Blog, Network Cabling
How to Choose The Best Ethernet Cable For Gaming
Oct
Do you jump when racing with your gaming buddies, and suddenly, your network lags? The primary solution is to choose the best cable for gaming. The best Ethernet cable for gaming provides the fastest and most stable connection. The excellent speed and quality of the internet allow you to roam freely in the gaming world.
If your internet drops out briefly, you will be disconnected from the gaming world. Therefore, finding the best Ethernet cable for gaming has become one of the pursuits of many gamers.
Table of contents
Why Choose Ethernet Cable?
WIFI technology is becoming increasingly mature, and wireless connection has become a popular choice for internet connection. But why is Ethernet still highly regarded in use? Here are the advantages of Ethernet cables:
Faster Speeds
The main advantage of Ethernet is speed because it is directly connected to your device. Although WIFI6 can theoretically reach 9.6 Gbps, the average speed is usually 1.6 Gbps. Ethernet can easily reach 10 Gbps.
Lower Latency and Stability
Ethernet latency is about 1-2ms, but Wi-Fi can be 30-50ms at best, and Wi-Fi can be affected by obstacles such as walls and the channel’s volume. While Wi-Fi upgrades may alleviate some of these problems, they do not change their inherent limitations. A network cable connection does not have these issues and is very stable.
More Secure
Ethernet cables are often considered more secure than Wi-Fi. Because network cables are directly connected and do not need to travel through the air, data transmissions are less likely to be intercepted. With Wi-Fi, data is broadcast wirelessly and requires end-to-end encryption to ensure its security, thus putting it at risk of unauthorized access.
However, not every Ethernet provides a better gaming experience. Older cables and poorly made cables may still not solve the problem.
How to Choose The Best Ethernet Cable for Gaming
Tip1: Types of Shielding for Ethernet Cables
Shielded Ethernet cable (STP for short)
STP uses an additional shield to protect the cable from electromagnetic interference (EMI) and radio frequency interference (RFI).
Shielded cable reduces signal loss and crosstalk, resulting in more reliable data transmission with fewer errors. STP offers higher transmission speeds and is more durable than UTP but is also more expensive and challenging to install.
Common shielding materials
- Braided Shielding: It consists of a grid of copper wires braided together, making it very flexible and durable. This device can effectively handle low-frequency interference but usually takes up more space than other types.
- Foil Shielding: It uses copper or aluminum foil, a natural fragile material. Compared to braided shielding, this material is lighter and provides better protection against high-frequency interference. However, these cables can be easily damaged if bent repeatedly or frequently.
- Combination Shielding: Some cables use both braid and foil shielding to form a combination shield to exploit their respective strengths fully. This design provides an effective defense against interference caused by various frequencies and can be used in environments with high levels of EMI.
Common types of shielded twisted pair cables
- F/UTP Twisted Pair (FTP): Shielded twisted-pair cable with an aluminum foil shield for total protection and no pair shield.
- U/FTP twisted-pair cable: shielded twisted-pair cable without a total shielding layer and with an aluminum foil shield for the pair shielding.
- SF/UTP twisted pair: the total shielding layer is silk screen + aluminum foil double shielding. The pair has no shielding of the double-shielded twisted pair;
- S/FTP twisted pair: a multiple shielded twisted pair where the total shielding layer is silkscreen, and the pair shielding is aluminum foil shielding.
- U/UTP twisted pair: usually called UTP twisted pair, unshielded twisted pair.
- F/FTP twisted pair: The total shielding layer for the aluminum foil shielding and pair shielding for the aluminum foil shielding of the double-shielded twisted pair are mainly used in super Category 6 cable and above products.
Unshielded Ethernet cable (UTP for short)
UTPs are not physically shielded from EMI or RFI. Instead, these cables use “twisting” – a phenomenon caused by the twisted pairs inside the cable—to minimize interference. The more twists per inch an unshielded Ethernet cable has, the better it handles external noise without extra protection from shielded models.
Tip2: Ethernet Cable Type
Different types of Ethernet cables – Cat5, Cat5e, Cat6, Cat6a, Cat7, Cat7a and Cat8 – have different specifications. Here’s how they compare:
| Category | Cat5 | Cat5e | Cat6 | Cat6A | Cat7 | Cat7a | Cat8 |
| Standard Bandwidth | 100MHz (up to 350) | 100MHz (up to 350) | 250MHz (up to 550) | 500MHz (up to 550) | 600MHz | 1000MHz | 2000MHz |
| Max Data Rate | 100Mbps | 1000Mbps | 1000Mbps | 10Gbps | 10Gbps | 10Gbps | 25Gbps or 40Gbps |
| Max Cable Length | 100m | 100m | 100m | 100m(or 50m at 10Gbps) | 100m(or 50m at 40Gbps) | 100m | 30m |
| Shielding Type | UTP or STP | UTP or STP | UTP or STP | UTP or STP | Shielded only | Shielded only | Shielded only |
| Networks Supported | 100Base-T | 1000Base-T | 1000Base-T | 10GBase-T | 10GBase-T | 10GBase-T | 25GBase-T40GBase-T |
| Cost | Low | Low | Fair | Fair | Moderate | Moderate | High |
| Applications | Household | Household, light gaming | Professional gaming, heavy online streaming | Data centers, high-performance computing | Commercial installations, advanced gaming setups | Commercial installations, advanced gaming setups | Cutting-edge gaming environments, professional networks |
If you are looking for the best Ethernet cable for gaming, you will first be amazed by the highest-standard Cat8. But you also need to consider comparison items other than internet speed.
Tip3：Cosmetic and mechanical factors such as cable length and color
Cable length can also affect your gaming experience. If it’s too short, it isn’t easy to plug into your console or PC from your router or Ethernet port, and you can also accidentally pull the cable when you move your computer. Buying too-long cables requires dealing with messy and tangled wires and costs you time and money!
Different cable colors may help you differentiate cable use. They also let you handle and manage the network more accurately and quickly trace the cable. Bright colors may irritate your eyeballs and affect your concentration on your game.
Standard Ethernet cables are round, but flat cables come in handy if you’re connecting a gaming console or if the cable needs to run through tight spaces like under carpeting or through walls. Choosing waterproof and durable wires can also create a great gaming experience when connecting to Ethernet in a basement or outdoors. For example, choose a cable with a durable PVC coating.
Tip4: Cable Compatibility
To maximize your Ethernet speeds, ensure your Ethernet cable is compatible with your router. If you’re using a Cat8 Ethernet cable that delivers 40Gps, but your router only delivers a maximum internet speed of 20Gps, your cable is useless. The scary thing is that you purchased Cat8, expecting high-speed internet at a high cost.
On the flip side, your router performs well, but the Ethernet cable can’t handle the speeds offered by the router, which is also a big problem. Therefore, to avoid compatibility issues, know the parameters of your network devices, like the router, in advance and then choose the suitable Ethernet cable to improve your gaming experience.
Tip5: Price of the cable
Higher internet speeds improve the gaming experience, so consider Ethernet cables capable of at least Gigabit speeds. Starting from cat6a, internet speeds can reach 10Gbps and are relatively cheap. The fastest is cat8.2, capable of 40Gbps.
But most people probably don’t choose cat8 Ethernet cables. Just as we buy other goods, we usually select the performance and price match, and choosing an Ethernet cable is the same. It’s so overpriced that perhaps it’s the optimal choice for data centers. For most gamers with gigabit or faster internet service, choosing cat6,cat6a, or cat7 will be the optimal choice.
Other notes you need to know
- When buying an Ethernet cable, don’t choose it just because of the gorgeous package. You should know the cable category and the specific parameters.
- When choosing the Best Ethernet Cable for Gaming, the manufacturer must have a particular reputation and good product quality. OPTCORE is committed to providing high-quality Ethernet cables for network, data center, and telecom owners. It has earned the trust of more than 163 countries and regions.
- Know the network speed and other specifications your home network equipment supports in advance. Use a high-quality router to determine if your equipment is compatible with Ethernet cables.
- Use high-quality routers and modems, which are crucial to optimizing your network.
- Ask your ISP about their current internet plan. If you need a faster internet plan, contact them in advance for an upgrade; otherwise, a well-chosen Ethernet cable may not be helpful.
- Last but not least, check your gaming equipment and settings. Proper equipment, graphics settings, and game optimization are factors in achieving the best gaming performance.
FAQ
Q. Is the cat8 Ethernet cable suitable for gaming?
A. Cat8 cable is the best Ethernet cable for gaming regarding network speed and quality, regardless of cost and other factors. With Cat8, you can experience high-definition, latency-free online gaming.
Q. What is the best Ethernet cable for gaming?
A. Cat8.2 is the best Ethernet cable for gaming. It provides up to 40Gps network speed and up to 2000MHz bandwidth but is too expensive. When both price and network speed are considered, Cat7, Cat6e, or Cat6 are superior.
Q. Which is faster: Ethernet cable or Wi-Fi?
A. Ethernet cable offers faster speeds than Wi-Fi because the Ethernet cable will connect directly to the router. You can learn more about the differences in our previous blog: Internet vs WiFi: What Are the Key Differences?
Q. Does the length of the Ethernet cable affect gaming performance?
A. Yes, longer cables result in lower signal quality and network performance. It is important to choose cables that are short but effective in connecting your devices.
Q: Do I have to use shielded Ethernet cables to play games?
A: Not really, but shielded Ethernet cables offer better protection from EMI and more outstanding durability. If you live in an area with many electronic devices or frequent signal interruptions, it is recommended that you choose shielded Ethernet cables.
Conclusion
In gaming, every decision you make affects the final success or failure. In life, every decision you make affects your mood and the way things go. That’s why Choosing The Best Ethernet Cable for Gaming is so important.
The Ethernet cable you choose determines your gaming experience and whether or not you’ll hear the sound of victory when the game passes. While this article may provide less-than-complete advice and has shortcomings, we hope it will help you choose the best cable for your gaming. We wish you happy gaming.
Read more
- UTP vs. STP vs. FTP vs. S/FTP Cable, What is The Difference
- Cat5, Cat5e, Cat6, Cat6a, Cat7, Cat7a vs Cat8 Cable, What is the difference?
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