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I don't even necessarily care if all USB-C cables are created equal, I just want a way to easily be able to tell from looking at the cable what capabilities it does and doesn't support.


Doesn't Ethernet have exactly the same problem though?


Nah, 1000baseT will work over bog-standard Cat5 (no need for Cat5E even) up to 100m: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gigabit_Ethernet

1000BaseT requires 4 pairs though (all 8 wires) whereas you could run two 100BaseT runs on a single Cat5 cable (great for adding a second drop without snaking a new wire through walls). 1000BaseTX runs on 2 pairs but requires Cat6 or better, but it doesn't matter because nothing you'd ever run into supports 1000BaseTX.

10gig on copper is likely different and I don't know enough about it to comment aside from how it's really uncommon in consumer-level gear right now. I believe a 4gig over Ethernet standard is coming soon which should be a good middle-ground.




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