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Have you ever come close to winning a nail-biting death match in Call of Duty – Mobile or in any First-person shooter game, and your internet went south? Even though I have fixed my internet for gaming now, thinking of being in such a situation still gives me nightmares.
Well, are you interested in some remedial tips for spotty internet for gaming? If yes, then read on:
How Much Internet Speeds Do You Need for Gaming?
According to different sources on the internet, the following table depicts the minimum and ideal speeds for gaming:
| Factors | Minimum | Ideal |
| Download Speeds | 3Mbps | 15-25Mbps |
| Upload Speeds | 0.5-1Mbps | 5Mpbs |
| Ping | Less than 150ms | Less than 50ms |
How to Improve Your Internet Connection for Gaming:
Use an Ethernet Cable:
I’d choose an ethernet cable over a wireless connection every time. Simply because an ethernet cable can offer faster and more consistent speeds for gaming. Since an ethernet cable directly connects our devices to the internet, it can offer more bandwidth. Plus, there is less packet loss in ethernet cable as the internet is delivered via physical cable.
Also, in wireless connections, signals emitting from routers may be disrupted while making their way to our devices. Heavy furniture, thick walls, or electronic devices emitting radiation can change or block the internet’s signal path. By the time those signals reach our devices, they may already be weak. So, an ethernet connection can run your online games like a breeze when compared to wireless connections.
Upgrade Your Internet Plan:
Even an ethernet cable may fail to offer reliable speeds for gaming if you’ve subscribed to a low-speed plan. As you connect other devices to the same connection, it may tapper off the already slow speeds.
If you have the budget for fiber internet, and it’s available in your location, then I would suggest you choose a fiber internet plan. Simply because it’s one of the fastest connection types available and offers symmetrical speeds, i.e., similar upload and download speeds.
However, if a fiber connection is not available, cable internet should also be good enough to offer a seamless gaming experience. You may look into Spectrum Internet packages as I’ve finished Red Dead Redemption 2 on Spectrum’s Internet without any lag.
Close Background Applications:
The background apps are a major cause for slow internet as they consume bandwidth even when they’re idle. Your devices may receive notifications or get updates when you’re not using them. Resultantly, they decrease the network bandwidth you require for gaming.
To ensure you have ample bandwidth for gaming, turn off the automatic updates of apps or ideally, disconnect them from the internet, so they don’t consume any bandwidth.
Optimize Your Router:
Sometimes, our routers are the primary culprit as they fail to deliver the ideal internet speeds for our gaming. As mentioned above, signals may get disrupted by heavy furniture, walls, or electronic devices emitting radio waves. Not only that, routers also need frequent software and firmware updates. Without them, our routers may malfunction.
I would suggest you get a second router, one that only transfers internet for your gaming. Ideally, modern routers, for instance, a WiFi 6 or 802.11ax can offer reliable internet speeds for gaming.
Also, modern routers offer a Quality of Service (QoS) feature that lets you prioritize internet speeds for different tasks. Once enabled, you can cut down internet bandwidth for less critical tasks and direct more bandwidth to gaming.
Bonus Section: Best Internet Providers for Gaming:
Google Fiber – Best Fiber Internet: Arguably, you can get the fastest internet speeds for gaming with Google Fiber. Even with its slowest plan, you can get internet speeds up to 1Gbps. However, it may be a bit on the pricier side and availability is limited.
Spectrum – Best Cable Internet: Spectrum Internet is a fiber-rich broadband network. Its packages are affordable and even the slowest plan can offer speeds up to 100Mbps.
Verizon – Best 5G Home Internet: Verizon 5G Home Internet is the perfect alternative to fiber and cable internet. The 5G Home Internet can offer speeds up to 1Gbps which are more than enough to support any online game.
Starlink – Best Rural Internet: Although satellite internet is not famous for providing low-latency internet for gaming, Starlink’s low-orbiting satellite can support your online games. Starlink’s plans are a bit costly, but they can offer speeds up to 220Mbps which are not bad for a rural user.
