Side-by-Side Comparison
Ethernet Cables
Cat 5 vs. Cat 6A
Comparing 2 standards across 12 specifications. 11 key differences identified.
Comparing:
Cat 5
Cat 6A
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 6a (Cat 6a, Augmented) is a standardized twisted-pair cable defined in ANSI/TIA-568-C.2 and ISO/IEC 11801 Class E_A. Operating at frequencies up to 500 MHz, it is the primary standard for 10GBASE-T (10 Gbps) across the full 100-meter channel distance, featuring strict Alien Crosstalk (ANEXT) suppression.
Specification Comparison Table
12 Parameters| Parameter / Spec | ||
|---|---|---|
|
Frequency Bandwidth
|
100 MHz | 500 MHz |
|
Max Bandwidth / Data Rate
|
100 Mbps | 10 Gbps |
|
Standard Connector
|
8P8C (RJ45) | 8P8C (RJ45) |
|
Channel Classification
|
ISO/IEC 11801 Class D | ISO/IEC 11801 Class E_A |
|
Max Channel Length
|
100 m | — |
|
Wire Pairs
|
4 pairs | — |
|
Active Pairs (100BASE-TX)
|
2 pairs | — |
|
Typical Shielding
|
U/UTP (Unshielded) | — |
|
Max Channel Length (10 Gbps)
|
— | 100 m |
|
Alien Crosstalk (ANEXT) Specification
|
— | Mandatory |
|
Wire Gauge (Typical)
|
— | 23 AWG |
|
Common Shielding
|
— | F/UTP, U/FTP, or U/UTP with thick jacket |