Gigabit Networks

[BaLa]

I currently have a LAN with 3 comps


1 x Celeron 400 w/512mb RAM (will hopefully be upgraded to a Celeron 800 or better by XMAS)
1 x K6-2 500 w/324mb RAM
1 x Athlon 1.4 w/512mb RAM


all connected to a Linksys BEFSR41 v.2
Cable Modem on WAN

right now I have reg. Cat5 cables....

I was wondering if I had to buy new cables if I wanted to change the setup from a 100mbps LAN to a Gigabit LAN..

I know with those comps it's not really neccessary and all that I was just wondering if I had to buy new cables or not..
b/c I saw some 32bit Gigabit PCI Cards that were not to xpensive..

tia..

<edit> I do know that I would have to get an additional switch
since my Router only has a built in 10/100 switch not 1000

[BlackSword]

I think cat5e is rated 1gbit.

Cat6 is rated 1gbit.

Cat5 is not rated 1gbit.

Never looked at any gbit stuff, but you would think it would have auto sense to 100mbit, so your 10/100 switch/router should be ok.

And as far as needing a gbit/s lan,, I know I don't need it for now.

[BlackSword]

Originally posted by BlackSword
And as far as needing a gbit/s lan,, I know I don't need it for now.

I mean for home use,,, at work I could probably justify it in a few areas, but at home I can wait awhile.

[YeOldeStonecat]

Yeah, you'll want new patch cables, you're plain old CAT 5's just won't carry it. I haven't dealt with patch giga yet....just fiber experience so far.

[jorey]

Hi,
When upgrading a customer to Gigabit Ethernet we advise him to measure his cat.5 cabling to see if it can support it all the way. That is from the switch to the wall outlet (however Gigabit to the desktop is not quite in use).
If the Cat.5 installation has been done properly it WILL support Gigabit.
Kind Rgds
JR

[FlyingMonkey]

Cat5 is limited to 100.

You sure that wasn't Cat5e you measured?

[YeOldeStonecat]

It's best not to "cheat it"...I for home use and fooling around, you can see if older CAT5 will manage to hold the speeds....depends on how much interference (EMI), etc your home has. Yes short runs in a totally clean environment, if the CAT5 was good CAT5...it may swing it. But on a professional basis, I'd never want to support it without everything being proper to specs. The twists over distance...in 5e and 6 are MUCH tighter.

[BlackSword]

Again,,, working and working well are two different things.

Cat5 will probably work but I would never recommend it. The nightmares of intermittent communication problems because of crosstalk and line noise, to me not worth the headaches.

I haven't researched this but I believe Cat5 is rated and tested to 100MHz, Cat5e is rated and tested to 350MHz, Cat6 ??? not sure.

If you are going to spend the $$$$ on a 1gb network then spend cents on the patch cables.:p lol I made a funny!:D

[BaLa]

never said I intended to do it....
just wanted to get "educated"

I meant it be nice and all but like you guys said..for my home network it's not going to be that big off a diff..

thanks though