How to Optimize Internet Connection for Gaming?

You might have a super-fast PC optimized for gaming, but if you don’t have an Internet connection that is as good, it will ruin your experience. In today’s world of online gaming, you need to have the best resources at your disposal to enjoy every moment that you spend playing your favorite games online. Sometimes, however, your high-speed Internet connection seems to act up, and you lose the thrill and enjoyment that often comes with multi-player online games. Fortunately, however, you can optimize your Internet connection for gaming and have a seamless experience every time you go online to play your favorite games.

Let’s run you through a few optimizations you must try to give an instant boost to your Internet connection.

Connect To Internet Using An Ethernet Cable

You can always experience better Internet speeds by connecting via an Ethernet cable rather than using Wi-Fi. Regardless of how powerful your Internet connection and router may be, a wired connection is always a better bet as compared to a Wi-Fi connection. You can expect lower latency and consistent speeds when connected through an Ethernet cable. Here, you might slightly have to compromise the convenience that comes with a wireless connection, but it’s always worth it.

When establishing an Ethernet connection, you should go for gigabit Ethernet ports that are capable of handling up to 1000 Mbps speeds. In fact, more modern-day cables can handle even higher speeds.

Reposition The Router When Using Wi-Fi

If you prefer using Wi-Fi, physical barriers like floors and walls might lead to a sluggish connection. The distance between the router and your gaming device can affect your connection speeds too. Besides, the number of devices currently connected with the Wi-Fi network may also define the kind of experience you have.

It is advised that your router is placed in the open with the least number of physical barriers between the router and your gaming device. As you have a wireless connection, distance, electronic interference, physical obstacles, and the number of connections can all impact your connection speeds. For getting the best possible signals, you should ideally position your router in a central location and above most of the furniture in your home. Also, try to keep it away from any electronic devices that can cause interference.

Also, make sure that your Wi-Fi antennas are placed perpendicularly, i.e., one vertically and the other horizontally. It will help enhance the overall performance of your Wi-Fi router.

Enable Quality of Service

Most routers today come with a QoS feature that helps you prioritize specific types of online traffic. Explore the settings of your router and select desired games in the QoS tab to prioritize them over others. You can also prioritize specific connected devices here. Here, you can also specify bandwidth limits on download/upload speeds for various devices.

Enable MU-MIMO

Another Wi-Fi-only optimization, Multi-user MIMO (multiple-input, multiple-output) helps reduce the wait time for each connected device to get a signal and can significantly increase your network speed. This feature is often available on more modern devices and routers, allowing them to simultaneously communicate with several connected devices. Without MU-MIMO, your router will have to handle every device individually, significantly affecting your connection speed. However, for using the MU-MIMO feature, both your device and the router must have MU-MIMO compatibility. So, the next time you connect to the Internet for an online gaming session, make sure you have done these simple optimizations to enjoy a seamless gaming experience.