Question 1

What is the best internet speed for gaming?

Accepted Answer

In reality, the only time gaming requires something faster than your average broadband internet (25–50 Mbps) is when you’re downloading a new game or update. We’d suggest at least a 50 Mbps internet connection if you’re getting internet for yourself. For larger households and families, upgrade to plans with a minimum download speed of at least 150 Mbps. With faster download speeds, your home internet can easily support more Zoom calls or Netflix sessions without running into performance issues.

Question 2

What upload speed is best for gaming?

Accepted Answer

Your internet plan’s upload speed isn’t incredibly important for online gaming. Most online games need upload speeds of only 1 Mbps to properly run. But if you’re regularly streaming games on Twitch or coordinating strategy on a Discord server with friends, you’ll get your money’s worth from a plan with fast upload speeds. In either case, we’d recommend an internet plan with a minimum upload speed of 5–10 Mbps.

Question 3

How does latency affect gaming?

Accepted Answer

Latency measures round-trip time (RTT), or how long it takes for a packet (bundle of information) to get from your device to the internet network, then back to your device. A program called ping can measure your latency, which is usually expressed in microseconds (ms).

Question 4

How does jitter impact online gaming?

Accepted Answer

Jitter is how much your latency varies over time. This little change in tempo can make a big difference in your gameplay. You might experience it as visible choppiness or merely a feeling that your rhythm’s been thrown off.

Question 5

How does packet loss affect gaming?

Accepted Answer

In short, packet loss is the enemy of Discord voice chats everywhere. Any packet loss over 2% can cause enormous problems for call quality. As with latency and jitter, you can reduce packet loss issues by upgrading your router or using an Ethernet cable to connect to the internet.

Question 6

How do I get better internet performance for gaming?

Accepted Answer

Switch to an Ethernet cable: Home Wi-Fi is handy, but everything from other devices to the number of walls between your PC and router can affect your wireless connection. If your gaming PC is near your router (or you don’t mind running cabling through the house), use an Ethernet cable to get the best internet connection for gaming. Ethernet cables offer consistent internet performance since they use a wired connection that isn’t affected by wireless interference. Configure your Wi-Fi router’s settings (or buy a new one): Wi-Fi routers typically have Quality of Service (QoS) features that help them direct network traffic. Exact QoS features vary by router (check your manual for full instructions), but generally, you’ll want QoS settings that prioritize gaming in order to reduce lag. If you’re playing on a gaming console, you’ll also want to configure your NAT settings. If you’re a hardcore gamer and still running into network problems, you could also upgrade to a gaming Wi-Fi router. While they aren’t cheap, gaming routers have gaming-specific QoS features that let you further tweak your network performance. Connect to the fastest server: During online matches, most games will automatically connect you to the closest server near you. But if you’re playing a game with manual matchmaking, make sure you’re connecting to a server with a latency of under 100 ms. Update your hardware and reboot your router: Routine driver and firmware updates help ensure that hardware like your router or Wi-Fi receiver are working as fast as possible and that they’re up-to-date. Weekly router restarts also keep your wireless network in peak condition. If you’re unsure about where to start with your router troubleshooting, check out our guide to modem and router lights. With our guide, you’ll understand whether your wireless antennas or Ethernet devices are working correctly.

Question 7

Is satellite internet good for gaming?

Accepted Answer

Unfortunately, satellite internet isn’t a great choice for online gaming because the latency is so long. The data sent over satellite internet has to travel from your house to a satellite in outer space to the network hub back on earth—and then the whole process in reverse. Even though satellite internet can do all that in only a few seconds, it can’t support the quick response time online games require.

Question 8

What kind of internet do I need for gaming?

Accepted Answer

We’d recommend fiber-optic internet if you’re in an area with fiber providers, because it offers excellent internet speeds and low latency. If fiber isn’t available, you can still get excellent gaming performance with a cable or DSL internet connection.

Question 9

What is the best router for gaming?

Accepted Answer

The ASUS ROG Rapture GT-AC5300 is our pick for the best gaming router. It supports two 5 GHz frequencies and one 2.4 GHz frequency. That plus its six antennae and eight Ethernet ports make it a superb router for almost any gaming setup.

Question 10

Is 10 Mbps a good internet speed for gaming?

Accepted Answer

Most games can run just fine on 3 Mbps download speeds, since your computer or console does most of the heavy lifting. But you should make sure that your latency is good and that you don’t have other devices competing for the internet while you’re gaming.

Rachel Oaks

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