Last Updated on March 25, 2021 by Ariana
If you are a gamer, you know your internet connection and speeds play a role in how smoothly your game runs. There is a lot of debate about what the best upload speeds for gaming are. Additionally, there are several things to consider, including speeds of uploads and downloads, latency, and ping rates. If you’re not into technology, all of these terms can sound foreign.
If you’re unsure whether you have the correct upload speed for your internet-based gaming, continue to read and find out what you need. Regardless of if you like to game on occasion or if you’re avidly playing with your friends, upload speed matters. You don’t have to continue to wonder if what you have will accomplish your gaming needs.
The best internet service providers will be able to inform you about all the different aspects of your internet package. They will be able to educate you about speeds, as well as issues, such as latency and network connection. The ability to reach out to your ISP is critical. If you run into a problem, they should be right there to help you figure it out and get your gaming back on track.
If you have multiple people gaming in the same household, you’ll need a beefy internet plan. Making sure you all have the capacity to upload and download as you play your games will ensure that everyone has an excellent time and a stable connection.
Most of the time, if you call customer service and let them know your connected electronics situation, they’ll be able to inform you of the plan you need so that all of your devices have seamless access.
Are Speeds Really That Important When it Comes to Gaming?
The straightforward answer is yes. Your internet speed, high as it may seem, may not be enough to give you a smooth gaming experience. Slower internet speeds will produce lag time and buffering. These two things can mean the difference between winning and losing your internet gaming session. If you’re going to lose a game, it should be from a lack of skill, not from your internet speed slowing you down.
Your internet connection and speed will also play a role in your ability to use streaming services like HULU and Netflix. If you don’t have the correct internet speed, you’ll have interruptions throughout that show you’ve been dying to watch. This is irritating and completely avoidable. For improved watching and gaming experience, you need dependable download speeds.
What exactly are upload speeds?
Upload speed is how long it takes for data to transmit from your gaming device to an internet server. This time is measured in Mbps or megabits per second. When you attach a file to an email and send it off through the internet, you are using upload speed. The higher the megabits per second, the faster your email will be on its way.
On the opposite side are download speeds. When your computer or gaming console receives information from a server, it’s referred to as download speed. Good examples of this are loading websites and streaming videos. If your internet speeds are fast enough, you won’t face a lot of lag time or buffering.
More often than not, download speed is the priority of your internet service provider. When gaming, it’s vital for you to have a high internet speed. Some ISPs will give you the same amount of upload and download speed, but that’s not frequent. When you’re looking for a great gaming experience, you really need to pay attention to the download speed.
Most broadband packages from an ISP will give you faster download speeds, which will make online gaming exceptionally smooth. The best internet options for gaming will always give you significant download speed. Gamers tend to need to download much more information than they upload. Hence the priority of internet speeds geared toward downloading.
What is the appropriate internet speed for gaming?
If you’re a gamer, upload speeds will be more important for you than the average internet surfer. It doesn’t take much speed to browse Twitter and stream the occasional film. When you’re gaming, data is continually being sent to and from the server. Between the actions in your game, messages with other players, and changes you make while playing, speed will make it all happen effectively and without delay.
When it comes to your upload speed, you only need about 1 Mbps. While 1 Mbps doesn’t sound like much, it’s a sufficient speed for gaming. If you’re unclear if you meet this 1 Mbps requirement, there are online tools to check your rates. Additionally, you can get ahold of your ISP, and they will be able to let you know if you are hitting this mark or not.
What type of speed will a professional gamer need?
Upload speed for gaming on a professional level is going to look a bit different than the speeds used for average gamers. More and more players are making a living by streaming their games for fans across the globe to watch. This has made upload speeds a bigger concern as it allows you to take your gaming to a professional level.
You will need more than 1 Mbps upload speed when you plan on streaming your gaming content. If you want to be a professional gamer, you have to have high-quality, reliable streaming. Your fans will not tolerate bad speeds and poor quality when it comes to your stream.
If you’re trying to stream in 1080p, you’ll want an upload speed of at least 5 Mbps. It can be hard to find an internet service provider that can guarantee uploading speeds of 5 Mbps, but if you can find it, snatch it up. You may find that 3 Mbps is the best that you can get in your area.
This may be enough for smooth Twitch streaming, but know that 3 Mbps may still make for choppy viewer watching. Even some of the best internet providers will only offer 3 Mbps. Know that you will likely be happy with this internet speed for gaming, even though it could cause some lag time during your streaming sessions.
Other than speed, what else should a gamer consider when it comes to internet gaming?
A good internet connection is needed for you and your viewers to enjoy your gaming experience. However, there are some other things you’ll want to make sure you understand and check with your ISP about before truly great online gaming can commence.
Download speeds and uploading speeds are essential. They can be a bit confusing in themselves, but there is more that must be considered. Your internet connection has a lot of variables other than internet speed. Let’s look at the different terms you should get familiar with.
This way, you can check with your ISP and make sure you’re getting what you need, so you have plenty of speed for gaming, as well as a smooth Twitch stream for all of your followers to watch.
Latency: Latency is described as your internet connection’s response rate. If there is high latency, your internet speed for gaming will not matter. High latency will cause a lot of lag time, even if you’re working with uploading speeds of 3 Mbps or better. The ping rate measures latency. The ping rate is the millisecond measurement of your latency.
Many people don’t consider the ping rate, but it’s vital. Your ping rate actually checks how much time it takes for data to get to the server and then the server to respond. You want a ping rate that is less than one hundred and fifty. Ideally, your ping rate should be less than one hundred. There are online tools you can use to check your ping rate.
Additionally, you can reach out to your internet services provider and discuss your ping rate with them. Ping rates can vary from day to day, but more often than not, your ping rate will be pretty standard. This might be a problem that will require you to search for a new ISP.
Data Caps: Internet companies do not use data caps as often as they used to. However, it is still possible that your internet provider has them. Online gaming does not use a whole lot of data. However, downloading new games does. If you go over your data, you could be facing hefty fees.
So, while internet speed for gaming is important, it is also important to understand the ins and outs of your internet plan. The best internet providers will not put caps on the amount of data you use.
Throttling: Some broadband ISP will use throttling during peak hours to limit the bandwidth. This is going to affect your gaming experience because it increases the ping rate. Internet providers that use data caps tend to also utilize throttling. You can speak with your internet provider’s customer service team and ask questions to find out if throttling and data caps are going to be an issue for you and your gaming needs.
Customer Service: Not everyone considers customer support when it comes to their internet options. Comprehensive customer service will give you the answers you need if there’s a problem with your broadband internet connection. This is whether your internet speed seems to be slow or your fans are complaining about latency issues.
Customer support should be there to tell you what’s going on and how long it’s going to take to fix it. Your internet speed for gaming needs to be reliable, and solid customer support can help ensure you are well taken care of.
Network Reliability: Your internet’s network reliability is going to make or break your idea of whether or not you have the best internet or the worst. When you play games on the internet, you need a reliable internet speed and a secure network.
An unreliable network could end with you losing connection completely. This can be devastating if you’re in the middle of a battle or you have not saved recently.
Should I connect via WiFi when playing games online?
It’s best to hardwire your gaming console or your computer to the internet rather than using your WiFi connection. A WiFi connection is suitable for most things. However, when you want the best internet gaming experience, a hardwire connection will be smoother and faster.
Wireless signals are more prone to interference, and this can interrupt your gaming session. The best internet solution for your successful gaming is to go with a solid hardwire connection between your device and your router. If you do have to use a WiFi connection, you’ll want to make sure it’s connected to your home network as it’s a bit more reliable this way.
Conclusion
No matter what type of gaming you do, if you’re on the internet, speed is important. While there are many other components incorporated into an excellent online experience, start your research with speeds. Your location will play a role in the type of service you’ll be able to acquire. Unfortunately, not all areas will have access to highspeed broadband access.
The places that don’t have this available will likely need to go with satellite internet, and this can be frustrating. If you’re in a place to acquire excellent internet, take the time and talk to different companies before you decide which to go with. If gaming is essential in your life, this research will be advantageous.
You won’t have to worry about a game dropping out in the middle of a session, and your Twitch fans won’t become irritated over your choppy live stream. All in all, taking the time to understand your connection is the first step in truly great gaming sessions.
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