I've seen a lot of talk online suggesting that Ethernet cable categories don't really affect latency, but I've noticed a significant drop in my latency after upgrading my cables. I've been measuring my ping in online games, and here's what I found:
- Cat5e: 68-74ms (with a lot of variability)
- Cat6: 65ms (much more stable)
- Cat8: 54ms (the best performance)
I'm connected directly from my PC to the router. Is there something going on with my Cat8 cable, or could there be another reason for this drop in latency?
4 Answers
Latency is usually measured to the endpoint you control, like your router, so it’s possible that factors beyond your cables are influencing your readings. Many variables affect your internet path, which might not be related to the cables at all. Sounds like a case of coincidence rather than causation.
Wait, are you saying you're upset that your ping dropped after upgrading your cables? That's a win! Have you tried testing all three cables back-to-back to see if there’s a consistent difference?
You should definitely look into how signal quality can change with cable type. Better shielding in higher-category cables can lead to reduced latency due to less loss of signal as it travels. While some folks claim there’s no difference between Cat6a and Cat8, it's all about what's happening to your signal as it goes through the cable.
So you're saying better cables do have an impact, but some just prefer to argue against it?
Honestly, your situation might be due to interference. The Cat5e could have been unshielded and therefore more susceptible to noise. Cat8, being shielded, handles that much better. If you have electrically noisy equipment nearby, it could affect performance depending on the cable. It's worth checking your network interface card (NIC) and router stats for packet loss.
So, if I understand correctly, my cable swaps might not be the main factor here?