Ethernet categories: Cat5e vs Cat6 vs Cat6a

Buy Cat5e when

Your switch, router and devices are all gigabit (1Gbps) and the run is under 100m. Cat5e handles gigabit reliably and is the lowest-cost option for standard home and office patch runs.

Buy Cat6a when

You have a 10-gigabit switch or NAS, or you are running cable infrastructure that needs to last the next 10 years. Cat6a is the future-safe option. Shielded Cat6a (STP/SSTP) is worth the extra cost in environments with electrical noise.

What about Cat7 and Cat8?

Cat7 is a proprietary spec with non-standard connectors - avoid it for standard RJ45 patch runs. Cat8 is designed for data-centre trunk runs under 30m, not for general office or home patch leads.