Unlocking Lightning-Fast Connections: Mastering Low Ping for Ultimate Online Gaming

Experiencing lag due to elevated ping can be a significant drawback if you’re an enthusiastic online gamer. For instance, you might fire at a target that has shifted from its original position, or your swing might register long after the ball has already crossed for strike three, resulting in an out.

I wouldn’t classify low ping as a perk. It’s more a standard, a fundamental necessity for online gaming, much like having a dependable internet connection. Considering the various connection types and routers available, you should not have to tolerate latency that disrupts your gaming experience adversely.

Should your ping be elevated, there are several methods you can employ to reduce your connection sufficiently to facilitate online gaming without frequent or sporadic disruptions. It’s vital to begin by grasping the concept of ping and understanding where yours stands. Following that, you can make adjustments or enhancements to your setup in order to lower your ping.

What is ping?

In simple terms, ping acts as a measure of latency, or the time it takes for your computer or console to exchange data with a specific server on the internet.

You can envision it as a courier. Whenever you use the internet for any purpose, you’re dispatching a courier to collect the necessary data for streaming a show, utilizing an app or engaging in online gaming.

In this context, your internet speed reflects how much data can be transported simultaneously, usually measured in megabits per second (Mbps). Meanwhile, ping indicates how long — the latency — that journey takes in milliseconds.

For online gaming, aim for a ping around 50 milliseconds or lower. While anything over 50ms isn’t catastrophic, it’s advisable to keep it under 100ms. Beyond that mark, lag may become problematic. A reliable speed test can help determine your current ping status.

First things first, conduct a speed test

Even better, perform several tests — and at various times throughout the day, if feasible. Your aim is merely to establish a baseline understanding of what your average speeds and ping appear like before undertaking any modifications.

Often, the correct set of tests can guide you as you proceed to enhance your speeds. For example, executing speed tests on a computer connected directly to your modem and then comparing those outcomes with tests when connected to the router can help indicate if it’s time to consider acquiring a new one.

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Numerous free speed testing applications are available online nowadays. Claiming to have conducted over 25 billion speed tests since 2006, the most widely-used is likely the Ookla Speedtest — it’s quick, uncomplicated, and user-friendly, plus it allows you to select which nearby server you want to use. (Ookla belongs to the same parent company as CNET, Ziff Davis.) The SpeedOf.me speed test is another excellent alternative that offers a latency measurement, and if you’re interested, SpeedSmart’s speed test allows you to measure the ping to servers worldwide.

For instance, I managed to gauge a latency of 30ms to a server approximately 750 miles from my location in New York, and then 290ms to a server situated in Sydney, Australia, roughly 10,000 miles away. Distance indeed plays a significant role.

Regardless of the speed test you choose, begin by rebooting all of your devices first — then acquire an Ethernet cable and connect your laptop or console directly to your router. Following that, a speed test will reveal what your ping appears like before your router begins distributing the signal throughout your residence. Afterwards, you can disconnect and carry out a few Wi-Fi speed tests in various locations around the house to observe how much the results fluctuate.

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Play connected, when feasible

In my residence, the ping increased by roughly 20% after disconnecting and conducting a wireless speed test at short range. It probably would have surged even more had I tested the wireless connection from a greater distance.

That’s why the majority of online gamers will advise you to opt for a wired connection whenever you can. This is quite advantageous if your computer or gaming console is in the same area as your router, but if you’re gaming in a bedroom or a separate room, the wired strategy may seem less practical.

A possible solution is mesh router systems. A mesh router isn’t completely as effective as connecting directly to the router, but a wired Ethernet link from a mesh node to your gaming setup will provide better results than a fully wireless connection.

Examine those cables

A brief note while discussing the importance of a wired connection — it’s also beneficial to ensure that you’re utilizing modern cables that can accommodate today’s premier internet speeds. Just don’t anticipate them to significantly alter ping performance.

In fact, during a recent series of speed tests, I evaluated both a 300Mbps fiber connection and a 50Mbps cable connection utilizing multiple speed-check services at various times throughout the day.

I executed each test round four times — once with the laptop connected to the modem via Wi-Fi, and then again employing a wired connection to the modem with each of the three most prevalent types of Ethernet cables: Cat 5, Cat 5e, and Cat 6. In both networks, the Cat 6 cable connection recorded the highest average download speeds, yet the kind of cable did not significantly impact ping, with all three averaging within 2ms of each other.

Nonetheless, Ethernet cables labeled as Cat 5e or Cat 6 are your clear top choices, as they are designed to handle maximum speeds of up to 1,000 or even 10,000Mbps. Outdated Cat 5 cables are not built for speeds surpassing 100Mbps, and they do not mitigate interference as effectively as signals navigate through the copper wiring. If you’re utilizing such cables, then it’s advisable to acquire some new ones.

Enhance your wireless connection

Proper cabling is great, but perhaps you are gaming on your phone, tablet, or another device that cannot easily capitalize on a wired connection. In that scenario, upgrading to a superior router might be beneficial — but you’ll want to maximize the potential of your existing setup first.

To integrate our metaphorical data courier once more, stronger signal strength within your home facilitates the first and last legs of his journey, making them quicker and easier, which can aid in lowering your ping.

To accomplish this, adhere to the fundamental best practices for enhancing your network’s signal strength. Start by ensuring your router is placed in a suitable, unobstructed location. Wi-Fi signals generally radiate downward, so positioning it higher off the floor is preferable.

The angle of the antennas can also influence performance. If possible, attempt to stagger them at 45-degree intervals: one straight up, the next at an angle, and the next straight back. This may require some experimentation, but you could achieve a much more stable connection with only a few minor adjustments.

Once you have done everything possible to enhance your router’s performance, you’ll want to conduct some final speed tests to evaluate the impact of your efforts. If you cannot bring your ping below 50ms or so for a regular speed check to a server located within a few hundred miles, then it might be time to consider upgrading your hardware or internet provider.

Think about upgrading your gear

Others claim to direct your signal on the fastest available route to whichever server is hosting your game. However, it’s essential to recognize the other elements in your home that may be influencing the situation before investing hundreds in new networking equipment.

Investing in a new router

As mentioned, a high-quality gaming router can help ensure that your home’s connection is optimized for gaming. If you’re contemplating an upgrade, look for a feature known as Quality of Service. This will allow you to instruct the router to prioritize gaming traffic above all other activities, which can be especially useful if you’re sharing bandwidth with housemates or family.

Most gaming routers are designed for dedicated gamers willing to invest extensively in their setups, so they aren’t casual purchases. Prices for contemporary models typically range from around $169 to as high as $500 or more. That’s a substantial amount to pay for a slight improvement in ping.

That’s why I would prefer to enhance my home network conditions with a powerline adapter or, if my equipment is at least five years old, consider a more modest router upgrade.