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Cat 7 vs Cat 8 | Designed for Reduced Attenuation and Better Performance for High Speed Ethernet

You have your new computer at your new apartment, but now you want to go on the Internet.  What can you do?  Well, if you have the right ethernet cable, you can just and go - then quickly go online and access the Internet with blazingly high speeds.

At VSS Monitoring, we are dedicated to sharing the best information, knowledge, and updates to help solve your technology problems.  We make it a priority to have excellent content for our readers to help manage their digital lives.

When choosing the best ethernet cable, it is important to distinguish the different between Cat 7 vs CAT 8 ethernet cables to help with the best performance and more speed when accessing the Internet with your device. So, check out our best Ethernet cable reviews. Or you can go down the more basic, budget route, and see for yourself what's a  CAT5 compared to CAT6 like.

Key Takeaways

  • To ensure the best performance and maximum speed when using your device to access the Internet, it's crucial to understand the differences between Cat 7 and CAT 8 ethernet connections.
  • Although the differences between Cat 7 and Cat 8 ethernet cables are minor, they are nonetheless important to know about and take into account when selecting the best ethernet cable for your device to connect to the Internet.
  • The quickest cable to date is Cat8 ethernet. It can carry data more quickly than Cat6a cable, up to 40 Gbps (gigabytes) per second.
  • Although the Cat7, or Category 7 Gigabit LAN cable, may be thought of as a more expensive option, it has significant advantages.

What’s Better Cat 7 Or Cat 8?

The differences between Cat 7 vs cat 8 ethernet cables are quite small, but are still useful to understand and consider when choosing the right ethernet cable to access the Internet with your device. It will help to learn first what a CAT 6 or a CAT 6A cable brings to the table here, or find out how CAT6 compares to CAT 6E.

The maximum length of Cat7 cables is 100 meters with up to 10 Gbps in speed.  In comparison, the maximum length of Cat8 cables is limited to 30 meters with up to 25 Gbps or 40 Gbps in speed.

Both Cat7 and Cat8 ethernet cables offer shielding cable construction that provides extensive shielding designed for reduced attenuation and higher performance for high speed ethernet connection.  When comparing cat7 vs cat8 cables, other specifications should be considered like cabling length, speed frequency, connectors, splitting, and backward compatible functionality.

When comparing previous versions of lower category cables like Cat5 and Cat6 cables, we can see that the cat7 vs cat8 cable offers generally a higher speed of 600 MHz to 2000 MHz.

blue cables

Another major difference between cat7 vs cat8 cables is the number and types of connectors that may be backwards compatible with previous cables.  The Cat7, short for Category 7, cables normally have longer cables than the Cat8 cables.

The Cat8, short for Category 8 cables,

When comparing between cat7 vs cat8, another important advantage to consider is the connection speed and distance limitation.  The lower category Cat6 cable tops off at 250 Mhz, but the Cat7 and Cat8 cables both use a higher speed frequency to support even higher data at the maximum transmission speed or rates.

Cat7 can reach frequency speeds of up to 600 Mhz for a range of 100m. On the other hand, Cat8 can reach up to 2000 MHz at up to 30 meters, which is a much shorter range less than 100m in comparison to Cat7.

If you decide to use Category 7 or Category 8 cables, remember that the main differences in cat7 versus cat8 come down to the cabling length, frequency, speed or other specifications.  However, it depends on what your home or business office network may need, so price or other specifications may also even be a limiting constraint when deciding which cable to get.

Is Cat 8 The Best Ethernet Cable?

The Cat8 ethernet cable is the fastest cable yet.  It has data transfer of higher speeds up to 40 Gbps (gigabytes) which is four times faster than the Cat6a cable.  The Cat 8 cable also supports bandwidth of up to GHz (gigahertz), which is also four times more than the standard bandwidth supported with the Cat6a cable.

These key added features and better support make the Cat 8 cable type superior for reducing latency and increasing signal quality. Check out here the best Ethernet cable for gaming reviews, or more specifically, the best Ethernet cable for gaming on PS4.

Are Cat 8 Cables Worth It?

The Cat8, short for Category 8, ethernet cable costs a bit more than the cat6 and cat7 cables because of its higher performance features.  The higher price of the cat8 cable comes down to the circuitry in its twisted pair cable structure and shielding.

Because higher frequencies require more twists in the cable twisted pair, the process of manufacturing such cable pairs becomes more expensive.  The cost of raw materials for shielding gets more expensive as well.

white cable

As more twisting occurs on the Cat8 ethernet cable, the more increasingly difficult it is to shield higher frequencies from electromagnetic interference and crosstalk.

Recommended Cat 8 ethernet cable

If you're looking for the best OLED TV, choose between these two new models:

  • This DBillionDa Direct CAT8 Gaming Ethernet Cable  ethernet cable is designed for high-performance networks, such as server applications, PS3, PS4, PS5, cloud computing, data centers, and other networking applications. Perfect to connect your gaming devices, Xbox, Network adapters, Hubs, Switches, Routers, DSL/Cable Modems, and Patch Panels.
    Cat8 reduces the signal interference of crosstalk, noise, and other interference that decreases the signal quality. This cable is shielded for outdoor & indoor use. It comes in 25FT heavy-duty 26AWG It's weatherproof, with a Gold Plated RJ45 connector.

  • This Cat 8 Shielded ethernet cable features a performance of up to 40000 Mbps (40 Gigabit) per second. The high bandwidth of up to 2000 MHz, high-speed data transfer make it ideal for server applications, cloud storage, online HD video streaming, and gaming without any lag of data.
    It's made of 4 shielded foiled twisted pair (S/FTP) copper wires and has 24K gold-plated RJ45 connectors on each end which make it both fast and robust.

  •  This Cat 8 Ethernet Cable can reduce any signal interference to the full extent. This allows you to stream HD videos, music, surf the web, and play games at Hyper Speed. It supports bandwidth up to 2000MHz and boosts the speed of data transmission up to 40Gbps.
    It has 100% oxygen-free copper inside, 4 Pairs 100% 26WAG pure & thick shielded twisted pair (STP) of copper wires. The Aluminium woven mesh shield makes it extremely durable for indoor and outdoor use.

Should I Use Cat 7 Cable?

The Cat7, short for Category 7, Gigabit LAN cable may be considered a more expensive option, but that comes with some benefits.  The Cat7 cable is generally the most durable and have a longer lifespan than the Cat5 or Cat6 cables.  Therefore, many critics feel that the greater return on investment from the Cat 7 cable is an appealing feature of this cable.

Unlike many other cables , the Cat 7 cable does not use the traditional RJ-45 Ethernet header (also, technically known as an 8P8C connector).  Instead, the GG45 connector is used.

The GG45 connector is a proprietary connector that is backward compatible with RJ 45.  These connectors are a little more difficult to find.  However, the Cat 7 cable is also compatible with the TERA connector, which is another connector type that is not commonly used in industry (see 'Types of Ethernet Cables').

Despite these drawbacks, the Cat 7 cable supports high speed ethernet communication and is fully shielded to the S/FTP standard, where not only does it have an overall braided shield, but also each individual twisted pair of wire is foil shielded as well.

Because Cat7 cables were not designed to confirm with the common industry standard for cables,  the popularity of the Cat 7 cable quickly declined and led to the development of the Cat6A cable in 2008.

It is important to note that the Cat6A is actually a newer iteration of the cable wiring than the Cat7, so this further leads to some confusion in the marketing and promotion of this new cable  because of the higher number category for the Cat 7 cable than the Cat6 cable.

A disadvantage of the Cat 7 cable is that the cable  lacks the official stamp of approval and certification from the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) as well as from the Electronics Industries Alliance (EIA).  This is a driving factor for the low popularity of Cat 7 cable for many adopters who would prefer some of the cable types be officially certified as an industry and professional standard.

Recommended Cat 7 ethernet cable

  • The Jadaol Best Cat 7 Flat Ethernet Cable is made of 4 shielded twisted pairs of copper wires with two RJ45 connectors on each end. It boasts better quality in twisting of the wires, high-quality shielded rj45 connectors-50 Micron Gold plated contact pins.
    It's ideal for networking switches, routers, ADSL, adapters, hubs, modems, PS3, PS4, X-box, patch panels, and other high-performance networking applications which require up to 600 MHz.

  • 10FT High Speed Cat 7 Ethernet Cables: Coming in lengths 3-75 FT, this cable is compatible with Servers, Xbox Series X, Xbox S, Laptop, PC, TV, Television, Smart TV, Xbox One, Xbox 360, Router, Modem, Server, Mining Rigs, PlayStation, Xbox, Gaming Console, PS3, PS4, and PS5.
    G-PLUG AUTHENTIC CAT7 ethernet cable is designed to reach speeds up to 10GBPS.
    The reliable pure copper conductor & drain wire, PE insulation, and aluminum foil pair shielding help reduce interference & ensure a steady signal. It comes with gold-plated connectors, pins, & shield for impressively stable connection and speed.

  • Danyee Cat 7 Lan Cable supports bandwidth up to 600MHz at speeds of up to 10Gbps and comes with RJ45 connectors which offer universal connectivity to computers and network components, such as Wi-Fi routers, modems, printers, XBox, PS2, PS3, PS4 and switch boxes. The additional shielding and improved quality in twisting of the wires provide better protection from crosstalk, noise, and interference. A great Cat7 lan cable for the price!

which is better cat 6 or 7

Cat 7 vs Cat 8 Cables: What’s the Difference?

When choosing between Cat7 versus Cat8 data cables, it is important to compare and contrast the features and capabilities of both types of cables before making an informed decision for your data and Internet needs.

Let's take a look at the major differences of their features and functionality of cat7 and cat8 cables for comparison.

Pricing

The Cat 8 cable is a newer iteration of data cables with more expensive materials in the wiring.  Therefore, the Cat8 cable general cost more than the Cat 7 cable because of its unique features.

Maximum Cabling Length

The maximum cabling length of the Cat 7 cable is 100 meters and supports a maximum frequency speed communication  up to 10 Gbps.  The maximum cable length of the Cat8 cable is limited to only 30 meters with at least a rate of 25 Gbps or 40 Gbps.  Both cables offer decent shielded cabling length or your home or office environment needs compared to previous versions like the Cat 5 or Cat 6 cable that allows up to 100m in length.

Performance

Cat 7 cables support a rate of up to 600 MHz, whereas the Cat 8 cable offers performance rates of up to 2000 MHz (2 GHz).  This speed frequency when comparing cat7 versus cat8 is still quite good in comparison to the lower category cat6, which only reaches a speed frequency of up to 250 MHz.

check out best ethernet splitter

Connectors

The Cat7 cable provides a 4-connector channel with shielded cabling.  These cables require twisted wires in order to become a full shield system, also known as screen shielded twisted pair (SSTP) or screen foiled twisted pair (SFTP) wiring.  This eliminates alien crosstalk as well as improved noise resistance.  The connector type is non-RJ45.

The Cat7 cable also requires modern test equipment, so this may prove to be an additional cost when accounting for additional expenses for network equipment, wires, and other applications during the testing phase.

The Cat 8 cable provides a 2-connector channel.  Similar to the Cat7, the Cat 8 cable requires shielded cabling.  Although the physical  appearance looks quite similar to lower category wires like the Cat 6 or Cat 7 cables, the major difference is that the Cat 8 cable is backward compatible in its connector as it terminates in RJ45 connections for Class 1  or non-RJ45 connections for Class 2.

The Cat 8 cable is compatible with the ethernet standard connectors of previous versions such as Cat7, but not compatible with Cat5e and Cat6 cables.

Conclusion

When deciding between cat7 versus cat8 as a cable network to get for your home or business office, there are many factors to consider.  Even with so many different categories of cables or wires, if your goal is to get connected to the Web and ensure high rate data transfer within the network, you should choose one that is fairly priced to your budget and meets your network needs that will be used on a daily basis.

For even more reviews, information, and up-to-date news on your favorite software, hardware, and network products managing your digital life, be sure to visit the VSS Monitoring homepage.  If there is one thing you can do today to improve your digital life, it is to stay informed and apply that knowledge to work for you!

FAQs:

1. What is better Cat7 vs Cat8?

There are many factors to consider when deciding what type of cable to use for your network. But when it comes down to it, what’s the difference between Cat7 and Cat8?

Well, Cat7 cables support speeds up to 10Gbps, while Cat8 cables support speeds up to 40Gbps. So if you have a lot of data that needs to be transferred quickly, Cat8 is the way to go.

However, Cat7 cables are less expensive and more widely available than Cat8 cables. So if you don’t need the extra speed, Cat7 is a good option.

Ultimately, the decision depends on your specific needs. But our recommendation is always to use Cat8 cables when possible – they provide the best performance and future-proof your network.

2. Is Cat7 Ethernet cable good for gaming?

Cat7 Ethernet cables are designed for high-speed data transmission, so they are a good choice for gaming. They can handle speeds of up to 10 Gbps, which is more than enough for most gaming needs.

3. What is cat 8 for?

Cat8 is the next standard for Ethernet cables. It offers speeds of up to 10 Gbps and can handle bandwidth-intensive tasks like 4K video streaming and online gaming. While it's not yet required, we recommend using cat8 cables to future-proof your network and ensure the best possible performance.

4. What is CAT 7 cable used for?

Category 7 cable, also known as Cat7 or Cat-7 cable, is used to connect the Gigabit Ethernet infrastructure. It supports frequencies of up to 600MHz. A perfect option for connecting your smart home. Following the cabling, you can even look for automation ideas.

5. Does long ethernet cable reduce speed?

Long ethernet cables can reduce the speed of the signal. This is because as the cable gets longer, it becomes more susceptible to interference. The further the signal has to travel, the more likely it is to be affected by noise and other factors. If you are using a cable that is over 328 feet long, your signal may be significantly reduced.

About Dusan Stanar

I'm the founder of VSS Monitoring. I have been both writing and working in technology in a number of roles for dozens of years and wanted to bring my experience online to make it publicly available. Visit https://www.vssmonitoring.com/about-us/ to read more about myself and the rest of the team.

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