Best Ethernet Cables
Our pick of the best ethernet cables, ranked by VS Score from 8 we compared.
Cat8.1 Ethernet Cable
Top pickWho it’s for: Short switch-to-server runs in a rack that need 25 or 40 Gigabit over copper.
- A much higher bandwidth ?2,000 MHz vs 375 MHz (median)
- Has 25G / 40G Ethernet ?
- Has shielded construction ?
77PointsWho it’s for: Class FA specifications and multi-service cabling where data shares a sheath with other signals.
- A much higher bandwidth ?1,000 MHz vs 375 MHz (median)
- A much higher 10 Gigabit reach ?100 m vs 42.5 m (median)
- Has shielded construction ?
76PointsWho it’s for: Structured cabling you do not want to redo: 10 Gigabit at full length, dense bundles, and high-power PoE.
- A much higher 10 Gigabit reach ?100 m vs 42.5 m (median)
- Has alien crosstalk limits ?
- A higher bandwidth ?500 MHz vs 375 MHz (median)
74PointsWho it’s for: Shielded ISO installations in electrically noisy environments, terminated properly in GG45 or TERA connectors.
- A much higher 10 Gigabit reach ?100 m vs 42.5 m (median)
- A much higher bandwidth ?600 MHz vs 375 MHz (median)
- Has shielded construction ?
73PointsWho it’s for: New home and small-office wiring that wants 5 Gigabit everywhere and 10 Gigabit on the short runs.
- A higher 10 Gigabit reach ?55 m vs 42.5 m (median)
61PointsWho it’s for: Patch leads, gigabit desk runs and 2.5 Gigabit access-point backhaul on cable that is already installed.
40PointsWho it’s for: Existing building wiring that already tests clean at gigabit and only needs to keep doing that.
23PointsWho it’s for: Voice risers, alarm and door-entry wiring, and low-power PoE phones already sitting on legacy cable.
21Points