
Your dreams of being a pro gamer can be shattered when you’re suddenly disconnected from the server due to bad ping. Although a lot of it can be attributed to bad internet, however, before you think about upgrading your ISP, try some DIYs for better connectivity.
In case you are currently struggling with your internet speed, here are some of the tips and tricks that you can try.
Let’s take a look at some of them below.
Tips to Improve Internet Connection for Gaming
Latency vs Bandwidth
Before we move on to some of the ways you can improve your internet for gaming, let’s try to clear up a confusion I see a lot of people having.
Most people tend to confuse bandwidth and latency. Although they sound like internet jargon, these words represent two different things.
Bandwidth is the amount of data that can be sent or received in one second. Think of it like the width of a pipe. If the pipe is wider, more water can flow through it. Bandwidth is measured in megabits per second or Mbps. Most modern games like Fortnite and Call of Duty require a bandwidth of 5 Mbps.
Latency is the amount of time it takes for data to go back and forth from server to client. In the same pipe example from above, imagine latency being the length of the pipe. If the pipe is longer, it’s going to take longer for water to travel from one point to another. This is measured in milliseconds or ms. This is the same as response time.
Latency is much more important than Bandwidth in terms of gaming.
Here’s, a general rule of thumb to judge your latency for gaming:
- 0-20ms: Virtually perfect! This should almost feel like real-time.
- 20-50ms: You shouldn’t experience any noticeable lag.
- 50-100ms: Should be fine but you might experience some lag. Not ideal for fast-paced games but should be okay for co-op play.
- 100ms-150ms: You’re going to notice frequent lag which will interfere with gameplay. Fast-paced games might become unplayable.
- 150ms and higher: The connection will become unstable and you might become disconnected from the game. Not ideal for online gaming.
Tips to Improve Internet Connection for Gaming
You don’t have to be a professional to fix the internet problems of your gaming devices. Here are some of the things you should to do improve your internet connection for gaming.
- Restart Your Router
Restarting your router is one of the simplest ways to fix your internet connection issue.
Rebooting can clean your cache, fix temporary glitches, refresh your connection, and install any updates. To restart your router, unplug the power and wait for around a minute before plugging it back in.
I learned this the hard way. At one point, I used to face a lot of lag when playing Rainbow Six Siege. After contacting Spectrum customer service, the first thing they told me was to restart my router. Since then, I’ve made it a habit to restart my router at least once a week.
- Use a Wired Connection
A wired connection is always better than a wireless connection. It can help reduce a lot of problems associated with WiFi like range and obstacles.
I recommend setting up your router in the same room as your PC or console. However, you can always go for dedicated Ethernet wiring that goes straight from your router to your preferred gaming platform. When setting up a wired connection, make sure the cables and ports aren’t damaged and make sure to secure them properly in the ports.
Although I haven’t noticed changes in latency or speed going from wireless to wired, I have seen a significant increase in stability when using a wired connection for gaming.
- Remove Unused Devices
When a new device connects to your router, it can add a little bit of latency and bandwidth. Even if you’re not actively using the device, it still uses a little bit of your internet.
Now imagine when a dozen devices are connected to your internet and use a little bit of bandwidth every second. It’s going to cause slowdowns, stutters, and even disconnections. It’s a good idea to disconnect unused devices from your network when gaming.
You can also remove these devices by going to your router’s web dashboard, which can be done by opening the address on the back of the router in your web browser.
- Reset Your Device
The acquired speed depends on the client and server communication. However, occasionally, corrupted or bugged-out network settings can cause slowdowns or disconnection when gaming.
It’s always a good idea to reboot the network settings of your PC or gaming console once every two months. Generally speaking, you should start with simple fixes like restarting the device. However, if you face frequent issues, try resetting the network settings or resetting the device fully.
Wrapping Up
For the most part, following the above-mentioned tips is a sure-fire way to ensure you get the best possible internet connection when gaming. However, if you still face issues during online gaming, it might be time to upgrade your internet plan or switch to a different ISP.