Gaming Internet Tips: How Many Mbps is Necessary for Online Gaming?

Lag is a gamer’s worst nightmare. Even if you have a high-speed Internet plan, you might wonder why your game experiences interruptions or slowdowns. So, how many Mbps do you really need for online gaming, and why might you still face lag even with a strong connection?

Let’s learn about the factors that matter for the ultimate gaming experience and how to optimize your Internet speed for smooth gameplay.

How Many Mbps Do You Need for Gaming?

When considering Internet speeds for gaming, a fast download speed is important, but other factors like upload speed, latency, and network performance play a significant role too.

For casual gaming, a speed of around 25-50 Mbps can handle most online games without much trouble. However, for competitive multiplayer games or more demanding titles like "Call of Duty," "Apex Legends," or "Fortnite," you’ll want a higher speed to ensure smooth gameplay. At Buckeye Broadband, we recommend speeds of 200 Mbps or more for optimal gaming performance. However, this is assuming that you’re the only person actively using the connection.

If you're part of a household where multiple people are using the Internet for activities like streaming movies, video conferencing, or others, you’ll need more speed to ensure your gaming isn’t interrupted. For larger households or more intense Internet usage, a good internet speed for gaming may be closer to 400-600 Mbps to keep your gaming smooth and uninterrupted.

Do I Need Fiber Internet For Gaming?

While not required, Fiber Internet is an excellent choice for gamers because it provides extremely fast symmetrical download and upload speeds. Unlike traditional cable or DSL connections, which often have much lower upload speeds, Fiber delivers both. This means faster data exchange between your device and game servers, lower latency, and better overall performance.

Additionally, For those who game and stream simultaneously, such as Twitch or YouTube streamers, higher speeds that Fiber Internet provides are essential. A Fiber Internet plan is recommended to ensure you have enough bandwidth to game without lag while streaming your content seamlessly to your viewers. Fiber networks are generally more reliable, offering a stable connection that’s less prone to interference and congestion, which is crucial for gaming performance.

Why You May Experience Lag Despite Having High Mbps

If you have a high-speed Internet package—like 250 Mbps or more—and still face lag while gaming, it's possible that your problem isn't related to bandwidth alone. Let’s explore some common culprits:

1. High Latency (Ping)

Latency, often referred to as ping, is the delay in the signal sent between your device and the game server. It’s measured in milliseconds (ms), and unlike Mbps, where more is better, with latency, lower is better. If your latency is above 50 ms, you may experience lag or delayed responses in fast-paced games, regardless of how fast your Internet speed is.

Tips to Reduce Latency:

• Use a Wired Connection: Plugging your gaming device directly into the router using an Ethernet cable can dramatically lower your latency.
• Choose Nearby Servers: Selecting servers closer to your location reduces the distance data needs to travel, minimizing delay.
• Close Background Applications: Close apps that use bandwidth or data while gaming to improve latency.

2. Network Congestion in Your Home

High-speed plans like Buckeye Broadband’s 250 Mbps or more provide ample bandwidth, but if multiple devices are active (streaming 4K videos, making video calls, or downloading large files), it can lead to network congestion. This is especially true if all these activities occur during your gaming session.

How to Handle Network Congestion:

• Set Up Quality of Service (QoS): Many modern routers support QoS settings, allowing you to prioritize gaming traffic over other Internet activities.
• Pause High-Bandwidth Activities: While gaming, pause or limit activities like downloads or streaming on other devices.

3. Wi-Fi Interference and Signal Strength

Playing over Wi-Fi is convenient but can introduce issues like signal interference, weak signal strength, or physical obstructions like walls and furniture. These factors can lead to dropped packets and, in turn, a laggy gaming experience.

Optimizing Wi-Fi Performance for Gaming:

• Position Your Router Centrally: Place your router in an open, central location in your home, away from thick walls or electronic devices that could cause interference.

4. Game Servers or Poor Optimization

Sometimes the cause of lag isn't your Internet connection but the game’s servers or how the game is optimized. If the server you're playing on is overcrowded or experiencing issues, you may encounter lag even if your Internet speed is high.

How to Troubleshoot Game Server Issues:

• Check the Game’s Server Status: If lagging is consistent in a particular game, check for any server issues.
• Optimize In-Game Network Settings: Adjusting settings within the game (such as frame rates or network preferences) can help reduce lag.
• Use an Intelligent Network Server: For gamers facing ongoing server or optimization-related issues, tools like WTFast can help by reducing latency and providing a smoother connection path between your device and the game’s server, enhancing your overall gaming experience.

5. ISP Throttling and Peak Usage Times

While Buckeye Broadband provides high-speed connections to ensure smooth gaming, some ISPs throttle (slow down) certain types of Internet traffic. Additionally, during peak times when many users are online, your speeds may fluctuate.

What You Can Do:

• Monitor Your Speed and Ping: Use online tools like speed tests to regularly test your download speed, upload speed, and ping to ensure you're receiving the full bandwidth.
• Contact Support: If you consistently experience lag despite having a high-speed connection, contact support for additional troubleshooting or to explore package upgrades.

Buckeye Broadband: Reliable High-Speed Internet, Fiber, and WTFast for a Lag-Free Gaming Experience

To get the best online gaming experience, consider Buckeye Broadband’s high-speed Internet packages, which provide enough Mbps to handle gaming, streaming, and more. With speeds starting at 200 Mbps and up to 10 Gigs with Fiber, Buckeye Broadband ensures you have the power and stability to game competitively without lag.

For those who want even more reliability and speed, Buckeye Broadband’s Fiber packages offer symmetrical download and upload speeds and low latency, ideal for gamers and streamers who demand the best. Plus, with the added benefit of WTFast, you can reduce ping and optimize your connection for smoother gameplay. Explore our offerings to find the perfect plan to enhance your gaming and streaming experience.