Gamers have slightly different internet needs than the average user. If you’re a competitive gamer, you need an internet connection with low latency. If you stream while playing, you need a high enough upload speed to transmit high-quality live video to Twitch. You may also be more sensitive to downtime than the average user.
This complete guide explains the various qualities and factors you should want in an internet connection as a gamer. We also take a look at some of the common types of internet connection you should consider. We recommend a fiber connection such as Grande Internet which would have everything you want as a gamer – click here to check out the availability of Grande Internet plans in your region. Without further ado, let’s get started.
Qualities and Features to Look For
High Download Speeds
Playing games doesn’t consume a lot of data. Even a download speed as low as 15 Mbps is enough for most games. However, most modern games are in the 100 GBs range. Downloading games can take forever with a slow-speed internet connection.
Unless it doesn’t bother you, consider getting an internet connection with a maximum speed of at least 300 Mbps. Remember that other people using your internet connection will consume data too. A high-speed internet connection will also allow you to stream in Full and Ultra HD, so you can’t go wrong with more speed.
High Upload Speeds
Upload speeds don’t matter to most people. Usually, when we’re using the internet, we’re receiving data from servers. YouTubers, streamers, and gamers are an exception.
Uploading a video on YouTube can take a lot of time with an internet connection with a slow upload speed. You also can’t stream your gameplay at highquality with a slow internet speed. Multiplayer games also upload nearly just as much data as they download. Make sure your internet connection has a top upload speed of 10 Mbps or higher for reliable gaming.
High Uptime
Some ISPs boast an uptime of more than 99%. But even downtime of 1% can ruin your gameplay if the internet goes down at the wrong time. Fiber connections generally have a more consistent flow of data, giving you reliable access to the internet.
Low Ping
Ping is the most important factor in an internet connection for most gamers. Ping, also called latency, is the time it takes for a data package to be transmitted to a server and then back to your device.
It’s difficult to define the ping of an internet connection as it depends on multiple factors, including how far the game’s server is located. However, fiber connections generally have lower ping than cable internet. This is because fiber connections use infrared light to transmit data, and light travels faster than electric signals.
Pro Tip: One way you can increase your ping regardless of the connection is by connecting your computer directly to the modem using a Cat 5 or 6 Ethernet cable. Wired connections have lower latency than wireless connections.
High Bandwidth
At peak times when a lot of people are using the internet, your ISP may run out of bandwidth. They use a practice called throttling to keep things running in this case. Throttling involves lowering the speed of all the connections to ration the limited bandwidth. This means you won’t get the speed advertised all the time. The top speed is only the speed you can potentially get when not a lot of people are using the internet.
Fiber connections have a much larger bandwidth than cable connections. So if you choose a fiber ISP like Grande Internet, you’ll get speeds more in the ballpark of the advertised top speed most of the time. Grande Internet is available at very reasonable rates in Texas. Visit buytvinternetphone.com to learn more.
No Data Cap
Downloading games can consume a lot of data. You probably also use a lot of data if you’re a streamer. You don’t want an internet connection that charges you extra when you exceed the limit. The good thing is, most major ISPs today don’t have data caps. Still, make sure to check if your connection has a data cap before making a final decision.
Types of Internet Connections to Consider
Fiber Internet
As you can probably guess by now, fiber internet is the best for gaming in every way. Fiber connections have a high download speed, high upload speed, high bandwidth, and low latency. Grande Internet, for instance, has top download speeds ranging from 600 to 1200 Mbps. Max upload speeds with this fiber connection also reach 20 Mbps.
Cable Internet
If you don’t have fiber internet in your area, cable internet is the next best thing. You can get top upload speeds of 100 to 300 Mbps with cable internet. Fiber connections such as Grande Internet are still a good option for you as they’d be using fiber somewhere in their infrastructure, giving you part of the benefits of fiber internet.
DSL Internet
DSL internet is slower than cable internet but it is often available where cable internet isn’t. Get DSL internet if you have no other option. Try to get the best connection matching the features and qualities we discussed.
