Have you ever been in the middle of a game with enemies attacking you with multiple people yelling at you through the headphones and your internet gives up on you?
In situations like this, it makes sense if you feel like screaming. Minor glitches happen and they are acceptable too but if this is recurrent, this could be a sign that your internet bandwidth isn’t enough. Before your internet connection freezes again, it’s best to know the bandwidth requirements for the gaming system you play on normally. This information will help you decide if reading the Cox cable Elite Gamer review was worth it and if so, what speed should you choose.
Tag along to learn more about the best internet speed for gaming.
How Does Internet Speeding Affect Gaming?
Let’s first understand how your internet speed affects gaming.
Megabits per second (Mbps) is a statistic for measuring the speed at which data is transferred. It measures how many megabits one source can send to another in a single second. One megabyte is equal to 8 megabits. The higher the Mbps, the faster a user can download and upload data for bandwidth-intensive processes like online gaming.
Most games only require 3-10 Mbps of bandwidth to run smoothly and most internet service providers are capable of providing this speed. However, don’t lose sight of the fact that when each additional user connects to a network, the bandwidth requirements increase. This is especially true if they are multiple gamers sharing the internet plan. Imagine living in a house with four roommates. Three of them are keen gamers, while the fourth watches movies and TV shows on a daily basis. For all four of you, 10 Mbps internet speed is not enough particularly when all are using the internet simultaneously.
It’s the subscriber’s responsibility to ensure that the bandwidth they have signed up for is compatible with their gaming console.
Recommended Internet Speed for Different Gaming Consoles
If you’re wondering what’s the minimum internet speed required to play, this totally depends on the type of game you’re playing and your console.
Tech professionals say that the minimum internet speed for gaming is 3 Mbps with a ping rate below 150 ms. On the other hand, if you want to know the best internet speed for gaming that is 15 to 25 Mbps with a ping rate below 50 ms.
Here are speed recommendations for individuals and households based on the game console used
| Gaming Device | Recommended Speed Per Person | Recommended Speed for Households |
| MAC or PC | 3 to 6 Mbps | 40-60 Mbps |
| Nintendo Switch | 3 Mbps | 40 Mbps |
| Nintendo Wii U | 3 Mbps | 25 Mbps |
| Xbox Series X | 3 to 6 Mbps | 10 Mbps |
| PS 5 | 3 to 6 Mbps | 25 Mbps |
How to Boost Your Network Speed for an Optimal Gaming Experience
Apart from getting the right bandwidth to support your gaming habits, there are some things you can do for boosting your network speed. Check these basics:
Use an Ethernet Cable
While this isn’t always practical, connecting your console to your home internet via ethernet connection will ensure you’re getting the most out of your internet plan. While a WiFi connection is convenient, the speed it offers fluctuates more than a cabled connection. An ethernet connection effectively puts your gaming console “first in line” for valuable bandwidth.
Move Closer to the Router
As easy as it may seem, devices connected via WiFi capture more bandwidth when they are closer to the router than when they are further away. So, if your router is tucked away somewhere, take it out and place it in a central location. Also, make sure your gaming system is set up next to your router for an optimal experience.
Turn Off Auto Updates
Change the notification, auto-update, and background data settings on linked laptops and phones to turn off updates and background data. Applications that you aren’t actively being used can eat up a lot of bandwidth. Just remember to switch these updates back on once you are done gaming for the day.
Invest In a WiFi Extender
If you live in a large house and it’s hard for the wireless signals to reach every nook and cranny, simply get a WiFi extender to receive signals throughout the house. This will ensure you get the right speed while playing online.
Conclusion
If your gaming session is interrupted whenever it reaches its peak, and this is frequent, it could be a sign you need to upgrade your internet plan. Get the right internet speed based on the game console you use. 3 Mbps download speed is the minimum speed requirement. You can go beyond this speed threshold based on your game console’s speed requirement.
