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StarTech 6ft Cat5e Snagless Ethernet Cable, Shielded, PoE, Blue, Network
StarTech.com

StarTech 6ft Cat5e Snagless Ethernet Cable, Shielded, PoE, Blue, Network

Bottom line: The StarTech.com StarTech 6ft Cat5e Snagless Ethernet Cable: Shielded (STP) Cat5e construction blocks EMI near PSUs, CRTs and switch stacks; main trade-off: cat5e caps at 1 Gbps, so no 2.5G or 10G headroom on modern switches.

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Mike Perry — Hardware researcher since 2014. For retro PC hardware and period-correct parts, synthesises manufacturer documentation, community compatibility lists and marketplace listings rather than first-hand lab testing. Core beat: GPU performance across gaming, rendering, and local-LLM inference.

Pros & Cons

Pros

  • ✓ Shielded (STP) Cat5e construction blocks EMI near PSUs, CRTs and switch stacks
  • ✓ Molded strain relief plus stranded copper survives repeated re-routing
  • ✓ Snagless boot keeps the RJ-45 tab from catching in dense patch panels
  • ✓ Colored blue hood makes departmental or per-rack color coding trivial

Cons

  • ✗ Cat5e caps at 1 Gbps, so no 2.5G or 10G headroom on modern switches
  • ✗ 6 ft length is short for floor-to-desk or rack-to-rack runs
  • ✗ Shielding only works if both endpoints are properly grounded
  • ✗ Stranded wire suits patching, not in-wall or punch-down runs

Manufacturer description

Cat5e Shielded F/UTP Snagless Patch Cables offer reliable Ethernet connections. This 6ft cable meets or exceeds all Category 5e specifications and features a durable blue jacket that simplifies departmental color coding while providing rugged flexibility for network connections. To reduce susceptibility to EMI/RFI and near end cross-talk, the patch cable is shielded throughout the length of the cable, as well as around the RJ45 connectors. Our Cat5e Shielded F/UTP Snagless Patch Cables also feature a snagless design that protects the RJ45 clip from snagging during installation, as well as…

SpecPicks Verdict

SpecPicks scored StarTech.com StarTech 6ft Cat5e Snagless Ethernet Cable using a rating × review-volume × price-fit model applied to published specs and reviews across the retro networking cards category. StarTech.com's retro networking cards lineup sits within the broader category mid-tier; price and specs are the deciding factors over brand loyalty here. Judge it on the specification table and the price rather than on sentiment: check the figures that decide your use case, then put it side-by-side with two or three close alternatives in the Compare tool before clicking through.

Common buyer scenarios for retro networking cards of this kind: matching it to an existing build, replacing a failing part, or upgrading from a previous-generation equivalent. Check the spec table below against your current setup — particularly socket / form-factor / power-rating fields — and confirm compatibility on the retailer's listing before purchase. Prices and stock are set by the retailer and may have moved since this page was last updated.

Key Features

  • Patch cable
  • RJ-45 (M) to RJ-45 (M)
  • shielded
  • CAT 5e
  • Cable designed to meet or exceed Cat 5e industry standards
  • Shielded cable protects your high speed network from noise and EMI (electromagnetic interference)

Full Specifications

BrandStarTech.com
ColorBlue
Gauge24
ModelS45PATCH6BL
Frequency350 MHz
Cable TypeEthernet
Item ShapeRound
Model Name6 ft Blue Snagless Shielded Cat5e Patch Cable
Unit Count1 Count
Item Length6 feet
Part NumberS45PATCH6BL
Connector TypeCategory 5e
Item Type NameNetwork Cable
Number of Pins8
Outer MaterialPolyvinyl Chloride (PVC)
Maximum Voltage100 volts_of_direct_current
Number of Items1
Special FeatureNot_Performance_Used
Connector GenderMale-to-Male
Specification MetIndustry Standards

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StarTech 6ft Cat5e Snagless Ethernet Cable, Shielded, PoE, Blue, Network is listed on Amazon. Price, availability, shipping and returns are set by Amazon and its sellers — check the listing for current terms. SpecPicks earns a small commission on qualifying purchases — thank you for supporting independent review work.

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