Monoprice

Monoprice 134748 Cat8 Ethernet Cable 15m Black 5-Pack

Name: Monoprice 134748 Cat8 Ethernet Cable 15m Black 5-Pack
Brand: Monoprice
SKU: 134748

★★★★★4.7 (179 reviews)

Five Cat8 cables capable of 40Gbps at up to 2GHz bandwidth let you wire a full rack or server room for next-generation network speeds in a single order.

$177.94*

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*Price sourced from Amazon.com. Last updated:Jul 15, 2026.Price and availability are subject to change.

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Overview

The Monoprice Entegrade Cat8 5-pack delivers the highest-rated copper Ethernet specification available in an RJ45 form factor: 40Gbps transfer speed and 2GHz bandwidth over runs up to 30 meters. The 2GHz frequency rating is the engineering fact that separates Cat8 from Cat6a — it's not a marketing distinction but a measurable improvement in the cable's ability to carry high-frequency signals without crosstalk or attenuation degrading throughput. At 15 meters, these cables operate comfortably within their rated specification window, making them appropriate for server room backbone connections, NAS direct links, and any structured cabling environment where 10GbE today and 40GbE tomorrow is the planning horizon.

The RJ45 connector standard means these cables slot directly into existing networking infrastructure without adapters or new patch panels — Cat8 backward compatibility with Cat5e/6/6a/7 equipment is complete and automatic, with speed negotiated by the active hardware. The 5-pack format is specifically useful for IT professionals cabling multiple rack positions or workstation drops in a single installation run, reducing per-cable cost and ensuring consistent cable quality across a deployment. The copper conductor construction maintains the signal integrity required for 40GbE while keeping cable termination compatible with standard field-termination tools. For organizations planning network infrastructure that won't require physical recabling when active hardware is upgraded to 25 or 40GbE, Cat8 at this price point represents a sound engineering investment.

Key Features

Superior Performance: Entegrade Cat8 brings higher frequency characteristics, which enables higher data transfer speeds.

Up to 2GHz Bandwidth: Entegrade Cat8 Ethernet Network Cables are the first to bring up to 40Gbps transfer speeds and up to 2GHz bandwidth using copper conductors and RJ45 connectors.

Future Proof: Monoprice's Entegrade Cat8 Cables are an excellent, future proof solution for current and upcoming generations of active 10G and up to 40G networks.

Available in nine different colors and twelve lengths ranging from 6 inches to 50 feet.

5 pack.

Specifications

Pros & Cons

👍 Pros

40Gbps rated throughput provides genuine future-proofing for 25GbE and 40GbE active networking hardware without recabling
2GHz bandwidth specification eliminates cable-layer crosstalk and signal loss that limits Cat6a at 500MHz under dense installation conditions
RJ45 connectors maintain full backward compatibility with existing gigabit and 10GbE switches and routers
15-meter length is practical for rack-to-rack and floor-level server room runs without requiring cable extensions or patch panels
5-pack packaging reduces per-unit cost and simplifies procurement for structured cabling deployments

👎 Cons

40Gbps performance is capped at 30-meter runs — the 15-meter length in this pack is appropriate for short data center runs but unsuitable for cross-floor or inter-room structured cabling at full Cat8 speeds
Cat8 cables are stiffer and less flexible than Cat6 due to heavier shielding, making tight bend-radius routing in congested cable trays more difficult
The 40Gbps ceiling requires active hardware (switches, NICs, or DACs) rated for 25GbE or 40GbE — the cables alone do not upgrade network speeds without matching infrastructure investment
Available in a single 15-meter length in this pack — no shorter patch cable option for high-density rack internal connections where 1–3 meter runs are standard
Only black color available in this configuration — environments requiring color-coded cable management by VLAN or function must source additional SKUs

Frequently Asked Questions

What transfer speeds does Cat8 support, and when does that actually matter?

Cat8 is rated for up to 40Gbps data transfer at distances up to 30 meters. In practice, this matters when connecting servers, NAS units, or switches that support 25GbE or 40GbE interfaces. For standard gigabit or 10GbE infrastructure, Cat8 provides headroom rather than active speed gains — but it eliminates the cable layer as a bottleneck if you upgrade active networking hardware later.

Are these cables backward compatible with Cat5e, Cat6, and Cat7 switches and routers?

Yes. Cat8 cables use standard RJ45 connectors and are fully backward compatible with lower-category networking equipment. Plugging a Cat8 cable into a gigabit switch will negotiate to gigabit speeds — the cable does not force or require 40Gbps hardware to function.

What does 2GHz bandwidth mean in practical terms versus Cat6a's 500MHz?

Bandwidth in Ethernet cabling describes the frequency range the cable can reliably carry — higher bandwidth means lower signal degradation at faster speeds. Cat6a is rated to 500MHz, sufficient for 10Gbps. Cat8's 2GHz rating provides 4x the frequency headroom, which is what enables 40Gbps transmission without excessive signal loss or crosstalk at short runs.

At 15 meters, is the 40Gbps rating still achievable?

Yes. Cat8's 40Gbps rating applies at runs up to 30 meters, so a 15-meter cable operates well within the specification. Beyond 30 meters, Cat8 drops to 10Gbps performance — for longer runs, the 40GbE spec requires fiber or active copper solutions.

What is the practical use case for buying a 5-pack at 15 meters?

A 5-pack at 15 meters is sized for structured cabling within a server room, data center rack-to-rack connections, or a building floor run where multiple workstations or switches need high-bandwidth uplinks. It's also well-suited for AV-over-IP installations, storage area network (SAN) direct connections, or any environment where 10GbE infrastructure is being deployed at scale.