Side-by-Side Comparison
Ethernet Cables
Cat 5 vs. Cat 7
Comparing 2 standards across 12 specifications. 11 key differences identified.
Comparing:
Cat 5
Cat 7
Category 5 (Cat 5) is a legacy twisted-pair copper cable standard defined in ANSI/TIA/EIA-568-A. Rated for frequencies up to 100 MHz, it was the foundational medium for 100BASE-TX Fast Ethernet (100 Mbps) over distances up to 100 meters, utilizing two of its four twisted pairs.
Category 7 (Cat 7) is an ISO/IEC 11801 Class F cable standard ratified in 2002. Operating at frequencies up to 600 MHz, it mandates S/FTP individual pair shielding and was engineered for proprietary GG45 and TERA connectors. Cat 7 is not recognized by the American TIA/EIA standard body.
Specification Comparison Table
12 Parameters| Parameter / Spec | ||
|---|---|---|
|
Frequency Bandwidth
|
100 MHz | 600 MHz |
|
Max Bandwidth / Data Rate
|
100 Mbps | 10 Gbps |
|
Max Channel Length
|
100 m | 100 m |
|
Channel Classification
|
ISO/IEC 11801 Class D | ISO/IEC 11801 Class F |
|
Wire Pairs
|
4 pairs | — |
|
Active Pairs (100BASE-TX)
|
2 pairs | — |
|
Standard Connector
|
8P8C (RJ45) | — |
|
Typical Shielding
|
U/UTP (Unshielded) | — |
|
Shielding Requirement
|
— | S/FTP (Screened/Foiled Twisted Pair) |
|
Native Connectors
|
— | GG45 (IEC 60603-7-7) / TERA (IEC 61076-3-104) |
|
ANSI/TIA Recognition
|
— | None (Not recognized by TIA) |
|
RJ45 Native Compliance
|
— | No (Limits performance to Cat 6a) |