I didn’t realize Ethernet cables have speed limits until one slowed my entire network

My MacBook pulled down 800+ Mbps on speed tests, but the smart TV I’d hardwired in my great room couldn’t break 90 Mbps no matter what I tried. I spent weeks convinced the TV had a crappy network adapter. Nope, it turns out one of the Ethernet cables our home builder’s subcontractor ran during construction was Cat5—not Cat5e or Cat6—and it was choking everything connected through that run. I spent 10 minutes running and crimping a new Cat6 cable to fix the whole thing.