About the 10 Gigabit Ethernet port on Mac
The 10 Gigabit Ethernet (RJ-45) port is Nbase-T Ethernet technology that supports multiple data rates for speeds up to 10 Gbit/s over standard twisted pair copper cabling up to 100 meters (328 feet) in length. Depending on the device you’re connecting to, the cable type and technology used, and the cable length, the highest link speed is automatically negotiated. For example, if the device you’re connecting to is 10 Gbit/s-capable and the cable can support the speed, the two devices would negotiate the 10 Gbit/s speed.
See the following table for connection speeds and cable types. Speeds are for cables up to 100 meters (328 feet) in length, unless otherwise indicated.
Cable type | 10BaseT | 100BaseT | 1 Gbit/s | 2.5 Gbit/s | 5 Gbit/s | 10 Gbit/s |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Category 5e | Not supported | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | Not supported |
Category 6 | Not supported | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ — up to 55 m length |
Category 6a or later | Not supported | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |