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Cable Matters 160021 5-Feet Cat6 Snagless Ethernet Patch Cable, Pack of 5 (Black/Blue/White/Red/Green)
Cable Matters

Cable Matters 160021 5-Feet Cat6 Snagless Ethernet Patch Cable, Pack of 5 (Black/Blue/White/Red/Green)

Bottom line: The Cable Matters 160021 5-Feet Cat6 Snagless Ethernet Patch Cable ($12.99 on Amazon as of 2026-10-21 10:15 UTC): 550 MHz bandwidth supports 10-Gigabit Ethernet, not just gigabit; main trade-off: 5-foot length only, too short for cross-room or wall runs.

$12.99

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Buy on Amazon — $12.99 Compare to similar retro networking cards

By , Founder & Editor-in-Chief · Listing data updated

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.

*Price sourced from Amazon.com. Last updated 2026-10-21. Price and availability subject to change.

Pros & Cons

Pros

  • ✓ 550 MHz bandwidth supports 10-Gigabit Ethernet, not just gigabit
  • ✓ Five colors (black, blue, green, red, white) make rack tracing easy
  • ✓ Bare copper 24 AWG conductors, not copper-clad aluminum
  • ✓ Certified to meet or exceed TIA/EIA 568-C.2 Cat6 standard

Cons

  • ✗ 5-foot length only, too short for cross-room or wall runs
  • ✗ Snagless boots add bulk in tightly packed patch panels
  • ✗ Cat6, not Cat6a, so no 10GbE at full 100-meter distance
  • ✗ One cable of each color, awkward if you need three of one

Manufacturer description

Cable Matters' 160021 five-pack solves the two problems that plague any patch panel or retro LAN rebuild at once: bandwidth headroom and knowing which cable goes where. Each 5-foot run is terminated with bare copper 24 AWG conductors and gold-plated RJ45 contacts, rated to 550 MHz and tested to meet or exceed the TIA/EIA 568-C.2 Category 6 standard. That bandwidth ceiling is what makes these cables 10-Gigabit Ethernet capable while staying backwards compatible with existing Cat5 and Cat5e gear, so an older switch or vintage NIC will still negotiate normally. The five-color combo, black…

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SpecPicks Verdict

SpecPicks scored Cable Matters 160021 5-Feet Cat6 Snagless Ethernet Patch Cable using a rating × review-volume × price-fit model applied to published specs and reviews across the retro networking cards category. Cable Matters'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.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long is each cable in this pack?

Every cable in the 160021 pack is 5 feet long. All five are the same length; only the jacket color differs (black, blue, green, red, white).

Will these handle 10-Gigabit Ethernet?

Yes. The cables are rated to 550 MHz and Cable Matters lists them as 10-Gigabit capable. As Cat6 rather than Cat6a, 10GbE is supported over short runs like this 5-foot length, which is exactly the patch-cable use case.

Are these real copper or copper-clad aluminum?

Bare copper. Cable Matters specifies 24 AWG bare copper conductors, which is what allows the cables to comply with communications-cable specifications and carry PoE reliably.

Will these work with my older Cat5e router or switch?

Yes. Cat6 is backwards compatible with existing Cat5 and Cat5e networks, so the cable will negotiate at whatever speed your slowest device supports. Cable Matters positions this as Cat6 performance at a Cat5e price.

What does snagless mean, and does it matter?

Snagless means the RJ45 connector has a strain-relief boot covering the locking tab so it will not catch and snap when you pull the cable through a rack or behind a desk. In a dense patch panel it is the difference between a reusable cable and a broken clip.

Key Features

  • High Performance Internet cable is Cat6 rated; The Ethernet cord with 24 AWG copper wire provides universal connectivity for LAN network components such as PCs, computer servers, printers, routers, switch boxes, network media players, NAS, VoIP phones, PoE devices, and more; Comes with 5-color combo: Black, Blue, Green, Red, and White, easy for cable management and cable identification
  • Cat6 performance at a Cat5e price but with higher bandwidth; Future-proof your network for 10-Gigabit Ethernet (backwards compatible with any existing Cat 5 cable network); Meets or exceeds Category 6 performance in compliance with the TIA/EIA 568-C.2 standard
  • A Category 6 Ethernet patch cable is also referred to as a Cat6 network cable, Cat6 cable, Cat6 Ethernet cable, or Cat 6 data/LAN cable. A wired Cat 6 data cable is more reliable and secure than a wireless network or Cat5 cable network for your internet connections
  • The connectors with gold-plated contacts and strain-relief boots provide durability, and ensure a secure connection; Bare copper conductors enhance cable performance and comply with specifications for communications cables
  • Flexible and durable RJ45 cable with high bandwidth of up to 550 MHz guarantees high-speed data transfer for server applications, cloud computing, video surveillance, and online high-definition video streaming

Full Specifications

BrandCable Matters
ColorBlue,Green,White
Gauge24.0
Model160021-5x5
Frequency550 MHz
Cable TypeEthernet
Item ShapeRound
Model NameFBA_1600215X5
Unit Count5.0 Feet
Item Length5 Feet
Part NumberFBA_1600215X5
ConnectivityWireless
CompatibilitySwitch
Connector TypeRJ45
Number of Pins8
Outer MaterialPolyvinyl Chloride (PVC)
Connection TypeWired
Connector GenderFemale
Specification MetEIA, TIA, UL
Compatible DevicesPersonal Computer, Printer, Router, Server

Ready to buy?

Cable Matters 160021 5-Feet Cat6 Snagless Ethernet Patch Cable, Pack of 5 (Black/Blue/White/Red/Green) 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.

Buy on Amazon — $12.99

*Price sourced from Amazon.com. Last updated 2026-10-21. Price and availability subject to change.

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Cable Matters 160021 5-Feet Cat6 Snagless Ethernet Patch Cable, Pack of 5 (Black/Blue/White/Red/Green)
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