This ongoing pandemic has got all of us hooked to the internet more than we ever used to be. But, who can you blame? Times have changed and so have our circumstances. However, one thing is constant — the need for a fast internet connection.
One of the activities we use the internet for is online gaming. Online gaming can push one’s internet connection to the edge. But unlike most other online activities, download speed isn’t usually the limiting factor in the online gaming experience. Your game won’t be safe from lag no matter how slow or fast your internet is if latency is in hundreds of milliseconds.
Hold up, doesn’t a “fast” and “good” internet connection mean the same thing? Well, if you weren’t aware, there’s so much more to a good internet connection than just a fast download speed. Even though most internet service providers (ISPs) only advertise download speed.
With Windstream Kinetic, you can expect to know the little details about your internet speed, and how effective will it be for your online gaming experience. If you’re literally cringing thinking that you will need to go through everything written in your high-speed internet plan for your area, don’t worry.
We’ve decided to share the most important points that you should check out in your internet plan so that you can rest assured while gaming online.
Download And Upload Speed
It usually comes off as a surprise whenever it is mentioned that online gaming does not require high bandwidth. This is because, as compared to online videos that are streamed over an internet connection, images in video games are rendered through a graphics card present in game consoles or PCs.
The only signals that need to communicate over the internet connection are those buttons and keys you press during the game. In other words, even some of today’s modern high-definition games only require a 3 Mbps download speed for a seamless experience.
Since online games are usually interactive. You need to take upload speeds or the speed at which the computer communicates with a remote server into consideration as well. Ideally, these speeds should be usually 1-2 Mbps.
So, even a poor internet connection might be able to match these speeds. This is one reason why upload speed isn’t given that much importance.
What About Latency?
Latency measures the time a signal takes to reach a remote server from a device and back. This is measured by forwarding individual information “ping” forward and backward, also known as the “ping rate.”
If latency is high while you are playing an online game, you can expect to see some sort of lag. There are several factors that impact latency like the actual physical distance between the server and you.
The total number of routers a signal has to pass through, and the kind of connection that the signal has to transmit through also affects latency. For instance, fiber-optic cables indefinitely transmit data at a much faster rate than copper phone lines.
However, the speed at which signals move back and forth isn’t the same as bandwidth or download speed. The factors only mean that specific types of internet connections tend to have a higher latency as compared to others. For example, Satellite internet usually has the highest latency. All thanks to its wireless transmission that needs to back and forth to a satellite in space. Fiber-optic connection, on the other hand, has the lowest latency, which makes your online gaming experience a smooth one.
How To Reduce Lag?
If your internet connection’s latency is causing your game to lag. There are a few steps you can try to reduce latency and let your system run smoothly.
Don’t Use Wi-Fi
Wireless connections, no after how fast they are, do tend to add a little bit of delay. However, if you were physically connected through an Ethernet cable to the router. You can get rid of this delay, making your internet connection faster.
If you do indeed plan on using Wi-Fi, just be sure that your gaming console or computer is near the Wi-Fi router. So that you avoid obstructions during the game.
Reset Your Network Devices
Sometimes, resetting your modem and router can in fact improve their performance. Since the least amount of difference in your latency can actually make a rather big difference to the amount of lag you go through in games, it’s worth giving this option a shot.
Use the Closest Server
Let’s be real, distance makes a huge difference in your latency rate. Even if all devices on the connection are running at their maximum abilities, it’ll still take time for signals to travel. Games have the tendency of connecting you to the nearest server.
However, if you’re still experiencing some form of latency issues. There’s no harm in double-checking to see if you connected to another server while you’re in North America.
The Bottom Line
We hope this article gave you a broader understanding of what really affects your online gaming experience, and that is your latency. If you’re someone who loves online gaming, it’s best to go for an internet plan that has the lowest latency.
Just be mindful that other online activities, such as live streaming, downloading, or even cloud gaming have their own sets of requirements that you should consider.
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