What Internet Speed Should I Buy For Online Gaming?
Online gaming has its perks but you can only enjoy it if you have a good Internet speed. Your entire team is counting on you and so, there is no room for slow Internet or you could lose. To stay one step ahead of your enemies, you need the best broadband speed there is. This raises the question “what Internet speed is best for online gaming?” Read on to figure that out.
Factors That Make Up Good Speed for Online Gaming
Each game and game console has a different set of requirements. But 3 factors impact the game – download speed, upload speed, and latency. To enjoy the best gaming experience, you must first know the acceptance rate for these three factors.
Read Also: Why Is Spectrum the Best Service Provider?
Latency Rate
Also known as the ping rate, it is the speed at which a device communicates with the Internet server. It is measured in milliseconds (ms). That means the higher the latency rate, the slower your game will be. Server latency can interrupt your game even if you have the best Internet Service Provider.
The ideal latency rate is 20 ms but that is very hard to achieve. As long as your latency is under 150 ms, you will be fine
Download Speed
As the name implies, it is the speed at which a command travels from the server to the console. Let’s say you want to check your Instagram feed. Download speed will measure how long it takes for a piece of information on your Instagram feed to travel from the server of Instagram on your smartphone.
For most gaming sessions, 3 Mbps is considered to be the best download speed.
Upload Speed
It is the speed at which a piece of information is uploaded from the user’s device to the server. Let’s suppose you want to post an image on Instagram. The upload speed will be the time it takes for your post to travel from your device to the server of Instagram.
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Since you have to send information continuously in online gaming, the upload speed needs to be higher. When they are multiple players involved, the upload speed requirement will be even faster. Hence, good upload speed is 1 Mbps.
Note: These numbers are for single players only. In multiple players’ gaming sessions, multiply these figures by the number of players who will be using the same Internet connection.
Which Device Are You Gaming With?
Depending on which device you are gaming with, the upload and download speed requirements vary. The comparison below explains what internet speed you will need according to the device in use:
| Game Console | Minimum Download Speed | Minimum Upload Speed | Maximum Ping Rate |
| Xbox One | 3 Mbps | 0.5 Mbps | Less than 150 ms |
| PS4 | 3 Mbps (Estimated) | 1 Mbps (Estimated) | Less than 150 ms (Estimated) |
| Nintendo Switch | 3 Mbps | 1 Mbps | 150 ms (Estimated) |
| PC/MAC | 3 to 6 Mbps (Estimated) | 0.75 to 1 Mbps (Estimated) | Less than 100 to 150 ms |
| Nintendo Wii U | 1.5 Mbps | 1 Mbps | 150 ms (Estimated) |
Tips To Improve Internet Speed
Live gaming requires a quick response otherwise, your opponent will gain an advantage. For example, because of latency, if you and your opponent pushed the attack button simultaneously, one of you will gain the advantage depending on which player’s information reached the game server first.
Read Also: CenturyLink vs Spectrum
Most users opt for FiOS Internet Service to get their hands on the best speed but this might not be enough. Here are some tips that can give you a competitive advantage over other players by increasing your Internet speed:
- Latency occurs when you have additional devices connected to the main router. These devices consume extra bandwidth especially if someone is streaming videos online. To improve the speed, connect your PC or console directly to the Internet. Get rid of all the extra devices as well. This will reduce the latency rate.
- Are you on Wi-Fi? It’s convenient but Wi-Fi always runs at a lower speed as compared to hard-wired connections. Since these connections are susceptible to interference, they can disrupt your gameplay. For better connection, connect the Ethernet cord to your console. This will improve speed. In case you are using Nintendo Switch, it doesn’t support hard-wired connections. To enjoy high speed, place the router somewhere it gets the most signals.
- Certain apps demand more bandwidth than others. During the gaming sessions, close all such programs (IMs and emails).
- If your router or modem is older than 5 years, consider upgrading it. An outdated model cannot handle fast Internet speed.
Bottom Line
Internet speed is important because it measures how quickly your device can transfer information from the gaming server. In general, you will need a minimum of 3 to 8 Mbps for online gaming. At the same time, the latency rate must be less than 150 ms. You can upgrade to Spectrum Internet if your current plan is not fast enough to meet your online gaming needs. With fast speed, don’t forget to take the necessary measures to reduce the speed lag. With the right speed, you will be ready to crush your enemy. Have a wonderful online gaming experience!
