Anyone related to the networking industry would know that there are two types of cables; pure copper and CCA. Pure copper cables have conductors made out of pure copper for better conductivity and efficient performance. On the other hand, the CCA cables have copper-clad aluminum conductors. These cables do not perform as efficiently as Cat6 Solid Copper Cable. Furthermore, pure copper cable not only offers great conductivity but also an excellent data transfer rate.
Many people have asked this question what is the real difference between these two cables? This article will talk about the real differences between these two cables that seem pretty identical when placed side by side.
There is a long list of differences between these two cables but we are going to list 5 main differences that you need to know. This information will help you make a better decision next time you are going to buy an Ethernet cable.
Conductor difference – this is the main difference that you need to know in any case. The internal conductor controls the conductivity and signal strength of your cable. It is imperative that you choose the right one to cater to your networking needs. As mentioned earlier, CCA has a copper-clad aluminum conductor while the other has a pure copper conductor.
PoE support – pure copper cables support Power over Ethernet applications. On the other hand, CCA cables do not have this ability. If you are going to purchase a cable for a data center, always opt for the pure copper one. This cable will also help you with your PoE+ & PoE++ applications in the future.
Cable integrity – this is yet another important difference you need to remember. Usually, CCA cables do not have great quality. They easily brittle and overheat under certain circumstances. That is why you should choose pure copper cable to ensure the safety of those around you.
Easy-to-install – pure copper can be installed without any hassle. The pure copper conductor inside those cables makes them stretchy and you can run them around the corners without any issue. On the other hand, a CCA cable would not be able to take tugs and pulls.
Price difference – this is a major difference that makes them easy to detect. If you are buying a cable and it is cheap then you would know instantly that you are getting a CCA cable. Pure copper cables are a bit expensive compared to the other ones. Unless your suppliers are doing some monkey business with you.
Now that you have a better idea about the difference between these two cables, let us take a look at the best pure copper cables that you can buy within your budget.
There is a wide range of Ethernet cables available these days. Choosing the right cable can become somewhat a hassle. Worry not, we are here to help you with that. Here are some of the best options you can buy these days.
Cat6 Pure Copper cable – this is one of the best ones that you can get within your budget. This cable is a powerhouse when it comes to running big data centers and other Ethernet applications. You will get a 10Gbps data transfer rate at a distance of 55 meters. This speed is more than enough to get any task done within seconds. Another benefit of this cable is that you will enjoy 550 MHz of frequency. It means you will not have to worry about big file transfers. Lastly, you can buy this cable within your budget restrictions.
Cat5e Pure Copper cable– since this cable belongs to rather an older category, many people do not feel comfortable buying this cable anymore. Worry not, this cable is also a viable option if you have some money constraints. You will get 1Gbps speed which is enough for your local area network. This cable is the best option if you are buying cable for your domestic uses.
Cat6a Bare Copper cable – as you know that “a” stands for augmented in this cable’s name. This cable is the successor of the cat6 pure copper cable. If you truly want amazing speed with excellent conductivity and money is not an issue, then this cable is the best option for you right now. Furthermore, this cable is more than capable of running some heavy-duty applications and data center machines. The internal wire has a 23 AWG gauge. Both ends have RJ45 termination so you will not have any issues while deploying this cable.
Cat6 pure copper cable is the best option that you can get right now. This cable is packed with some useful features that will only boost your networking capabilities.
