What internet speed do I need for gaming?

Your ISP’s internet connection type impacts your internet speeds and online experience. The following internet connections are available for gaming online:

Cable and fiber are wired broadband technologies that provide fast, reliable and consistent internet speeds.

Cable uses cable infrastructure to transmit internet data, while fiber uses fiber optic cables to transmit data as light pulses. Both offer high-speed connections with faster download and upload speeds, lower latency and less data disruption, making them great choices for online gaming.

Plus, cable and fiber are widely available, as most suburban and urban regions have wired internet infrastructure.

5G home internet is a wireless connection transmitted through high-frequency signals by 5G cell towers. It provides faster internet speeds and lower latency than the older 4G and 3G technologies.

While 5G home internet provides high speeds and will handle most gaming activities, its performance comes with some inconsistency and unreliability.

5G’s wireless signals introduce latency, significantly affecting online gameplay. These factors can have a significant impact on the quality of your gaming experience.

Other factors that can affect 5G’s speeds include:

• Increased distance between devices and 5G cell towers.
• Physical barriers between devices and cell towers.
• Network congestion caused by a surge in users and devices.
• Weather events like storms.
• Data caps on 5G internet plans

In addition, 5G’s coverage is generally limited to cities and urban areas.

If you are a competitive gamer, consider broadband options like cable or fiber internet for a better gaming experience.

A mobile hotspot is a feature on your phone that lets you share your mobile data connection with other devices. Mobile hotspots are handy as they can be used as an internet backup when your WiFi is down, or when you need connectivity while on the move.

Like 5G home internet, a mobile hotspot can also introduce latency because they also rely on wireless signals to transmit data through cellular networks. Latency makes hotspots less ideal for highly competitive gaming sessions.

Other limitations when using mobile hotspots include:

• • Slower speeds than traditional wired connections.
  • Data caps that, once exceeded, can incur additional charges or throttle speeds.
  • Less reliability, as mobile signal strength depends on your location.
  • Battery drains on your phone, especially when multiple devices are connected.
  • Limitations on simultaneously connected devices.

 
While mobile hotspots may be  suitable for other online activities, they do not provide the ultra-low latency and high speeds required for the best gaming experience.

Satellite internet is a viable internet option for people living in rural or remote areas where other high-speed internet connections like cable, fiber and 5G internet are not available.

While satellite internet speeds have improved over the years and are sufficient for gaming, they come with some limitations because of the technology.

These limitations include:

• Higher latency than the other types of internet connections.
• Data caps issued by ISPs limit the amount of data to be used.
• Interruptions due to adverse weather conditions like heavy rain or snow.

 
Gamers can use satellite internet for casual gaming or RPGs, but because of its higher latency, it might not be the best option for fast-paced or competitive multiplayer games. However, it is still a viable internet connection for gamers in areas with limited broadband options.

Combining internet and mobile carrier services into one plan offers flexibility, convenience and cost savings for gamers who want the best of both worlds. A single plan provides reliable home internet for gaming and mobile connectivity to play while on the go.

Are you looking to save money on your internet connection? Astound Broadband’s fiber-powered internet and cell phone plans give you the reliable internet speeds you need with nationwide 5G coverage at an affordable price.

Furthermore, you can customize your plan to cater to your gaming needs.

Download and upload speeds and data usage are essential factors for online gaming. Let’s explore what each factor means and why it matters for gaming.

Download speed is the rate at which your device receives data from the internet in megabits per second (Mbps).

Download speed is crucial for gaming because it determines how quickly your device can receive data from game servers. The higher the download speed, the faster you can download game files and updates and the quicker you can have access to gaming content.

Upload speed is the rate at which data is transmitted from your device to the internet in megabits per second.

Upload speed is critical for online gaming, especially multiplayer and live-streaming activities. It influences how quickly your in-game actions or messages are communicated to the game server and other players.

Additionally, if you’re streaming your gameplay on platforms like Twitch or YouTube, a higher upload speed is required to broadcast high-quality videos.

You can use an internet speed test to determine whether your current download and upload speeds are enough for gaming.

Data refers to the amount of information transferred over an internet connection. It is measured in megabytes (MB), gigabytes (GB) and terabytes (TB).

It is essential to understand your data usage while gaming because 5G home internet and mobile hotspot plans have data caps and limits. Activities like downloading game files and updates and streaming gameplay consume a lot of data and can easily exceed the data limits. Desktops, laptops, and gaming consoles consume more bandwidth than mobile devices, so keeping track of your data usage is essential.

On the other hand, most ISPs offer wired internet connections with unlimited or higher data allowances than 5G or mobile hotspots. Fiber and cable connections provide consistent and reliable internet speeds that can facilitate smooth online gaming.

Learn more: What happens when you go over your data limit?

Explore our recommendations below to help you optimize your WiFi and gaming setup for the best online gaming experience.

A gaming router like the Nighthawk Pro Gaming Router offers several advantages over regular routers for avid gamers.

These advantages include:

• • Prioritization of gaming traffic through Quality of Service (QoS) features.
  • Lower latency and reduced lag by prioritizing gaming data packets.
  • Customizable settings to fine-tune the network for specific game needs.
  • It has enhanced security features such as built-in VPN support and a traffic controller.
  • A graphical user interface (GUI) for non-technical users to edit the QoS settings.

 
Learn more: Gaming router vs normal router: which is better?
 

Keep in mind that the actual speeds you receive are determined by both the model of the gaming device (laptop, cell phone, tablet, or console) and the router’s throughput capabilities.

Ensure your devices support modern WiFi 6 standards and regularly update your router’s firmware. Consider pairing a gaming router with your gaming devices to maximize your gaming experience.

Configuring your router for gaming can improve your gaming experience significantly. Gaming routers offer multiple customizable options to optimize your experience.

Here are three features you can configure on your gaming router:

• • Quality of Service options (QoS)
    QoS settings allow you to prioritize specific types of network traffic. You can prioritize gaming data over other internet activities through bandwidth allocation and traffic prioritization. Prioritization ensures that gaming traffic takes the fastest possible route through your network, reducing lag and latency while playing.
  • Ping heat maps
    Ping heat maps are a visual representation of latency (ping) across different regions or game servers. They provide real-time data on the ping times between your gaming device and various gaming servers or locations worldwide. It helps you optimize your experience by allowing you to choose the best game servers with the lowest ping.
  • Port forwarding
    Port forwarding is required to ensure incoming and outgoing game data packets are routed to the correct gaming device. By configuring port forwarding rules, you can improve connectivity and reduce potential disconnections between your gaming device and game servers.

 
Consult your router’s user manual or access its web interface to make these configurations. Familiarize yourself with your router’s settings, as routers have different interfaces.