Best Ethernet Cable For Gaming: Reviews of Our Top Picks for 2020
- By Douglas Moore
- May 1, 2020
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Table of Contents
When you’re a gamer, a fast and reliable internet connection is of the essence. Most gamers prefer a hard-wired connection over a wireless connection for precisely this reason: reliability and speed. The best Ethernet cables for gaming will allow you to use the optimal internet speed provided by your ISP, achieve the lowest pings possible, and at the same time make sure there is no nasty interference to your connection.
With so many cables dangling on the market, however, it’s hard to figure out which one is truly best. Luckily, we’ve made it our business to find the best Ethernet cables for gaming and compile them here, for your needs and pleasure. Especially if you’re still using a Cat 5 or Cat 5e Ethernet cable, it’s about time to level up and find a cable that will do justice to your gaming skills.
Our favorite Ethernet cables for gaming are in the Cat 7 and Cat 8 standard categories, to ensure a fast and resilient connection. Among our top picks, you’ll be able to find lengths and colors that are best suited to your home and your needs.
Without further ado, check out our reviews of the best Ethernet cables for gaming!
Best Ethernet Cables for Gaming
Don’t have time? Here’s a quick overview of our favorite Ethernet Cables for Gaming:
Best Overall: Veetcom Cat 8 Ethernet Cable
Our overall top pick is the Veetcom Cat 8 Ethernet cable for gaming due to its excellent performance and durability. This Ethernet cable will allow you to get the best speeds out of your internet connection. The Veetcom is designed to be durable, and it’s also compatible with previous Cat versions (namely, 7, 6, 5, and 5e).
Pros:
As the Veetcom Ethernet cable falls in the Cat 8 standard category, it also provides support for the fastest bandwidth, allowing you to enjoy a smooth gaming experience. It supports up to 40Gbps of data transfer speed.
The Veetcom is also our top choice because it’s designed to minimize interference. The double-shielded design of bare copper wires will ensure that you don’t get a choppy connection despite outside factors that would otherwise cause cross talk, signal losses, interference, and noise.
This Ethernet cable is also quite durable. The PVC jacket and snagless design will prevent both the cable and the plugs from damage from stress or installation. In fact, the company offers a lifetime warranty on the Veetcom Cat 8. Plus, depending on your specific needs, you can get this cable in a variety of lengths, ranging from 1.6 to 100 feet.
Cons:
As this cable is quite durable, you may find it a bit thick and rigid for your liking.
Runner-Up: Vandesail Cat 7 Ethernet Cable
Our runner-up is the Vandesail Cat 7 Ethernet cable because of its smooth performance, durability, and versatility. The Cat 7 models support slower speeds than Cat 8 standard versions, but assuming you’re on a standard home internet connection, a Cat 7 cable can do the job just as well. You can get the Vandesail in different lengths, ranging from 3 to 65 feet.
Pros:
The Vandesail Cat 7 provides excellent performance for most home internet connections. It will provide a smooth, fast connection up to 10Gbps in speed. While this is a step down from the Cat 8 Veetcom, it will be quite sufficient for almost all home internet connections.
The Vandesail’s unique flat design will allow you to install the cable however you wish, depending on the needs of your home or office. Namely, the cable can easily be installed under carpets or rugs, as well as be mounted against baseboards.
This option is also quite durable. The four twisted pair sets of oxygen-free copper are wrapped in aluminum and covered by PVC, which will protect them from stress-induced damage. Additionally, the shielded copper connectors have gold contacts and protectors to prevent any possible disconnects.
Last but not least, Vandesail seems to have a great customer support team. If you have any quality issues, you can reach out to them and get a replacement or a refund.
Cons:
A handful of customers have not found a significant increase in speed between using this and a Cat 5 cable. However, this is to be expected if you have an internet connection of less than 100Mbps.
Best Design: Jadaol Cat 7 Ethernet Cable
The Jadaol Cat 7 Ethernet cable is great for gaming – but also comes in an excellent design. While it doesn’t provide the same maximum speeds as the Vandesail and the Veetcom, it still provides a smooth and dependable performance.
Pros:
The Jadaol Cat 7 offers a smooth connection and decent internet speeds for gaming – up to 10Gbps of data transfer speed. The four shielded twisted pairs of copper wires and RJ45 connectors will make sure that your connection is reliable and smooth, preventing interference and avoiding undesired disconnects.
But let’s get to what’s best about this cable: the design. Like the Vandesail, the Jadaol also uses a flat shape design which will allow you to run it under carpets, on walls, and baseboards. However, the advantage that crowns the Jadaol with the “best design” tag is its color, which will make it blend with most homes’ backgrounds seamlessly. A white cable will be much less noticeable than a black cable, especially when it’s running in the corners of your home or against a white wall.
Cons:
One possible drawback is that the cable is a bit rigid.
Best Value-for-Money: Glanics Cat 8 Ethernet Cable
Our top value-for-money pick is the Glanics Cat 8 Ethernet Cable, as for an affordable price you get a 2-pack of cables that provide high speeds for smooth gaming. The cables are durable and reliable. We especially recommend them if you’re on a tighter budget and in need of multiple cables for your home.
Pros:
The Glanics Ethernet cable is great for gaming because it’s in the Cat 8 standard category. This means top speeds! The 2 cables that come with the purchase can support data transfer speeds of up to 40Gbps.
The cables will provide a dependable connection, which is key for successful campaigns, no matter what game you play. This option is also quite durable. The wires are enclosed in a special protection material that will keep them safe from damage.
You can get a budget-friendly two-pack of Glanics cables in lengths ranging from 1 to 100 feet.
Cons:
There have been some quality control issues with these cables, as they haven’t increased the speed or reduced the ping for several customers, although that could also be down to limitations of their home internet connection or router.
Conclusion
The best cable, if you’re looking for the top gaming speeds, is the Veetcom Cat 8 Ethernet Cable. This option supports up to 40Gbps data transfer speeds, which will lower your ping and ensure you get a lag-free connection. The PVC jacket will keep the wires safe from damage, and the internal shield will keep the connection from network interference.
The Vandesail Cat 7 Ethernet Cable is another great option if you’re not using the highest speed internet packets. As it’s in the Cat 7 standard category, the top bandwidth and data transfer it can support is less (up to 1,000MHz in bandwidth and up to 10Gbps in speed). However, this option is also quite durable and easy to install, thanks to the flat design.
Speaking of design, the Jadaol Cat 7 Ethernet Cable takes the cake in this category. It’s also a Cat 7 cable with similar characteristics to the Vandesail. However, as most homes have lightly colored walls and floors, a white flat cable will attract much less undesired attention than a black cable.
Lastly, the Glanics Cat 8 Ethernet Cable is our top value-for-money choice, as you can get a two-pack of Cat 8 Ethernet cables for quite an affordable price. This Cat 8 cable will provide you with fast speeds (like the Veetcom), although it’s not exactly of the same quality as the Veetcom. Still, it’s quite durable, and a good choice if you’re on a tighter budget and need multiple cables.
A Few Words Before You Go…
Hopefully, our unbiased reviews were useful in your search for the best gaming Ethernet cable. Now, all that’s left is for you to think over what you want in an Ethernet cable. There are several factors you should keep in mind when choosing the right option for your home or office.
Figuring out what specifications suit your preferences, what speed your internet is running on, and what length of cable you need will help you choose the best gaming cable out of our top recommendations.
Soon enough, you’ll be enjoying fast, smooth, lag-free gaming!
In case you need it, here’s a reminder of our top picks:
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Jadaol’s Cat 7 shielded ethernet cable is a high-quality piece of tech that can aptly get the job done, as per my experience as a network engineer. The product excels namely because of its superb speed, compatibility, and durability.