Question Best setting for ethernet and Internet ?

[ChrisAB]

Is Auto Negotiation always the best setting for Ethernet and Internet?

I'm running an Intel I-225V 2.5GB Ethernet Card, Virgin Media Super hub 5 in Modem Mode Connected to its 2.5GB Port and 1GB Internet, TP Link AX6000 Router which has a 2.5GB Internet Port and all the Ethernet Cables are Cat 7.

 

[bill001g]

Pretty much auto is the only setting you should ever use on consumer grade equipment.

When the ports are set to auto they use special hardware signaling method to determine the speed. When you set the speed it turns this signalling off. Problem comes if you set 1 end to some fixed value and the other end to auto. The end that is auto does not get any signalling so it does not know for sure what speed to run. It tends to guess and it does pretty well but not 100%.

On consumer grade switches and routers you generally can't set the port to anything but auto. This means that the only setting in the pc you can use that will match is auto.

What tends to be much more important is using quality ethernet cables. There are massive amounts of fake cable being sold because of the cost of copper metal. Real cat7 cable buys you nothing really over cat6a. The standard for cat7 cable was not fully certified and does not run better or faster than cat6a. Most it runs better in some theoretical installation that does not really exist in the real world installs. Still actual cat7 cable just wastes your money. Cat6a is rated to 10gbit. Cat5e can do 2.5 and 5g. So in general you should buy either cat5e or cat6a. You can use normal cat6 if it is cheaper than cat5e. Key is to avoid the fake cables. Read all the specs and if you don't find them clearly listed buy from a different vendor. Ethernet cables need to be pure copper wire (no cca) and have wire size 22-24 (no flat or thin cables).