Cat5e through Cat8 differ in speed, maximum distance, frequency, and shielding. This guide lays out what each category actually supports so you can pick the right copper patch cord for the job.
| Category | Max speed | Max distance | Frequency | Typical use |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cat5e | 1 Gbps | 100 m | 100 MHz | Legacy / low-cost runs |
| Cat6 | 1 Gbps (10G at 37–55 m) | 100 m (10G short) | 250 MHz | General enterprise |
| Cat6a | 10 Gbps | 100 m | 500 MHz | 10G to the rack, data center |
| Cat7 | 10 Gbps | 100 m | up to 1000 MHz | Shielded / noisy environments |
| Cat8 | 25 / 40 Gbps | ~30 m | up to 2000 MHz | Short switch-to-switch / ToR |
Cat5e remains fine for 1 Gigabit runs and is inexpensive, but it tops out at 1G. Cat6 raises the frequency to 250 MHz and can carry 10G — but only over short distances (roughly 37–55 m), after which it falls back to 1G. Cat6a is the workhorse for modern 10G installs: it holds 10 Gigabit across the full 100-meter channel at 500 MHz. Cat7 adds heavier shielding for electrically noisy industrial spaces. Cat8 is the fastest, supporting 25G and 40G, but only over about 30 meters — which is why it lives in the data center for short switch-to-switch and top-of-rack links, not long horizontal runs.
Beyond category, copper cable is either unshielded (UTP) or shielded (STP/FTP). Shielding adds protection against electromagnetic interference (EMI) and crosstalk, which matters most at higher categories and in dense or noisy environments. Higher categories like Cat6a, Cat7, and Cat8 are frequently deployed shielded to hit their rated performance.
Tri-Valley Optics builds Cat5e through Cat8 patch cords — shielded (STP/FTP) or unshielded (UTP), any length, any quantity, any color — with most orders shipped in about 2 business days and a lifetime warranty.
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