When you’re playing a game online, you need to have an internet connection that’s fast and that doesn’t lag. These details can ensure that you don’t miss a beat whether you’re trying to make the ideal attack on an opponent or you’re trying to position a piece just right in a design game. When you begin your search for an internet provider for gaming, there are some details that you want to consider before making a final selection.

Download Speeds

One of the first details to consider when selecting internet service provider for gaming is the download speed. It should be at least 75 Mbps depending on the games that you play as you might need a faster speed with games that have more action or more interaction with other players who are online. You also want to think about other people in your home who are playing a game or doing other tasks online at the same time as this could result in the need for faster speeds as well. The recommendation by the Federal Communications Commission is less than 10 Mbps for gaming, but this would result in a miserable experience with lagging and possibly losing the games that you play. In many situations, you’re going to want to watch a video related to the game that you play at the same time, which is another reason why faster speeds are beneficial.

Upload Speeds

Another factor to consider is the upload speed. You usually don’t need a high upload speed unless you plan to post videos online while you’re playing or you plan to livestream during the game. An internet speed of about 5 Mbps for uploading is usually sufficient, but you can always have this speed increased by contacting your internet provider. A faster speed can be beneficial if you plan to upload longer videos at one time or if you make a living gaming while you’re at home.

Latency

This is a detail that goes along with the lag that you experience while you’re playing. Fiber optic internet connections or cable connections are usually the best when it comes to internet gaming as they offer the best connection. You want to make sure the latency is less than 75 ms as you won’t see the lag when you change screens or when you’re trying to work with other players in the game and need to help each other defeat an opponent. Try to avoid DSL if at all possible because the latency tends to be a bit higher, resulting in a significant amount of lag and the possibility of missing out on some games altogether because the connection simply can’t hold up the game that you want to play.


Equipment

A detail that doesn’t pertain to the internet speed but that could pertain to your connection is the type of equipment that you have. Even if you have Wi-Fi, you want to make sure you have an Ethernet cable connected at all times. If something happens to the Wi-Fi connection that results in you being kicked offline, then the Ethernet cable can pick up the connection and keep you on the internet so that you can play. You also want to make sure the router is as close as possible to your gaming area. Furniture, walls, and other items shouldn’t be between your computer or other gaming device and the router so that you have the best connection possible. If possible, talk to your internet provider about updating the equipment that you have so that there are new cords, a new router, and new software. This can result in a stronger and sometimes faster connection instead of using equipment that’s a few years old.

Trying to game but live in a rural location? 

Living rural has its advantages, but finding a high-speed internet provider that’s great for gaming usually isn’t high on that list. Because rural areas have less people than cities and suburbs, it’s often not profitable for large cable and fiber companies to service that community. Instead, you’re left with limited options.  

If you do live rurally and want to find the best solution, it’s recommended you look into a 4G/5G wireless internet plan. These plans are delivered to a modem from a nearby cell tower and often have lower latency, with speed fast enough to game on. Some of the most popular providers are GotW3, Ubifi, and UnlimitedToGo.