Selecting the best and high-quality ethernet cable for gaming purposes can be baffling. To a novice person, all ethernet cables look the same. Fortunately, if you are planning to buy ethernet cables for gaming purposes, you need not worry as you have just got yourself landed at the right place. Just stay with us till the end!
The question may pop up in your mind: why do you need to buy high-quality ethernet cable for gaming? Well, a superior quality ethernet cable provides you ultimate gaming experience with zero interference or lag in the connection.
The need to buy ethernet cables bulk increases threefold if you need the same for your PlayStation or Xbox. As all ethernet cables vary in speed, size, and security, it becomes indispensable that you possess a piece of in-depth knowledge about all so that you get the best value for your money.
Features of Ethernet Cables Do Matter
When purchasing the ethernet cable, you should first completely fathom and be able to differentiate between features of the various categories of the ethernet cables.
Cat or Category
From Cat5 family to Cat7a, ethernet cables come in various features. As we move upward, there is an increase in bandwidth capacities and data transfer speed with extra layers of protection from crosstalk and electromagnetic interference.
Despite the rapid and tremendous evolution witnessed by the gaming industry, Cat6 ethernet cables and Cat6a ethernet cables remain ideal choices for household applications. Besides offering a data transfer speed of up to 10Gbps at a distance of 55 meters or 1Gbps at a distance of up to 100 meters, they are also on the affordable side.
Cat7 Ethernet Cable
The upgrades—Cat7 ethernet cable and Cat7a ethernet cable—are usually preferred for commercial and professional purposes. The Cat6 and Cat6a family offers a mammoth data transfer speed of up to 10 Gbps with Cat7 and Cat7a even surpassing them by great margins.
Speaking of the gaming industry, at present, there isn’t any game that requires such a tremendous range of bandwidths or data transfer speeds. So, as an avid gamer, we are quite sure that you will be content with Cat6 or Cat6a.
Don’t Ignore Length Factor
Now that you have figured out which category suits your needs best, the second factor to take into consideration when picking ethernet cable is length. The shorter the cable, the stronger will be the signal strength and the smoother will be the gaming experience.
The longer the length of the ethernet cable, the weaker the signal quality. It will result in higher crosstalk that will considerably reduce the overall network performance and signal strength. Hence, your gaming experience will be affected.
Therefore, it is always recommended that you buy ethernet cables of shorter lengths as they come with readily attached connectors.
For the ultimate experience, you should measure the distance between the router and gaming console. The same should not exceed 100 meters.
The Compatibility Limitation
Usually, the original equipment providers (the gaming company) provide ethernet cables in their complete packages (still, some manufacturers prefer against doing so).
As these cables are usually marked with the “OEM” brand, several gamers prefer buying the same ethernet cables (not necessarily that they provide a better experience, rather they seem more content doing so). When purchasing the ethernet cable, you should know which game console supports which types of jacks, so that you can select ethernet cable accordingly.
The Newer, The Better
Cat5e ethernet cable can provide you with a good gaming experience, but there’s no harm in futureproofing your needs. Therefore, if you are an avid gamer, it is always wise to buy the latest versions of ethernet cables.
So, we recommend you go with high-quality ethernet cables like Cat6 or Cat6a.
Various surveys have proved that Cat6 and Cat6a cables have proved to be the best cables for gamers. They come in extra protection and never compromise on signal quality.
Another factor that matters most is that you select a suitable wireless access point. Ensure that whatever wireless access point you select, meets the minimum requirements. Capacity remains a key factor when selecting the standard wireless access point.
Summing up, you should take these factors into account when you go to buy ethernet cables for gaming purposes:
- Frequency and Speed,
- Length,
- Compatibility,
- And, the version (Cat5e, Cat6, Cat6a, or any other).
So, gamers, we hope that we have answered all of your queries well. And the next time you visit the store to buy ethernet cables, you will surely make an informed decision and will get the best value for your money.
