course the sheilding on Cat6, which when you are looking at RF interference, can't hurt to have. 

Cat 6 shouldn't be around double the price.

A short length of pre-terminated, say 20m should be around £2 or £3 more than the Cat5e.

It should allow slightly tighter bends without loss, too.

Plus, it's a little future proofed.

If you already have Cat5e, then that's fine. If you're laying fresh you may as well lay out the extra couple of pence per meter

If you already have Cat5e, then that's fine. If you're laying fresh you may as well lay out the extra couple of pence per meter

+ 1. That's the logic I applied when I had my network installed.

Reality, in the UK 360 metre rolls of cat 6 seemed to be at least 40% more than Cat5.

I might be going against the trend here, but I would be wary of not using Cat 5e. My reasons.

1) cat 6 series cables offer better immunity to crosstalk, however this is no real benefit in the home network you  are using 10gigabit Ethernet. Cat5e is specced and fine gigabit Ethernet.

2) if you are going to look at Cat6 series for infrastructure, you need to look at Cat6a, as this and not regular Cat6 is specced for 100m runs of 10gbit Ethernet.

3) cat 6a has generally thicker conductors than Cat 5e, and so turning radiuii are larger so harder to route in domestic ducting etc. and are more sensitive to mechanical damage through kinking.

4) many Cat 6 cables are shielded, however this can open a whole can of worms that need carefully considering if performance is not impacted http://www.siemon.com/us/stand...e_4_Ground_Loops.asp

Regular Cat 5e cable has no such issues.

5) for future proofing I would consider Ethernet fibre, or use accessible ducts so cables can be appropriately replaced if appropriate.

6) cat 6 is marketed to consumers as being better, where as in reality for domestic use its of no or marginal benefit. However a significant premium seems to be asked.

7) the weak point in a cable is always the connector. The larger conductors of Cat6 can make connectors more challanging to do well, especially DIY.

8) what do I use? Runs of Cat5e. Out of the billions of network frames I have sent at 100Mbps at home I have not had one corrupt frame due to wiring crosstalk. (I have a counter on some of my switches).

Given the above unless you have an accredited cable fitter, your performance of a Cat6 cable infrastucture could be less than that of Cat 5e but cost you more! but likely only discover if you ever get closer to the bandwidth ceiling of Cat5e.

Wow Simon, what a knowledge ! Thanks !
On my side, i am running Cat5 best quality. I asked my technician about the cat6 and he told me that this cable was much more fragile in placement, in corners for example. There are more than 20 meters between my router (a Cisco beast) and my HDX and had chance to compare same track stocked on the inernal disk and from a NAS. I couldn't notice any difference.

If it can help ?

Cheers

Hi, 20metres of Cat5e is fine for 10/100/1000 link speeds. You are sorted.

Simon