Category 5e network cables cannot run at Gigabit speeds.
This so-called "Category 5 UTP" cannot reach a data rate of 100 Mbps, with a maximum of 10 Mbps or 16 Mbps. A simple way to verify this is to connect two 100 Mbps devices (network interface card to network interface card or network interface card to hub) using a twisted-pair cable and monitor the data rate during communication using the built-in monitoring tool in Windows 95/98.
"Category 5e" refers to Category 5e unshielded twisted pair (UTP) and Category 5e shielded twisted pair. Unshielded twisted pair cable consists of multiple twisted pairs of wires and a plastic sheath. Category 5 refers to the five different quality levels for twisted-pair cable defined by the International Electrical Industry Association.
