Everyone has different needs. Perhaps one person streams while another plays casually. Both would end up using different ethernet cables.
Here are the best ethernet cables for gaming available today.
Q: Do You Need Cat8 For Gaming?
The capabilities of a Cat8 ethernet cable is, by all accounts, superior to a Cat7 ethernet cable. One could make the connection that a Cat8 is the best option for gaming. However, it isn’t that simple.
Internet speeds are only getting faster and this ensures you will be the first to surf those waves when it does. What’s also nice are the length options. For short distances, like your PC to the modem, you can pick up a small 1.5-foot cable. For long distances, the Dacrown Cat 8 RJ45 Ethernet Cable has a 150-foot length option.
Lastly, it has excellent durability. The RJ45 is gold-plated, with a resistance to oxidation. It’s even water-resistant. The wires themselves are covered in a PVC that’s UV-resistant.
When it comes to performing, the Mukodi Nylon Braided Flat Cat 7 Ethernet Cable gives a one-two punch with its 10Gbps data transfer speed and a 600MHz frequency. That’s more than enough for casual and competitive gaming, even with top-tier internet providers.
As for durability, the Mukodi Nylon Braided Flat Cat 7 Ethernet Cable uses an aesthetically pleasing nylon braided covering. It isn’t just for looks though, since its braiding also adds durability by allowing the wire to bend without breaking. More importantly, it’s flat. It’s far easier to conceal in homes.
This is because it supports 10Gbps data transfer speeds and a 600MHz bandwidth limit. It’s solid in quality, too. Underneath the PVC jacket are four shielded twisted pairs of 32 AWG copper wires and a ground wire for safety in various conditions.
Additionally, its flat design makes it very easy to place under the rug without causing unnecessary damage.
This is because the Cable Matters Cat6 Ethernet Cable Combo Pack aren’t just average ethernet cables, but Cat 6, which are a big step up from Cat 5 in terms of performance and well above what competitive gamers need. It can transfer data at 10Gbps, with a 550MHz bandwidth.
The gold-plated contacts are attached to five different colored ethernet cables, which makes it incredibly convenient for color-coding your devices. Speaking of which, Cable Matters did the right thing by adding a separator inside to reduce crosstalk and keep the connection as clean as possible.
It’s a great choice if you need multiple devices plugged in as quickly as possible. And since they’re multi-colored, one color can be assigned to one specific device.
You’ll get a maximum transfer speed of 10Gbps, with a 600MHz bandwidth. Its 50-micron gold-plated RJ45 connector then further helps keep the stream of data strong and secure. Its design then opens up a world of versatility and possibility.
For starters, there’s a 100-foot option, which is especially helpful for routing a Jadaol Cat 7 Ethernet Cable from one part of the house to another. Additionally, the flat design helps hides away underneath rugs or run along with corners of the house.
At 40Gbps and a 2GHz bandwidth, transferring data is effective and fantastically fast. There’s a reason they’re used in data centers. Additionally, its 50-micron gold-plated RJ45 connector ensures minimum data loss and anti-corrosion properties.
For durability, the STP shielded wires are wrapped in fancy-looking nylon braiding. Furthermore, the wire is flat in design to help to place under rugs or routing around corners.
Even in competitive gaming, you wouldn’t need anything more than a Cat7, provided your internet connection doesn’t exceed its data transfer cap. Furthermore, Cat8 ethernet cables are, at the moment, typically used in datacenters. With that said, there is still merit in wanting to future-proof hardware.
Q: Wired VS Wi-Fi; which is better for gaming?
On the surface, there’s nothing wrong with using Wi-Fi for gaming—even if you take your gaming seriously. However, it comes with more drawbacks than it does benefit.
Being able to go wireless adds a level of versatility as to where one can place devices. Not to mention having one less cable being routed from one room to another. You also save yourself some pocket change knowing you don’t need an ethernet cable for a specific device.
Unfortunately, Wi-Fi simply doesn’t offer the same stable connection. Hooking an ethernet cable from one device to the router gives that device access to your ISP’s full bandwidth. With a Wi-Fi connection, you’d share bandwidth alongside every device connected to it.
Q: Is Shielding Necessary For Ethernet Cables?
Yes, absolutely. This is especially true when it comes to creating a stable, high-quality connection. In fact, ignoring shielding altogether could introduce interference that, in theory, could disrupt the flow of your game.
Ethernet cables can experience what’s called “crosstalk.” Imagine you’re having a conversation with a friend. All of a sudden someone else standing next to you starts talking loudly. If enough people do that, you’d eventually lose out on what your friend said.
In the case of ethernet cables, crosstalk can cause the quality of your connection to dwindle. Enough contamination with your connection and it’s goodbye to that perfect win.