Cat 5e and Cat 6 both deliver 1 Gbps over the standard 100-meter channel. With tidy terminations, Cat 6 can hold 10 Gbps on short runs (~55 m). Cat 8 is a short, shielded channel for 25/40 Gbps up to about 30 m. For most new residential or office pulls I pick Cat 6—decide by run length, EMI, and budget.
For planning, I separate spec from reliable reality. Cat 5e and Cat 6 both deliver 1 Gbps across a 100-meter channel when installed cleanly. Cat 6 can hold 10 Gbps on short runs (around 55 m) in tidy, low-EMI paths. Cat 8 is a short, shielded channel for 25/40 Gbps up to roughly 30 m, intended for high-speed interconnects rather than whole-building pulls.
Craft and environment decide success at the edges. If I’m chasing short-reach 10G on Cat 6, I keep twist to the pins, respect bend radius, use quality patch cords, and avoid noisy trays. For 25/40G, I treat Cat 8 as a shielded, well-bonded point-to-point channel and verify end-to-end parts before buying spools.
Shielding only helps when the whole path is designed for it. Cat 6 can be UTP or STP; Cat 8 is a short, shielded channel that expects proper bonding and consistent shielded terminations end-to-end. If I can’t guarantee grounding quality and part compatibility, I don’t spec shielded runs.
For home and office, the RJ45 ecosystem still rules: switches, NICs, patch panels, testers, and keystones all align with Cat 5e/6. With Cat 8, I verify the exact connector family and shielded components before buying spools, then plan certification tests to confirm the channel meets its short-reach spec. PoE remains fine on 5e/6; validate under load.
Use this cheat sheet to pick confidently.
I default to Cat 6 for new pulls because it balances cost, RJ45 simplicity, and future headroom. I only spec Cat 8 when a short, shielded 25/40G hop is truly required and the client is ready for bonding discipline and certification. Whatever you choose: label, document, and certify—don’t rely on link lights.
Is Cat 8 overkill for home or office? Usually, yes. Cat 8 is a short, shielded channel aimed at 25/40G up to ~30 m. If you’re wiring rooms or floors for gigabit with occasional short 10G inside racks, Cat 6 is the practical, lower-friction pick with broad RJ45 support and easier maintenance.
Should I buy Cat 6 or Cat 8? Buy for the job. For 1 Gbps @ 100 m and short-reach 10 Gbps, Cat 6 wins on cost and ecosystem. Choose Cat 8 only when you truly need 25/40G to ~30 m and can implement shielded terminations and grounding correctly across the whole path.
Will Cat 8 reduce latency versus Cat 6? Not meaningfully in real networks. Latency is dominated by switching, routing, queuing, and the internet path—not which category label is printed on the jacket. Pick by speed window and run length, then focus on clean installs and good switching gear.
Which is best for gaming/streaming? A tidy Cat 6 install with short patch cords and certified links is ideal for 1 Gbps service. If you’re pushing short-reach 10G between a NAS and a switch in the same rack, Cat 6 still fits; Cat 8 only makes sense for short, shielded 25/40G backbones.
My rule: buy for speed × distance × noise—then certify. That’s why I standardize on Cat 6 for most building pulls, using Cat 8 only for short, shielded 25/40G hops. Done this way, you avoid overspend, keep RJ45 simplicity, and still have a clear path to higher throughput where it truly matters.
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