Can Cat 5e/Cat 6 work with our existing Cat 5 patch panel?

Yes, BUT if different category components, such as a patch panel or a jack are used with a higher category component such as a higher level of cable then your data lines will only perform to the level of the lower category device. So if you used Cat 6 cable with a Cat 5 patch panel you should only expect to get Cat 5 performance. For optimum performance ALL components (data cable, patch panel, jack, and patch cables) must be of the same Category level.

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