Does your internet speed keep you from getting the victory in your game?
Studies show that over 3.1 billion people are playing online games across the globe today. People enjoy games for a variety of reasons, but one of them is to spend time with friends. Online games share a common enemy, and that is a poor internet connection.
You can experience lag or even get kicked out of your lobby. Is your internet speed enough to support your gaming activity? Read on to learn the best internet speed for online gaming.
How Much Mbps Do You Need for Gaming?
When looking for internet plans, determine how much Mbps you need.
Mbps, or megabits per second, is the measurement used to determine internet speeds. Higher Mbps generally means faster internet. For the best gaming experience, it’s best to install at least the minimum recommended amount of MBPS.
The best internet speed for gaming is 3 Mbps when using a game console. If you play an online game for multiplayer, 4 Mbps works better. Keep in mind that there are other factors that can impact your internet speed.
What Affects Your Gaming Experience?
Apart from internet speed, some things can affect a smooth gaming session. 3 Mbps may be enough to power your gaming session, but did you account for other devices in your home? Here are other factors that can improve or impair your performance.
1. Download Speed and Upload Speed
As the names suggest, the download and upload speeds refer to the transfer of information. The former affects how fast you can receive data from the web, while the latter refers to how fast you can send them.
In gaming, the download speed determines how fast a device receives data from game servers. Good download speed allows your device to process new data fast, preventing lag. However, upload speed determines how fast you can make an action in your game, such as firing a weapon.
To ensure the smooth transfer of data, the recommended download speed ranges from 3 Mbps to 6 Mbps. For upload speed, having 0.5 Mbps to 1 Mbps works. If you like to stream while playing, you need a higher upload speed.
2. Bandwidth
Has your game ever crashed despite having a good internet speed? Many devices sharing a connection in a single provider is one reason your game crashes. The bandwidth of your internet service is insufficient to support all devices.
When talking about data transmission, people often interchange network speed and bandwidth. Your internet speed measures the data transfer rate, and the bandwidth determines the amount. If you have a 25 Mbps internet connection, you can carry and transfer data with that capacity.
Many devices connected to the internet can slow data transfer.
3. Latency
A fast gaming speed and good bandwidth are useless if you have high latency. Often, high latency or ping causes a game to lag. This refers to the data transfer duration from a device to the server and back to the device.
In gaming, the ping determines how long it takes for the server to register your input and respond. For instance, when your character moves, the game sends the data to the server. Then, the game server records and transmits the movement back to the game.
What affects the latency? The factors are the distance from the server, router performance, and internet speed. Your ping can reach as high as 150 ms or higher.
To check your ping, you can use different network diagnostic tools available on the web. For a smooth session, the ideal latency ranges from 50 ms to 100 ms, which is a good internet speed for gaming.
4. Connection Stability
Another factor in a gaming session is connection stability. A stable connection can guarantee a smooth experience and excellent performance. To determine your connection stability, check the differences in latency in a server.
If you find your connection unstable, consider changing providers. Check out these Spectrum Internet Plans. See what can support your gaming on the internet the most.
Connection Speed for Devices
Are you aware that the internet speed for gaming can differ depending on your device? Here’s the recommended internet speed for each device.
1. Personal Computer
One of the devices used for gaming is a personal computer. Many use one because of its customizable hardware, high-definition graphics, and unrivaled control.
The best download speed for a PC ranges from 3 Mbps to 25 Mbps. For its upload speed, you can choose from 0.75 Mbps to 5 Mbps. When it comes to latency, ensure you don’t exceed 100 ms.
2. Game Consoles
For game consoles, a gamer has several options, including an Xbox, Nintendo, and PS5. These devices need the same internet speed for gaming and latency limits.
Like the PC, you can opt for a download speed from 3 Mbps to 25 Mbps. For the upload speed, the devices share the same recommendation, ranging from 0.50 Mbps to 4 Mbps. To prevent lag, the general guideline suggests a ping less than 50 ms and not higher than 150 ms.
Connection Speed for Games
When you enter the gaming world, there are many game types you can choose to play. As they differ, the number of network resources they consume is different too. With this, check your internet connection to determine if it can support your game.
There are common game types people play. Some are First-Person Shooters, Role-Playing, Massive Multiplayer Online, and Real-Time Strategy games. These games have different requirements when it comes to internet connection qualities.
An FPS game requires a download speed is at least 30 Mbps, 1 Mbps for upload speed, and a ping rate of 20ms. If you play RPG, you at least need a download speed of 1.5 Mbps and a 1 Mbps upload speed with latency not exceeding 150ms.
MMO and RTS games differ in download speed yet share the same upload speed and ping rate.
MMO games need at least 3.5 Mbps, while the RTS games require 3 Mbps. For their upload speed, opt for 0.5 Mbps and a ping rate not exceeding 150ms.
The Ideal Internet Speed for Gaming
Many factors can affect your gaming experience. However, the internet speed tops them. Use this guide and enjoy gaming with your friends without delay.
Are you looking for some games to play with friends? Check out our other blog posts to discover the latest games.