cat5e cables question

pkz · 05-14-2008, 06:32 AM

I need some cat5 cable to run from my router to my computer box. Is cat5e backwards compatible with cat5... im not sure how old my router is so I just wanted to make sure I get the right cable. Also, crossover/uplink cat5e is not what I'm looking for right? I seem to remember buying a crossover cable to connect my router and my cable modem and buying different cable to connect from the router to all the computers. Also, what does patch cable mean?

thanks for any assistance.

doug9498 · 05-14-2008, 08:25 AM

cat 5 is rated at 10/100Mb.......cat5e/cat6 are rated at 10/100/1000mb
Shouldn't make any difference to your router unless your router is 1gb then you would want cat5e or cat6, The newer cables should still plug into your oder router if that is your concern. and you do not want a cross over cable if you are going between your computer and your router. Usually cross over cables are used when you are going from one PC ethernet port to another PCs Ethernet port to do Peer to Peer. Feel free to correct me if I am wrong.

05-14-2008, 06:32 AM	#1 (permalink)
pkz Registered User Join Date: May 2008 Posts: 3 OS: xp home/vista	cat5e cables question I need some cat5 cable to run from my router to my computer box. Is cat5e backwards compatible with cat5... im not sure how old my router is so I just wanted to make sure I get the right cable. Also, crossover/uplink cat5e is not what I'm looking for right? I seem to remember buying a crossover cable to connect my router and my cable modem and buying different cable to connect from the router to all the computers. Also, what does patch cable mean? thanks for any assistance. Last edited by pkz : 05-14-2008 at 06:59 AM.

05-14-2008, 08:25 AM	#2 (permalink)
doug9498 Registered User Join Date: May 2008 Posts: 4 OS: Windows XP SP3	Re: cat5e cables question cat 5 is rated at 10/100Mb.......cat5e/cat6 are rated at 10/100/1000mb Shouldn't make any difference to your router unless your router is 1gb then you would want cat5e or cat6, The newer cables should still plug into your oder router if that is your concern. and you do not want a cross over cable if you are going between your computer and your router. Usually cross over cables are used when you are going from one PC ethernet port to another PCs Ethernet port to do Peer to Peer. Feel free to correct me if I am wrong.