How to decrease lagging in gaming? Does buying new router helps?

Question

How to decrease lagging in gaming? Does buying new router helps?

I want to play games, and download games in the meanwhile. I don't understand how can game lag if it only uses for example 5% of my maximum bandwidth, and I limit my other downloads to for example 50% or less. There is still 45% or more bandwidth left, so why is there a lagg? Is my router cheap, if yes when buying what type of router should i buy?

P.S. I already looked in the QoS settings like suggested in this post solved - Decreasing lagging on router, while gaming

Solution 1

By direct connection I think he means as opposed to wireless. You can hook the router directly with a cable to your pc and it's a lot faster. When I was taking online classes, downloading a class video wirelessly took over an hour but downloading a class when I was directly connected took a couple of minutes.

The other thing I did to speed up my internet (I don't do gaming), was I replaced my old router with a new one. The guy at the store that sells routers would have one he would recommend for your situation, if that's the problem. My old router was slowing my internet speeds from 15 to 3. When I got the new router my speeds are back up now, even for my cell phone on wifi (which is 10 now and was 1 before).

Solution 2

If the router is at fault yes, buying another router with better support might help. Now if your problem is geographical, your ISP, your system or some other intern/extern variable, then is little what the new router could do and you will be suffering of lag even with the new router.

Solution 3

1. Check your ping in this game
2. Test yor bandwidth by speedtest.
3. If router is cheap and your ISP use VPN-like connection ( PPTP/PPPoE or anoter one), instead of direct connection, it can slowed. It happens because this kind of connection use lots of CPU on router. Try to connect computer or laptop directly, without router.

P.S. I talk about lags in online game. And it is no caused by lack of CPU/memory/videocard.

Comments

[Ramhound]

What is the latency at the time you experience lag?

[Flyk]

Are you limiting your uploading as well as your downloading? Latency in games is more often caused by not having enough upload available.

[LSxCPU]

I would look into getting a internet plan with higher speeds. What is your current plan? I know comcast offers 100+mb/s download speeds. Obviously these numbers are not guaranteed but if you're paying for a slower plan that might be your issue. Speedtest.net can tell you your download/upload speeds

[Davidenko]

And how about network card, is having on board network card bad for gaming?

[Braiam]

@Davidenko it looks that you have no idea from where comes your lag. You must first check your system requirements, then for networking issues. It's a tedious process but if you are able to identify the bottlenecks and fix them, yeah, your lag will go away.

[Davidenko]

Ok, tnx I will try with direct connection... How do you mean directly without router? If I use direct connection and not PPPoE I don't need router?

[Ramhound]

What sort of port do you have 10/100 or 10/100/1000 because that would be the only thing that could make a different. If you compare a 10/100/1000 network to another 10/100/1000 network card and one is more expensive ( or better quality ) they both will perform basically the same.

[glebiuskv]

Your ISP can provide services in a different way. If it is not ADSl or some other modem connection, you most commonly can connect computer directly to cable. Ask ISPs helpdesk about further instructions, because even if its not VPN, you will need some specific settings.

[glebiuskv]

@Davidenko and you can use VPN connections without router too. Router make it more comfortable (It holds connection, and you dont need setup it on computer) and can provide internet to all of your home gadgets and computers.

[Braiam]

@Davidenko you may check for network latency using something like this. That will tell you exactly where the lags are.

[yass]

take a look at How to write a good answer and edit your answer