CAT 5 Question

[Killer360]

I've been using the same CAT-5 cable my ISP installed for my the day I got DSL... which was a long time ago.

The end of the cable where the connector is attached appears to be sorta loose. It's like it could fall off soon.


I've been experiencing some major lag when playing games online, and I replaced the cable today and the lag has been reduced on some servers, but not on others.

Can an old CAT 5 cable casue lag?

[Sidoh]

Probably not.  In my experience, Ethernet cables either work or they don't.  My guess is that it is a coincidence.

[Newby]

Probably not. If you're worried about the end, cut it off and re-attach a new end to it.

[Killer360]

Ok, thanks.

[Sidoh]

Probably not. If you're worried about the end, cut it off and re-attach a new end to it.

Crimping can be a bit tedious, especially if you've never done it before.  Personally, I'd just buy a new patch cord.

[Newby]

Crimping can be a bit tedious, especially if you've never done it before.  Personally, I'd just buy a new patch cord.

Ehh, I took to it naturally. So I enjoy crimping my own network cables. 300 ft spool + crimpers + caps = $100. 30 10 ft strands of CAT5 = much more than $100.

[Sidoh]

It's pretty easy.  I just said it was tedious.  I cabled my own house doing the same thing.  My first real job was running cable (which included crimping, punching into blocks and punch boards and certifying the cables along with various other things).  I've probably crimped  1000 cables between that job and aiding for the tech coordinator for four years.

[rabbit]

Not to mention the cable you sent me   It still works great, btw.

[Sidoh]

Not to mention the cable you sent me   It still works great, btw.

It only took me a few months to send it to you!

[zorm]

Ehh, I took to it naturally. So I enjoy crimping my own network cables. 300 ft spool + crimpers + caps = $100. 30 10 ft strands of CAT5 = much more than $100.

I'm not entirely sure where you buy your cable from, but from my estimates and experience 30 10ft cables is about $42.

[Sidoh]

I'm not entirely sure where you buy your cable from, but from my estimates and experience 30 10ft cables is about $42.

Yeah, there's a 25ft patch cord on Newegg for $3.49.  I'd say that's about right.

That being said, it's still way cheaper to buy, run and crimp your own cable (obviously).

[Hitmen]

People who aren't very computer literate buy $30 15' cables at best buy.

[Sidoh]

People who aren't very computer literate buy $30 15' cables at best buy.

Haha, yeah.  I think I bought a 50 foot cable from this privately owned electronics store (it was like a super ghetto radio shack) for $20.  It made me cry to pay that much, but my dad was intent on buying it from there.  It's worked really well so far, though.

[Hitmen]

The markup on the cables is hilarious. My girlfriend works at best buy, and she bought a printer today (it was some cheap $40 thing just so she can print papers without running to the library while she's at school). It didn't come with a cable, and she picked up one that was $32. With her discount, she gets most things at cost + 5% or something like that, and the cable was $1.68 (the printer was a little over $16)

[Sidoh]

LOL!  Wow, those are some awesome discounts.