Two Ethernet cables or one?

[HaruFlowers]

I want to run Ethernet cabling through my house to two computers which are in the same room, is it better to run two separate cables or one cable into a splitter (not sure if that's the right name for it)? We are both gamers and have finally reached the end of our tether with wireless!

 

[elbert]

I would suggest one and a switch. This way you could also connect an xbox or tv.
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[abailey]

If you are pulling one you might as well pull 2 cables. Then, at least for the time being you will not have to have another switch in that room. One less point of failure.

 

[nigelivey]

Sorry I disagree, by all means pull two cables, one as a spare but by placing a switch at the end of one cable and connecting the two host PCs to the switch, any traffic between the two PCs don't need to leave the switch and the switch gives you more ports if you require them at that location.

 

[boosted1g]

It is best to have a seperate wire to each computer.

With both computers connected to a switch that means that they share the single 1gbps line going from switch to router.
Now in online gaming this really wont make any difference but if say you have a NAS connected to router and doing a file share to it from PC1 while downloading a game from PC2 from the internet, then the switch will be a bottleneck.

Then there is the simple fact that is damn near the same amount of work to run 2 wires vs 1.