@Jcharlie82 

The following should help you determine what cat cable to go with :) 

Here's a more detailed breakdown:

1. Internet Speed:

• Less than 100 Mbps: Cat5 should suffice, but Cat5e is recommended. 
• Up to 1 Gigabit: Cat5e or Cat6 are suitable. 
• 1 Gigabit and higher: Cat6 or Cat6a are recommended. 
• Multi-gigabit (2.5 Gbps or higher): Consider Cat6a or even Cat8 for future-proofing, especially if you anticipate needing higher speeds. 

2. Network Usage:

• Home Use:

  .

  Cat5e or Cat6 are generally fine for basic internet and home networking tasks. 

• Gaming/High-Bandwidth:

  .

  Cat6 or Cat6a can provide better performance with lower latency and faster speeds. 

• Large Networks/Data Centers:

  .

  Cat6a and Cat8 are designed for higher bandwidth and performance needs, especially over longer distances. 

3. Future-Proofing:

• If you anticipate needing faster speeds in the future, Cat6a or even Cat8 can provide more headroom. 

4. Physical Considerations:

• Length:

  .

  For longer runs, Cat6a or Cat8 may be necessary to maintain signal strength and speed. 

• Environmental Factors:

  .

  Consider potential interference from other cables or devices. Cat6a and Cat8 offer better shielding against interference.