What Download Speed Do I Need For Gaming
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What speed do I need for general browsing, compared to streaming video or gaming? Hinton: If you’re just sending emails and reading news pages, you can get by with a download speed of 10 to 12 Mbps. Question How does upload speed affect gameplay? If you aren't host you don't really need upload or download. When you host you do need it so that's the reason why your internet turns into shit. Thus the 'speed increase'. But gaming is all about the time it takes to receive data, not how much data can be received. Do a traffic test.
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What Is Good Internet Speed For Gaming
Two computer repair and service experts explain which download speed you need in your home.
When it comes to the Internet, wires are like tan lines: Some people prefer not to have them.
Gone are the days of holding the phone line hostage in order to connect to the World Wide Web. With the increasing popularity of in-home computer Wi-Fi, items like phones, gaming systems, laptops and even televisions have become viable tools to surf the Web.
Angie’s List connected with Keith Hinton, owner of highly rated Brentwood PC in Brentwood, Tennessee, and Brian Hancock, owner of highly rated Computer Service House Calls in Rome, Georgia, to learn more about Wi-Fi speeds.
1. What do the different megabits per second mean, whether it’s 3 Mbps or 45 Mbps?
Hinton: That’s the package size that includes download and upload speeds. It’s basically how fast it downloads information. You can buy higher packages and pay higher rates.
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Hancock: It’s the amount of bandwidth provided. Three Mbps is the starting point of DSL Internet, and it goes on up from there to high-speed Internet.
2. What speed do I need for general browsing, compared to streaming video or gaming?
Hinton: If you’re just sending emails and reading news pages, you can get by with a download speed of 10 to 12 Mbps. For gaming and streaming, the faster the download speed, the better the performance. Normally, if you’re at 20 Mbps or above, you can avoid that annoying lag.
Hancock: To just get by browsing the Internet, I would recommend a speed between 6 and 12 Mbps. For online gaming or video streaming, choose a speed over 12 Mbps.
3. Does the number of devices connected to a wireless source impact the Internet speed?
Hinton: If you have three or four things going on at the same household, like two people gaming on separate systems and one streaming a movie, you will get some lags. These problems will pretty much go away with Wi-Fi speed above 50 Mbps.
Hancock: Yes, it will impact the speed. The higher your bandwidth is, the more devices you’re able to connect to the system.
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4. Besides going through a cable provider, do any Wi-Fi options exist?
Hinton: About 98 percent of the people I work with have Internet from a cable provider. There are independent companies that offer Wi-Fi. I know one independent company that offers fast downloading and several others that are ridiculously slow. Wi-Fi hotspot creation is an option if you have a phone with 4G connectivity.
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Hancock: Other options include phone companies, satellite companies and creating your own hotspot. It just depends on your location and what you have access to.
5. If my Wi-Fi is slow and unreliable, what is the most likely problem?
Hinton: Thunderstorms, heavy rain or power surges all have an effect on digital connections. If connectivity is not reliable for an extended period, check the router because they can become defective over time.
Hancock: From what I see, it’s usually either a virus or malware. If you’re on the Internet, it’s a matter of time before you get a virus. One wrong click is all it takes. Just pay attention to what you’re clicking on.
If you still can’t decide which Wi-Fi option to select, contact a highly rated computer services expert to get you on the right program.
FOR MORE: Angie's List Guide to Internet Service
Editor's note: This is an updated version of an article that was originally published on June 27, 2014