Ever wondered what is the best internet speed for gaming? Glo Fiber has some insights to share and fast internet for gaming to offer. Read more here.
While plenty of today's tentpole forms of home entertainment require a fast, reliable internet speed to enjoy effectively, gaming is a unique form of entertainment that brings unique challenges. Not all games need an internet connection, but a strong connection is necessary if you or someone in your home is playing games online. Speeds that work for checking emails or watching movies may not be enough to play games online, and if you don't know what to look for, finding an option that works for you can be a tough thing to do. Let's take a minute to outline online gaming's unique requirements and help you choose the best internet option for the gamer in your life!
A couple of terms that will help us understand what determines the best internet speed for gaming are "download speeds" and "upload speeds." If you've shopped for internet packages before, you may be familiar with these terms and their associated numbers. These numbers denote the maximum speed at which your computer or device can receive data from an internet server (download) and how quickly it can send data back (upload). Everything we do when we use the internet is a constant back and forth between a device and the corresponding server — surfing the web, uploading pictures, downloading music, etc. What makes online gaming unique is how immediate it requires the actions to happen as they relate to other players. If it takes a little longer than usual to open an email or a web page, you may not notice. But players with bad internet connections will immediately see and struggle to do even the simplest things. Online gaming requires a constant, high-speed back and forth between the device and the internet server, which is why the needs of a gamer may be a little greater overall.
As more and more people work and enjoy their entertainment from the comfort of home, fast, reliable internet speeds have become a day-to-day necessity. And while fast internet isn't available everywhere, most people with internet in the home have access to speeds that are more than enough for their needs. Today, the average American enjoys internet download speeds between 25 Mbps to 50 Mbps at home. Outliers exist, but chances are that most Americans with internet in the home have speeds within this range at any given time.
The good news for gamers is that this amount is plenty. Gaming doesn't require huge numbers but a reliable, consistent connection and enough bandwidth to cover that constant back and forth. If you or someone in your household is a gamer, assess your internet usage to determine if you have enough to meet the demands of what you are trying to do. 25 Mbps may be enough, but if you have multiple devices using the internet simultaneously, you may need more.
Often the most essential aspect of online gaming isn't bandwidth but "latency." Latency is the literal time it takes for a data packet to be sent to a server and returned to you. This differs from bandwidth because some of the speeds providers advertise are more capacity than anything, not actual speed. Lower latency means it takes less time for the process to happen, which is a good thing overall. For gamers especially, but internet users in general, lower latency only helps improve the internet experience.
When choosing a provider or service, the tricky thing is that these latency numbers aren't often advertised. It may be difficult to know if what you have is the best for your needs, so you may have to do a little research. Satellite connections, for instance, have notoriously high latency rates, whereas cable and fiber connections have lower ones. The numbers may not communicate that clearly, but it's good to know.
The positive, however, is that there are a few options to mitigate latency. One is Fiber Internet. Where standard internet connections like DSL or cable might regularly output download speeds of 25 Mbps or more, the upload speeds they provide are often significantly lower. For most people, this is okay because most people are downloading data from the internet, not uploading it, but for gamers, who rely on higher upload speeds, Fiber Internet can often be a great option. Fiber drastically reduces any noticeable lag because its bandwidth is "symmetrical," meaning its download and upload speeds are identical, making it a great option for those with higher upload needs.
Additionally, a lot of the factors that influence latency you can adjust at home. For example, connecting your computer or device to your modem via Ethernet cable instead of WiFi can dramatically reduce latency rates. If a direct connection isn't possible, upgrading your router or simply placing it closer to your device may also be a helpful solution. Generally, the fewer barriers between you and the server, the better your experience.
While online gaming is often believed to have high bandwidth requirements, the numbers necessary to do it effectively aren't all that great. Average speeds of 25 Mbps or more may be enough for you, depending on how many devices you have connected and your household size. The more important number to consider is latency, or the time it takes to send data back and forth. If latency or lag is an issue for you, the good news is there's something you can do about it! Connecting your device to your modem directly or upgrading your router can make a substantial difference in helping you overcome these issues. But if that still isn't enough, or you're looking to improve your internet service, Fiber-Optic Internet may be an option worth considering.
If you're interested in upgrading your internet connection or just learning more about Fiber Internet options, contact us today!