Cat 8 Gaming Cable Review: Do You Really Need It?

When you play online, every millisecond counts. It doesn’t matter if you are grinding ranks in Valorant, building snipe towers in Fortnite or raiding with your friends in Destiny 2; a stable connection can be the difference between victory or defeat. Convenient, but it just doesn’t have the speed, consistency and low-response time you need for desktop gaming.

The short answer: Cat 8 is the fastest Ethernet cable yet, but it may be overkill for the average home network. Cat 6 and Cat 6a cables generally offer the best compromise between cost and performance for gaming rigs.

Ethernet Cables Are Better Than WiFi for Gaming – Here’s Why

A wired Ethernet connection trumps WiFi for nearly every gaming application. It isn’t opinion; it is a technical fact.

Faster Response Times with Reduced Latency

With Ethernet, you can plug your computer directly into your router. This gets rid of the signal latencies that are frustrating of wireless links. Wired internet will routinely shave at least 10 to 30 ms off of your ping compared with WiFi. It can be game-changing in competitive games where it is a few seconds that are the difference between victory and defeat.

Rock-Solid Stability

WiFi signals suffer from interference. Anything from Bluetooth devices, nearby networks, microwaves or even walls can interfere with your connection. You are free from all these fears with the use of network cables. Plus a secure wired connection gives you near-zero latency, meaning no annoying dropouts where your line of sight becomes obscured.

The benefit is even more noticeable when gaming in an apartment or with a roommate. This makes it so there are no competing signals and varying speeds when used at high times.

Consistent Bandwidth Delivery

While WiFi is shared among devices, Ethernet gives your gaming system its own special data connection. This ensures a strong connection even when someone else in your household is watching YouTube videos or downloading a huge file.

Understanding Ethernet Cable Categories

But before you commit to the right cable, it’s important to know what each category can do. Here’s a look at some of the most widely available possibilities.

Cat 5e Cables

Cat 5e is still the lowest category of cable that we recommend for use in gaming. These cables provide performance of up to 1 Gbps and are suitable for high-speed Cat 5e applications. They suit casual gamers who play less resource-intensive games just fine. But they don’t have the protection and bandwidth of newer cables.

Cat 6 Cables

Most gaming setups will find Cat 6 cables a sweet spot. They go up distances of less than 55m with bandwidths of 250 MHz and deliver speeds of 10 Gbps. Improved shielding reduces interference and crosstalk. These cords are built to keep up with HD streaming, competitive gaming and big downloads.

Cat 6a Cables

Cat 6a doubles down on performance with better shielding and also supports 10 Gbps speeds up to 100 meters. The extra insulation provides protection against low to high temperature, flame, and general environmental hazards. They also work with compatible devices for Power over Ethernet.

Cat 7 Cables

Cat 7 Shielded Ethernet Cable provides up to a transfer rate of 1000MHz. They are rated for speeds up to 10 Gbps with a bandwidth of 600 MHz. These cables are ideal in heavy electronic noise environments or when running the cable next to power. A gamer’s dream for streaming their gameplay—laser-etched ferrite cores provide the highest level of transmission interference.

Cat 8 Cables

Cat 8 is the most advanced Ethernet technology. They are capable of delivering speeds up to 40 Gbps (2000 MHz) and lengths up to 98 ft. Full shielding to help minimize these pesky little electron nuisances. But they only have a range of 30 meters at top speed.

Is Cat 8 Worth It for Gaming?

On paper, Cat 8 cables seem like an impressive monster. But what do those numbers mean in the real world of video gaming?

The Technical Reality

Most online games need 3 to 25 Mbps. The most intense multiplayer games seldom even surpass 100 Mbps, which is quite slow in the world of broadband. Cat 8 cables offer the ability to transfer data at up to 40 Gbps, which is roughly 400 times more than what most games require. And there is no practical payback for this huge overhead during gameplay.

Hardware Limitations

Real world performance depends on your network devices. The vast majority of home routers, modems and gaming consoles have 1 Gbps Ethernet ports. The PS5 and Xbox Series X both feature a 1Gbps NIC. Regardless of how fast your cable is, whether you are a commercial or residential customer, the speed test checks your internet connection’s download and upload bandwidth.

A Cat 8 cable with a 1 Gbps router will provide the same speed as a Cat 6 cable. 40 Gbps speeds are not possible with 1 Gbps rated equipment.

When Cat 8 Makes Sense

Cat 8 cables are worth it in some situations. Professional streamers who game, while streaming 4K and have multiple data-intensive background applications running at the same time, might get some use out of it. Those with multi-gigabit internet packages and the right networking gear can take advantage of faster speeds. Cat 8 performance may be useful for those trying to build home servers, or host LAN parties with several high-bandwidth users.

Cat 8 cabling supports better shielding as well, so it is also suitable for high-interference applications. The extra protection can also help if your gaming setup is located close to power cables, industrial equipment or other clusters of electronics that might interfere with signal stability.

The Bottom Line on Cat 8

For the great, great majority of online gamers, Cat 8 is overkill. It’s a beast of a card, but one that I’d wager not even the majority of gaming rigs will be able to push to the max. Cat 6 or Cat 6a cables work great for so much less.

Selecting the Right Cable for Your Gaming Needs

Different gamers have different needs. So how do you match your cable selection to setup?

Casual and Console Gamers

Cat 5e or Cat 6 cable suits casual gaming just fine. Console players (inside the walled garden of PS5, Xbox Series X or—God forbid—Nintendo Switch) will find Cat 6 to be more than adequate. These cables have to be able to support gigabit speeds well beyond what most of us are getting in terms of internet plans and gaming consoles.

Competitive PC Gamers

If you’re a serious competitive gamer, however, think about switching to Cat 6 or Cat 6a cables. They deliver the kind of reliability and low latency required for shooters and other twitchy games that demand immediate in-game hardware acceleration. The better-insulated cable decreases the discord and makes sure you never experience a micro-stutter during those key moments.

Streamers and Content Creators

There is also the need for reliable bandwidth for gamers who stream their gameplay while playing. Cat 6a or Cat 7 wires provide a constant connection for gaming and streaming at the same time. Stronger screening for interference-free broadcasting.

Future-Proofing Enthusiasts

People who want their networking configuration to last a decade might consider Cat 6a or better, and Cat 8. Even as internet speeds grow and networking equipment advances, higher category cables are compatible. Still, as far as home networks go, Cat 6a offers fantastic future-proofing without the high price tag of Cat 8.

Cable Length and Gaming Performance

Signal quality is subject to the length of your Ethernet cable. Selecting the appropriate length can maximize performance while keeping your system clean.

Short Cables for Desk Setups

When your gaming PC or console is near your router, cables that are 3 to 10 feet tend to work best. With shorter cables you can minimize signal loss and keep your ping low. They also minimize the cable mess around your gaming area.

Medium Cables for Room Setups

Cables of between 10 and 50 feet will suit most home gaming setups. Cat 6 cables can have full gigabit performance without problems over these distances. Run cables under the baseboards or under carpets to keep everything tidy.

Long Cables for Multi-Room Setups

If your gaming setup resides a good distance away from your router, then the necessity for 50 or even 100 foot cables arises. Cat 6a cables keep your 10 Gbps signal intact over longer runs. Cat 6a performs, on average, at a higher level of integrity than standard Cat 6 when too much of the cable has been unspooled.

Shielded vs Unshielded Cables

The jacket on your Ethernet cable plays a role in how resistant it is to interference. Knowing when you need shielding can help you make the best decision.

Unshielded Twisted Pair Cables

And unshielded cables, called UTP, are just fine around the house. They’re cheaper, more flexible and easier to fit in tight spaces. For the vast majority of setups, UTP cables are perfectly reliable if you have a minimum amount of electronic noise.

Shielded Twisted Pair Cables

Shielded cables are coated in an insulation which is designed to block out electromagnetic interference. They’re great in apartments with lots of nearby networks, near power lines or electrical systems, basements or garages with industrial gear and for outdoor or long-distance runs.

The shield makes the apparatus more expensive and less flexible. Buy shielded cables only if you know that your environment needs them.

Getting Your Ethernet Gaming Connection Started

Proper cable installation matters. It optimizes your cable’s capability. For best results, follow these tips.

Measure Before Buying

Measure out the precise distance between your router and gaming setup. Allow a few additional feet for routing around furniture and along walls. Just avoid cables much longer than necessary; essentially you can start degrading the signal at such distances.

Route Cables Carefully

Whenever possible keep Ethernet cables away from electrical wiring and power strips. Do not run your leads in parallel with power wires for long distance runs. If it is necessary for a cable to cross over a power line, do so at right angles as much as possible.

Test Your Connection

Once your internet is ready, be sure to run speed tests just to confirm that you’re up as advertised. Test in games the quality of your ping compared with WiFi. Keep track of packet loss or connection drops, and overall your game performance in intense situations.

Making the Final Decision

The best Ethernet cable for gaming depends on your particular setup. Most gamers do just fine with Cat 6 cable. They provide the ideal combination of performance, reliability and value.

Cat 8 cabling has great specs and only delivers a marginal real-world benefit for your average gamer. Unless you have multi-gigabit networking equipment or are working in high-interference environments, the extra expense seldom proves worthwhile.

Look for the best quality cable from a well-regarded manufacturer and do not just try to colour by numbers—there is no perfect cable, as in every technology. A good Cat 6 cable that is properly made will be better than a poorly made Cat 8 cable every day. What really matters (beyond the theoretical max) is proper construction, quality connectors and correct length.

It’s a huge upgrade over just using WiFi regardless of your router quality. There’s no special category that you should opt for, as the specific category is far less important than simply switching to wired in the first place.