Ugreen Cat 8 vs Kinbeta Cat 7 Ethernet Cable Review – Is Cat 8 Ethernet worth it or an overpriced scam vs Cat 6a & Cat 7?
On Amazon, there are a growing number of companies selling either Cat 8 or Cat 7 cables.
I have seen some Ugreen Cat 8 Ethernet cable posted on HotUKDeals a couple of times in the past year, and you always get people asking if it will help improve their Internet speed.
Will Cat 8 Ethernet increase my Internet speed?
There is a short and easy to that one, it is no.
In the UK, at least, it is unlikely that you will get above gigabit Internet speeds, and all modern Ethernet cables (Cat 5E and above) will happily transfer data at that speed. Cat 5E is rated at a gigabit for 100M, so there is no reason to invest in anything more expensive.
Do I need Cat 7 or Cat 8 Ethernet for 10Gbit/s connections over a LAN?
However, what about users such as myself that have a 10GbE LAN using semi-affordable multi-gig switches?
The answer is still no.
Cat5e can do 10GBase-T up to 45m if it is a solid core cable, and Cat6a has become the more common standard I choose as it is rated for 10Gbit/s connections at up to 100m.
However, the reality is a little more complex than this. If you are a network engineer or home lab/data hoarder enthusiast buying good quality cable reels and terminating it yourself, you probably won’t have any issues.
However, I have found the quality of cables sold on Amazon varies quite a bit, and sometimes, the performance doesn’t match the rating.
Cat 8 vs Cat 7 vs Cat 6a Ethernet – What’s the difference?
The limited amount of documentation online for Category 8 cable is the first red flag. It has been ratified, and it is defined as up to 2000 MHz and only 40Gbps for distances up to 30 m or 36 m, depending on the patch cords used.
While it is rated at up to 40 Gbps, as far as I can tell, there are no switches on the market that can do this using 10GBASE-T. There are plenty of commercial switches that do 25, 40, or 100 Gbps using either SFP+ or QSFP.
It has been implied that Cat 8 cable is designed to be used in data centres for these possibly non-existent switches. However, 10GBASE-T and presumably 40GBASE-T use considerably more power than the DAC or fibre alternative and most serious data centres are already on 100 Gbps switches, so why bother with new 40GBASE-T switches?
Cat 6a and Cat 7 have much lower specifications, and there is not that much difference between them. Perhaps the main one is that Cat 7 is always shielded. Both are rated for 10 Gbps at 100m, and they should be more than enough for any needs, in theory.
Questionable quality with Cat 6a cables on Amazon
Most recently, when reviewing the Zyxel XGS1250-12 Multi-Gigabit Switch, the 10m Duronic shielded Cat 6a that I had bought from Amazon (in 2019) achieved less than half of 10Gbit/. Whereas some generic Cat 6a flat white cable (probably from a Netgear router), achieved significantly better speeds.
Even with iPerf, I was only able to hit 7 Gbits/sec with the Duronic Cat 6a.
With the mixed results I experienced, I decided I would try out a couple of Cat 8 and Cat 7 cables and see if they improved anything.
Somewhat flawed testing setup
I should warn most home lab, and data hoarder enthusiasts will likely be disgusted at my home server set up. I have a rats nest of cables and a mixture of switches and servers. I have struggled to max out a 10GBase-T connection with file transfers. Due to the increased cost of electricity I am resigning myself to using TerraMaster with Unraid vs a self-built server, so I haven’t looked too much into why my work PC doesn’t read or write from my server at full 10Gbit/s speeds. However, the likely scenario is the SMB settings.
My setup currently consists of:
- PC with NVME drive connected via SFP+ 10Gbps with 10Gtek Intel X520-DA1
- Ubuntu with NVMe drive connected via 10G RJ45 using ASUS XG-C100C
- TerraMaster F4-422 running UnRaid with SSD cache connected via 10G RJ45
- Zyxel XGS1250-12 Multi-Gigabit Switch
- I then have the third 10G RJ45 connected to my EnGenius ECS2512FP with it plugged into the SFP+ port using the FS 10GBASE-T SFP+ transceiver
Ugreen CAT 8 Ethernet Performance & Review
- 40Gbps 2000Mhz High Speed: Cat 8 ethernet cable supports bandwidth up to 2000MHz and 40Gbps data transmission speed, ensuring faster network speed than others for you to play online gaming, surf the Internet, online HD video streaming, upload, download, transmits data,and more.
- PoE Supported: All lengths of UGREEN Cat 8 ethernet cables can support the PoE power supply function. You don't need an additional power supply when installing a PoE camera, which is very convenient and safe.
- Wide Compatibility: With the RJ45 Connector, UGREEN Gigabit ethernet cable can be perfectly compatible with computers, laptops, modems, routers, PS5, PS4, PS3, X-Box series, Switch, networking switches, ADSL, network adapters, hubs, and other networking devices. It can also be fully backward and compatible with Cat7, Cat6e, Cat6, Cat5e, and Cat5.
- Excellent Anti-interference: UGREEN internet cables are designed with 4 shielded foiled twisted pairs (F/FTP) and an aluminum foil shielding layer. This design can greatly reduce interference and crosstalk from adjacent pairs and other cables, making network speed faster and more stable.
- Durable Braided Design: UGREEN Cat 8 ethernet cable wrapped with quality cotton braided cord, which makes the LAN cable stronger and more durable. The test proves that this internet cable can be bent at least 10000 times without breaking, which is very suitable for long-term use.
- iPerf:
- Ubuntu: 9.46 Gbits/sec
- Unraid: 5.55 Gbits/sec
- File Transfer:
- Ubuntu: 680 MB/s
- Unraid: 304 MB/s
The Ugreen cable performed as well as the Netgear router supplied Cat 6a cable, but better than the Amazon bought Duronic shielded Cat 6a.
The cable itself looks good and feels well made. The braided design adds a bit of durability to it but is unlikely to make that much difference.
I am still sceptical of the Cat 8 claims, as the Cat 8 cables I have seen from proper networking vendors tend to be extremely thick due to all the shielding. This cable is thicker than the Kinbeta Cat 7, but it is no bulkier than a lot of other cables I have.
Ugreen advertises this as being compatible with the Xbox One, PS5, PS4 and routers, but this is true for all Ethernet cables. This cable will provide no advantages over any other cable when using it with a console.
Kinbeta Cat 7 Ethernet Performance & Review
- DURABLE & BETTER CONSTRUCTION - Our upgraded ethernet cable 3m has been tested many times. The exterior braided layer features durable and resistant.The inner is made of 4 shielded twisted pairs (STP) of copper wire, providing better protection from crosstalk, noise, degrade signal interference. RJ45 connectors ensure corrosion resistance and long-term performance.
- HIGH-SPEED LAN CABLE - KINBETA Cat 7 Ethernet cable support up to 600MHz bandwidth and 10Gbps transmission speed, compared with Cat 6/5/5e ethernet cable, the cat 7 ethernet cable is faster and more stable, providing high-speed data transfer for applications, gaming, and HD video streaming. It is the best cable for gaming, working, and entertaining.
- FLEXIBLE RJ45 CABLE - The double braided exterior with upgraded flat design, which is super flexible and tangle-free. Perfectly run under the carpet or bent in the plane of its thin cross-section such as doors, drawers, corners, etc. And this sturdy cat7 patch cord can be bent more than 10 thousand times so that you can reuse it without any concerns.
- WIDE APPLICATION - This high-speed gigabit network cable is backward compatible with CAT6A, CAT6, CAT5 cable. Cat 7 Lan cable is perfect for Pc, PS3, PS4, Xbox One, Xbox 360, wifi routers, switch boxes, NAS, 4K Smart TVs, printers, and more.
- WHAT YOU GET - This is an economical and practical accessory and can be reused for a long time. Every product purchased from KINBETA comes with 24/7 friendly customer service, so if you have any questions about the ethernet cable you received, please don’t hesitate to turn to us, we are always ready to assist you!
- iPerf:
- Ubuntu: 9.46 Gbits/sec
- Unraid: 5.55 Gbits/sec
- File Transfer:
- Ubuntu: 680 MB/s
- Unraid: 304 MB/s
Surprising absolutely no one, the cheaper Cat 7 from Kinbeta performs identically.
It is a little bit thinner than the Ugreen cable, but it still feels like good quality and looks good.
Price / Alternative Options and Overall Opinion
While Cat 8 Ethernet cable is a thing that exists, there should be absolutely no performance differences between Cat 8, Cat 7 or Cat 6a.
I like the overall build quality and aesthetics of both the Ugreen Cat 8 and Kinbeta Cat 7, and they provided superior performance to some of the other random Cat 6a cables I have bought from Amazon.
At the very least, I would expect that both Cat 7 and Cat 8 will always be of decent quality and capable of 10Gbps even with long cables.
I paid £11 for the Ugreen Cat 8 cable and £7 for the Kinbeta Cat 7, with both cables being 3m in length, and these are both braided.
Plastic coated Cat 6a cable costs from around £4 but generally around £6.
Overall, I am happy to pay £7 for a 3m Cat 7 cable, but £11 for Cat 8 is a rip-off.
