Which cable standard should i use?

[JLocke5]

What is the most logical Cat choice for a small home network? CAT5, CAT5e, CAT6?

[Lurick]

Cat5 is limited to 100Mbps, you might get gigabit at really short distances but not guaranteed and not worth it.

Cat5e is 1Gbps to 100m

Cat6 is 10Gbps up to 55m and 1Gbps to 100m

 

If you think you might make use of 10Gbps copper later on then go with Cat6 or Cat6a for 100m of 10Gbps if you have really long runs. If this is for in-wall runs then definitely Cat6 or Cat6a and AVOID at all costs CCA (copper clad aluminum) cable as it's brittle as heck and does NOT meet spec, regardless of what some people might try to sell you on.

 

If this is for a gigabit link and not in the walls then Cat5e is fine.

[Statik]

Realistically Cat5e is perfectly fine.

[PopsicleHustler]

1 minute ago, Statik said:

Realistically Cat5e is perfectly fine.

You beat me by a couple seconds with this response.

[Windows7ge]

Cat5e if all you need is 10/100/1000mbps

Cat6a if you want the lines to support 100/1000mbps then 10Gbit for 100m.

 

Many of the other/higher standards really aren't necessary for most home applications.

[mariushm]

Use Cat6 or Cat6a ... don't go overboard with Cat7 or higher, as they're mostly bogus anyway.

 

Don't get the cheapest, avoid the ones that have CCA printed on them or on the box ...that's short for copper clad aluminum, which means the wires inside the cable are actually aluminum wires plated with copper... those are supposed to be used only for short distances, patch cables, not for a cable that you want to use for long time.

Cheapest thinnest cables often have sleeve made of materials that after some time can dry out and crack and the wires are then exposed and so on...

[beersykins]

As per others, depends if futureproofing, labor or cost are important to you.

 

Cat5e if you don't care or it isn't worth the dollars

Cat6a to run 10Gbps and not have to pull cabling again a couple years down the line.