However, these requirements will inevitably vary between different systems, but there’s no question that your broadband speeds need to be up to scratch if you want to ensure smooth gameplay when you’re in the midst of a battle. These “massively multiplayer online” games often involve incredibly large servers, with players based all over the world, so you may experience lag if your ping rate is much higher than 40 or even 30ms. Unless you want to risk being at a serious disadvantage, you’ll want to make sure your broadband is able to keep up with these speeds, particularly if you’re playing a competitive MMO such as World of Warcraft.
#What is a good upload and download speed Pc#
Depending on the game, those playing video games via a PC or Mac will typically require a download speed of at least 6 Mbps-since so many of your opponents will be using the very latest tech alongside a super-fast fibre-optic connection. Whereas most games consoles recommend the speeds and ping rates listed above, these requirements are slightly different for PC gamers. PC online gaming: Minimum internet speed requirements
When you’re with your friends in the middle of a war zone, such a poor connection will inevitably result in ‘ game over’. The higher the rate, the longer it takes your console to connect to the game’s server, typically resulting in jolting, delayed gameplay. Again, ping rates will differ between gaming platforms and the size of the server you’re joining, but it certainly needs to be kept lower than 150ms, while anything under 20ms is considered ideal.Īlthough the majority of broadband packages will now provide those minimum download and upload speeds, a high ping rate is what will likely affect your gaming experience the most. While higher download and upload speeds are essential for a smooth gaming session, you want to keep your ping rate as low as possible. Ping rate (also known as latency): the reaction time of your connection, largely affected by physical distances and network traffic. Upload speed: how fast your console can send data to the server. In short, the quality and reliability of your online gaming sessions will typically depend on three things:ĭownload speed: how fast your console can receive data from the server. However, these are the minimum speeds you need to have spare, so you certainly need to consider the data usage of other devices when picking out your next broadband package. But, on average, the majority of online gaming sessions will require an upload speed of at least 1 Mbps, and a download speed of no less than 3 Mbps. The speeds required to enjoy online video games will typically vary between different consoles and games. What is a good internet speed for online gaming? After all, every gamer in the world wants a lag-free connection. If your broadband connection is up to speed, however, then you can always enjoy a smooth, uninterrupted gaming session which provides responsive gameplay and, above all else, lets you have fun.
In more extreme situations, inadequate connectivity will actually kick you from the server, disconnect you from your friends and eventually lead to a great amount of cursing on your part. When that happens, your broadband is simply incapable of processing the large amounts of data involved with playing an online game, ultimately resulting in a jumpy, inconsistent connection which will inevitably ruin the entire experience. When you’re connecting to the internet via multiple devices (such as your games console and smartphone), this bandwidth can soon become congested. Faster internet speeds ultimately widen your bandwidth, increasing the amount of data that can be processed through your broadband at the same time. The faster the internet connection, the lower the risk of lag.
Of course, this is why it’s so important to understand the minimum speed requirements for gaming before picking out your next broadband package. Fast internet speeds are now essential to making the most of your gaming experiences, keeping you connected with the rest of your teammates without any frustrating lag. However, without a strong home broadband connection, you can’t really enjoy any of this. Games consoles and PCs are undoubtedly becoming more advanced and powerful, providing truly immersive online experiences which serve up seamless gameplay and jaw-dropping graphics. The growth of eSports and Twitch streaming has ushered in a brand-new era of video games, introducing us to an age of microtransactions, battle royales and MMOs. Instead of frantically mashing buttons to beat that final boss, video games now serve up large online communities which allow players to compete against one another. The days of sitting alone in a dark room are now well and truly behind us, with growing broadband speeds allowing gamers to connect and play from all over the world.