As long as the PC's were built within the past few years, then it is possible to use a straight through cable instead of a crossover cable. This is possible due to a feature named Auto-MDIX (Medium Dependant Interface Crossover).
In the past, a crossover cable was required to connect two devices of the same type. e.g. a router to another router or a PC to another PC. A straight through cable was required to connect two devices of different types. e.g. a router to a PC.
Auto-MDIX is a feature on the majority of new network devices. If you plug the wrong cable type into a Auto-MDIX enabled device, the device will reconfigure itself to allow connections to work properly.
Crossover
straight throught
straight through is same pin out both ends. crossover has transmit and receive lines reversed
straight through is same pin out both ends. crossover has transmit and receive lines reversed
straight through is same pin out both ends. crossover has transmit and receive lines reversed
It's a type of computer cable where some of the strands inside are "crossed over" compared to a "straight through" cable. You only need a crossover cable if you are connecting a computer directly to another computer. If you are connecting a computer to any other device like a switch, or a router, then you use a straight through cable, which are easier to find and cheaper. You can google for a crossover cable and it will show you a picture of which pins are crossed over.
In order for two devices to communicate the transmit signal wire must be connected to the receive wire. A crossover cable accomplishes this. With a straight through cable you would have a transmit signal connected to a transmit signal, which is similar to two people talking at once (and no one listening). In a network scenario a straight through cable would cause constant collisions.
Traditionally, two switches can be connected together with a crossover cable. A crossover cable should be used whenever two of the same network devices need to be connected together. e.g. Connecting a router to another router, a switch to another switch or a PC to another PC. Using a crossover cable is not always necessary however. Most new network devices include a feature named Auto-MDIX (Medium Dependant Interface Crossover). Auto-MDIX detects what type of cable is connected and automatically changes its own configuration to enable data transmission to the other device. i.e. It does not matter if you use a straight through cable or crossover cable on Auto-MDIX enabled devices. Both will work.
Same device----> crossover cable Different device->Straight through cable
The "Crossover" port. (or MDI-X)
There are some great YouTube videos demonstrating the techniques... check them out.
Yes you can get a crossover cable for any of the Ethernet cable series on one end of the cable two of the smaller cables inside are crossed over so they are not straight through cables