Ethernet cables

philhansen wrote:

Guys and Girls,

I have a 1 Gb ethernet cable from my 2017 iMac computer. Can I use it on my new Mac mini 10 Gb ethernet. Or should I get a new 10 Gb cable? Is there any difference?

Thanks, Phil

Yes, you can use it. If you have a true 1Gb ethernet cable and you have had it for a few years, it's probably a Cat 5e cable. Technically, Cat 5e is rated for Gigabit (1Gb) ethernet but it can be used perfectly well with any network device including your Mac Mini.

If you really want 10Gb compatibility then look for a Cat 6a cable.

But ... even if your Mac Mini has a 10Gb ethernet port, it won't make any difference in your network speed if the rest of your network only supports 1Gb or, heaven forbid, 10BaseT.

My guess is, unless you run over 250 meters of cable, you won’t notice any difference. Assuming the cable is at least Cat 5 or higher.