# Any recommendation of where to buy inexpensive network cables online? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [January 6, 2008, 12:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-recommendation-of-where-to-buy-inexpensive-network-cables-online/432455 "2008-01-06T00:15:04Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Revtim](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/revtim/32/1042_2.png) [@Revtim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revtim)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2008, 12:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-recommendation-of-where-to-buy-inexpensive-network-cables-online/432455/1 "2008-01-06T00:15:04Z")
I’d like to get a couple simple cat 5 network cables to connect my cable modem and PC to my router. At the local Best Buy they are like 18 bucks each. I’m guessing there must be a better online source that won’t result in the cables costing more than the goddamn router. Any recommendations? ---
**Author:** ![lightingtool](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/57b2e6/32.png) [@lightingtool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lightingtool)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2008, 2:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-recommendation-of-where-to-buy-inexpensive-network-cables-online/432455/2 "2008-01-06T02:26:29Z")
I’ve had good luck with [MonoPrice.com](http://MonoPrice.com). Here’s a [link](http://www.monoprice.com/products/department.asp?c_id=105). ---
**Author:** ![Amblydoper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/fbc32d/32.png) [@Amblydoper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amblydoper)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2008, 3:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-recommendation-of-where-to-buy-inexpensive-network-cables-online/432455/3 "2008-01-06T03:52:08Z")
Target has them fairly cheap. Although, they are not available online. Newegg has many options for less then 10 bucks. Colors too! > **[Cat 5 and Cat 6 Ethernet Cables - Newegg.com](https://www.newegg.com/Network-Ethernet-Cables/SubCategory/ID-2825)** > > Shop our selection of Cat 5 and Cat 6 Ethernet Cables from Tripp Lite, Bytecc, Rosewill, and Startech. Newegg offers the best prices and fast shipping! ETA: Heck, you could get 100ft for $9.50. ---
**Author:** ![SmackFu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/53a042/32.png) [@SmackFu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SmackFu)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2008, 5:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-recommendation-of-where-to-buy-inexpensive-network-cables-online/432455/4 "2008-01-06T05:58:49Z")
Seconding that Monoprice is great, and has nice colors. My only caution is to not get too clever on the lengths. A 1’ cable is damn short when you need to bend it, and 3’ isn’t that much longer. I have a couple of cables I can’t use where I wanted because they don’t quite reach. OTOH, I’m only about $1 or so. Love monoprice. ---
**Author:** ![Revtim](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/revtim/32/1042_2.png) [@Revtim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revtim)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2008, 7:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-recommendation-of-where-to-buy-inexpensive-network-cables-online/432455/5 "2008-01-07T19:58:15Z")
Thanks all! I’ll likely give Monoprice a shot. ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2008, 8:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-recommendation-of-where-to-buy-inexpensive-network-cables-online/432455/6 "2008-01-07T20:22:02Z")
I’ve had good luck with [www.pccables.com](http://www.pccables.com) myself. Their site is very 1997, but the prices and the selection are great. Ok, not their color selection…but you can find a lot of well-priced doodads and dongles there. ---
**Author:** ![appleciders](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/85f322/32.png) [@appleciders](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/appleciders)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2008, 3:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-recommendation-of-where-to-buy-inexpensive-network-cables-online/432455/7 "2008-01-08T03:02:36Z")
It’s not online, but check your local thrift stores. I’ve gotten CAT5 cable for less then a dollar before. ---
**Author:** ![gotpasswords](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c57346/32.png) [@gotpasswords](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gotpasswords)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2008, 9:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-recommendation-of-where-to-buy-inexpensive-network-cables-online/432455/8 "2008-01-08T21:42:21Z")
Frys often has “generic” Cat5 cables for a couple bucks each. Of course, this is only useful if there’s a Frys near you. Another good place to look is the “little guy” computer shop - there’s an independent shop near my office that has bins of cheap cables in plastic baggies rather than fancy retail packs. ---
**Author:** ![Throatwarbler\_Mangrove](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8c91f0/32.png) [@Throatwarbler\_Mangrove](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Throatwarbler_Mangrove)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2008, 10:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-recommendation-of-where-to-buy-inexpensive-network-cables-online/432455/9 "2008-01-08T22:08:43Z")
[Dealextreme](http://www.dealextreme.com/products.dx/category.312) is where I go for knicknacks like that. Shipping does take about a week though. ---
**Author:** ![Wee\_Bairn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/90db22/32.png) [@Wee\_Bairn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wee_Bairn)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2008, 10:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-recommendation-of-where-to-buy-inexpensive-network-cables-online/432455/10 "2008-01-08T22:15:39Z")
[QUOTE=ZipperJJ] … Their site is very 1997… [/QUOTE] no hyperbole there 🙂