So, you’ve got your gaming rig maxed out. The RGB lights are pulsing, the monitor is primed for action and your mouse is ready to click heads. But hold on, you forgot a crucial element that could turn your epic gaming session into a rage-quit nightmare and i.e. internet speed for online gaming. Without having the right internet speed, even the legendary players can get pwned to the dreaded lag monster.
Lucky for you this blog uncovers all the secrets to achieving gaming nirvana and internet speeds. Read along!
Speed Run
When it comes to gaming, not all internet speeds are equally created. Bringing a bronze sword to a dragon fight would be foolish, right? The same is for your internet connection. The internet speed for gaming needs to be fast enough to handle instantaneous demands of online battles.
Casual Gamers
If you’re dabbing in some cozy Stardew Valley farming or a chill game of Animal crossing, a basic broadband connection of 3-8 Mbps is good enough for you. But let’s be real, most of us aren’t here to just water crops, we’re here to frag noobs.
Serious Gamers
For those who survive on gaming only, playing fast paced shooters or RPGs, you definitely need a faster connection. Aim for at least 25 Mbps for a smooth gameplay and minimal lag. After all, in the heat of the online battle, every millisecond counts. Wouldn’t it be frustrating if you’re caught lagging when the boss is at 1% health!
Ping and Latency Being Silent Killers
Just when you thought that speed is all that matters, you are in for a surprise. Enter ping and latency, the sneaky bosses of the game world. Ping is the time it takes for your computer to communicate with the game server and latency is the wait time before data starts moving after you do something.
Low Ping=High Score
A ping rate that is below 20 ms is like hitting a jackpot, something between 20-50 ms is considered good, 50-100 ms is somewhat acceptable and anything above 100 ms can make you rage harder than losing a battle royale by a silver. High ping can turn your carefully aimed headshot into a wild miss, which would make you wonder if your character tripped over an invisible banana peel. Yikes!
Choose Your Weapon: Wired vs. wireless
Wired Connections
For the best gaming experience, having a wired Ethernet connection is your Excalibur. It’s more reliable, fast and less prone to interference. The only downside is it can only be connected to just one device that you tend to use.
Wireless Connections
Wifi may have come a long way, but wired connection always beats it when it comes to stability. But if you still choose to go wireless, make sure you’re using a 5 GHz band for lower interference and faster speed. It feels like upgrading from a wooden shield to a magical force field.
The Need For Speed
Different games have different internet speed for gaming needs. Here is a quick rundown of what you should aim for.
First-Person Shooters (FPS)
With games like Call of Duty or Counter-Strike you need crazy fast reflexes. A minimum of 25 Mbps is recommended, but more than that would be even better. Always remember, with games like these, speed kills, like literally.
Massively Multiplayer Online (MMO) Games
World of Warcraft or Final Fantasy XIV players do need a stable connection with a speed of around 5-25 Mbps. For this you need stability, you do not want to be booted from a raid right before the final boss drops the loot.
Battle Royale Games
For Fortnite or Apex Legends, anything above 25 Mbps would only be accepted. Such games are all about survival of the fittest hence a strong connection can mean the difference between a victory royale and a rage-inducing defeat.
Bandwidth Bandits
The performance of your game can also be impacted by other devices and applications hogging your bandwidth. Close down anything that slows down the internet like streaming movies, downloading files or even multiple device connections (unless it’s important).
Pro Tip
Your gaming device should be a priority on your router settings. It’s like giving your character the best gear before you enter the dungeon.
Get Ready for the Next Level
With more advanced games being added online, the internet speed requirements for gaming will continue to increase. To future-proof your setup, the best rural internet for gaming is a fiber optic connection. With speeds reaching up to 1 Gbps, you’ll be prepared for whatever gaming action comes your way.
Lag-Busting Tips and Tricks
Even with the best internet speed, occasional lag can creep in like a stealthy rogue. Here are tips to keep your games up and running.
Update Driver and Firmware
For the best performance, always keep your hardware and software updated just as you sharpen your sword before the battle.
Close Background Application
Shut down all the unnecessary programs running in the background. You wouldn’t fight a dragon with one hand tied behind your back now, would you?
Optimize In-Game Settings
Adjusting the game settings can decrease the load on your connection. Bring the quality of the graphics down a notch, it may disturb your eyes but it does save your game.
Use of Quality Services (QoS)
Usually modern routers come with QoS settings that allow you to prioritize your gaming traffic. It’s like having a personal healer for your data.
Ready, Set, Game On!
Picking the right internet speed for gaming needs is what you need to have a fluid like online experience. Whether you are just having fun or you have your serious game face on, knowing what speed you need and tweaking your setup can be the difference between an epic win and a rage-quit. So, gear up, fine-tune your connection and conquer the virtual world.
In the gaming realm, speed is not just about winning, it’s about dominating. Now be gone and may the bandwidth be ever in your favor!