Do You Need Download Or Upload Speed For Gaming

How to Get the Best Internet for Gaming

Our experts have researched cyberspace service for years, and they've got the answers to all your gaming cyberspace questions.

What is a adept cyberspace speed for gaming?

Nosotros recommend at least 100 Mbps download speeds for online gaming. Merely proficient internet speed isn't necessarily the only thing you'll need for a smooth gaming session.

Read on to larn how internet speed, latency, jitter, packet loss, and net connectivity affect your video game experience. Or, if you prefer to skip all the technical jargon, head over to our review of the best net providers for gaming.

Internet speed

Conventional wisdom might lead you lot to believe slow internet speeds are the cause of all your gaming issues. In reality, the simply fourth dimension gaming requires something faster than your boilerplate broadband cyberspace (25–50 Mbps) is when you're downloading a new game or update.

Even a fast-paced video game like Apex Legends requires but a 512 Kbps net connection. Merely at the same fourth dimension, internet speeds nonetheless affair if you're not the just one who needs the internet.

Call back about download speeds similar a birthday cake: splitting a 50 Mbps internet connection betwixt two people means you both get a generous share, but when your household has five or ten people taking video calls or watching movies, your piece of block will be split and split until it's a pile of crumbs.

We'd suggest at least a 50 Mbps internet connection if you're getting cyberspace for yourself. For larger households and families, upgrade to plans with a minimum download speed of at to the lowest degree 150 Mbps. With faster download speeds, your home internet can easily support more Zoom calls or Netflix sessions without running into performance problems.

But even if you have a fast cyberspace programme, it's no guarantee that you'll have a smooth gaming feel. Latency, jitter, and packet loss are every bit of import factors to consider for online gaming.

Upload speed

Your internet plan's upload speed isn't incredibly important for online gaming. Well-nigh online games need upload speeds of only ane Mbps to properly run.

But if you lot're regularly streaming games on Twitch or analogous strategy on a Discord server with friends, you'll go your money'southward 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.

Find the fastest internet providers for gaming in your expanse

Latency

Irksome definition: Latency measures round-trip time (RTT), or how long it takes for a package (bundle of data) to get from your device to the cyberspace network, so back to your device. A program called ping can measure your latency, which is usually expressed in microseconds (ms).

Make sense? No?

Well, let's break downwards the jargon. Hold onto your ergonomic gaming chair—it'southward analogy time:

Yous're playing ping-pong with a friend.
Your ping-pong ball is a packet, property the data of that no-scope headshot you merely took in Fortnite.
The time it takes for your ball to get from you to your friend and back to yous is latency.

Ping rate vs. latency vs. download speed

Latency, which is measured using ping rate, is different from download speed. The former measures the time it takes data to travel dorsum and forth, while the latter measures how much data your internet can download at once.

Think of a 100 Mbps download speed as your friend serving back a wave of 100 ping-pong balls at once, instead of simply the one with the results of your headshot. Super cool, but not vital to your Fortnite performance.

Ideally, your RTT latency volition be as shut to 0 ms every bit possible. Any speed under 100 ms is okay, and nether 40 ms is excellent. Too long, and your opponent will take escaped unscathed before the network tin can process your perfect headshot.

Pro tip: You lot can check your current latency at HighSpeedInternet.com. Click Start Speed Test, Test Upload Speed, and and then Share Your Speed Test Results. Don't worry—you won't really have to send your results to anyone.

Best ping rates for gaming

To bring your latency downwards, try to get as close to your Wi-Fi router every bit possible for a strong wireless signal. If your gaming PC or console is shut plenty to your router, we'd recommend hooking upward the device with an Ethernet cable. Ethernet cables offering the strongest cyberspace connexion past eliminating wireless latency bug.

Gear up your latency problem

If your latency is regularly higher than 100 ms, a new internet provider could solve your gaming problems. Enter your zip code below to come across your local internet options:

Jitter

Jitter is how much your latency varies over time. This piddling change in tempo can make a big difference in your gameplay. You might experience it every bit visible choppiness or merely a feeling that your rhythm'south been thrown off.

Get rid of the jitters

Often, lousy jitter comes from a poor in-domicile internet connection. To become the best Wi-Fi for gaming, y'all'll want to upgrade your router. Or y'all tin can go the sometime-fashioned-but-reliable route—wire your system with an Ethernet cable.

Bundle loss

Imagine you're playing ping-pong with your friend again. They hit that brawl/package dorsum at yous, and suddenly, it disappears.

No worries, they've got a magic copy of it, and they hit that at y'all instead.

Packet loss is like that. Sometimes data bundles get lost or deleted on the fashion dorsum to your computer, usually due to network congestion, spotty Wi-Fi, or outdated software.

Sometimes the network sends the package again, like it does if a picture doesn't load right in your browser. But for existent-fourth dimension video or audio, that doesn't do any practiced. The data would come up out of chronological order, making your video or audio even more disruptive.

Instead, you'll have a moment of frozen or glitchy video and audio.

In short, parcel loss is the enemy of Discord voice chats everywhere. Any packet loss over 2% can cause enormous problems for call quality. Equally with latency and jitter, y'all tin can reduce packet loss bug by upgrading your router or using an Ethernet cablevision to connect to the internet.

Ill of high packet loss?

If you know information technology's fourth dimension for you lot to switch providers, we've got your local options covered. Just enter your ZIP code beneath:

How to get the all-time internet functioning for gaming

If your Fortnite or Phone call of Duty sessions are getting brought down by constant packet loss, jitter, and high ping rates, you can solve most of these bug with a trivial network troubleshooting.

Switch to an Ethernet cablevision

Home Wi-Fi is handy, just everything from other devices to the number of walls betwixt your PC and router can touch on your wireless connection.

If your gaming PC is near your router (or you lot don't mind running cabling through the house), use an Ethernet cable to get the best internet connection for gaming. Ethernet cables offer consequent internet performance since they apply a wired connection that isn't affected by wireless interference.

Configure your Wi-Fi router'due south settings (or buy a new one)

Wi-Fi routers typically have Quality of Service (QoS) features that assistance them direct network traffic.

Exact QoS features vary by router (bank check your manual for total instructions), but by and large, 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 lot're a hardcore gamer and nonetheless running into network bug, you lot could also upgrade to a gaming Wi-Fi router. While they aren't inexpensive, gaming routers have gaming-specific QoS features that permit you lot farther tweak your network performance.

Connect to the fastest server

During online matches, near games volition automatically connect you to the closest server virtually yous. But if you're playing a game with manual matchmaking, brand sure you lot're connecting to a server with a latency of nether 100 ms.

Update your hardware and reboot your router

Routine driver and firmware updates aid ensure that hardware similar your router or Wi-Fi receiver are working as fast as possible and that they're upward-to-date. Weekly router restarts also go along your wireless network in meridian condition.

If you lot're unsure about where to showtime with your router troubleshooting, bank 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.

Final take

The right internet connection is essential for a height-notch online gaming experience. Now that you know how internet bandwidth, latency, and jitter touch your feel, check out our recommendations for the best net providers for gaming.

Internet for gaming FAQ

What is a good Mbps for gaming?

Most games can run just fine on 3 Mbps download speeds, since your reckoner or console does most of the heavy lifting. Merely nosotros recommend most homes have at least 100 Mbps internet speeds. And you lot should make sure that your latency is skillful and that you lot don't have other devices competing for the internet while you're gaming.

What kind of internet do I need for gaming?

We'd recommend fiber internet because it offers first-class internet speeds and low latency. If cobweb isn't available, you tin still go excellent gaming performance with a cable or DSL cyberspace connection.

Is satellite internet skillful for gaming?

Unfortunately, satellite cyberspace isn't a neat selection for online gaming because the latency is and so long. The data sent over satellite internet has to travel from your business firm to a satellite in outer space to the network hub back on earth—and then the whole process in opposite.

Even though satellite cyberspace can do all that in just a few seconds, it can't support the quick response time online games require.

What is the all-time router for gaming?

The ASUS ROG Rapture GT-AC5300 is our option for the best gaming router. It supports 2 five GHz frequencies and one 2.4 GHz frequency. Plus, its 6 antennae and 8 Ethernet ports make information technology a superb router for almost any gaming setup.

Which Boob tube is best for gaming?

CableTV.com'southward meridian pick for gaming TVs is the LG CX 4K Smart TV, but if you're on a budget, yous might want to try the TCL 5-Series ROKU Smart TV if yous're worried about your upkeep. Bank check out our "Best Gaming TVs" article for all the deets.