Before you get further into the nitty gritty, let’s clear up some keywords and phrases...
Mbps
Mbps stands for megabits per second, and defines how much data is flowing per second between you and the web service. The bigger the number, the greater your internet speed. This indicates how much you can download or upload at any one time. Learn more about bits vs bytes.
It’s like filling up a swimming pool with a hose. You’ll need a good-sized nozzle and enough water pressure to fill the pool quickly, otherwise you’ll be there all day. The faster your data flows, the better your online activities will run.
Download speed
This refers to how many of those Mbps it takes to fill the pool, i.e. to transfer data from a server to your device, or between devices. You may be watching Netflix, listening to music on Spotify or streaming online games on Twitch. It doesn’t matter whether it’s video, audio, text or images – more Mbps equals faster downloads. Learn more about download speed in our helpful guide.
Upload speed
On the flipside, upload speed tells you how many Mbps it takes to empty the pool, i.e. to transfer data from your device to another device or server. Taking part in MMOs or live gaming tournaments demands fast upload speeds. Even emailing or video calling requires you to send data elsewhere. You can check your upload, and download speed using our Broadband Speed Test.
Ping
Ping is the time it takes for the signal sent out when a player types a command to get a response. The four keystrokes commonly used in video game movements are W and S to go forward and back, plus A and D to go left and right. So when you press A, having good ping means a quick move left for your character, and so on. A high ping ping signifies a delay after you press the key. Your character takes too long to move, and this may impact badly on your manoeuvring ability.
Latency
Many gamers get confused between ping and latency, as they’re both measured in milliseconds (ms) and only slightly different. Ping refers to the time taken by a signal sent in one direction from one device to another on the same network. Latency measures the time it takes for the ping also to come back to the originating device. So ping measures the one-way journey time of a signal, while latency measures the round trip. Your device is literally pinging the server, and measuring the response time.
Lower ms is always better for your response times. 15-45ms is optimal for ping, and 15-60ms for latency, but you can go up to 100ms on either without too much trouble. Higher than that? Games may become unplayable due to lag, and you could easily lose out in fast-paced action. Find out how to improve latency.
Lag
Lag is what happens if you have high ping or latency – i.e. your internet connection is slower or of a lower quality than you need to play effectively. The main effect of lag is that you’ll suffer delays in your gameplay, so when you press a command key there’s no immediate response. A delay of even a few seconds could lose you a critical position in the game, when your commands are not acted on instantly. Even worse, if lag builds up in the middle of a match it can cause huge problems. Your screen may suddenly freeze up, perhaps jumping back to your most recent play, or even ejecting you from the game altogether.
FAQs
For most gaming devices and multiplayer games, a fast internet speed for gaming of at least 25 Mbps is recommended. This provides lag-free play without disruption across multiple connected devices.
Is 100 Mbps fast enough for gaming? ›
100 Mbps is fast enough for nearly all internet activities, including browsing, downloading, streaming and gaming. 100 Mbps should be enough for households of three to five users and devices.
What is considered fast internet 2023? ›
A good rule of thumb is that download speeds of at least 100 Mbps and upload speeds of 10 Mbps are widely considered fast enough to handle nearly any online activity.
What is an OK internet speed for gaming? ›
That said, an Internet speed of above 300 Mbps is usually ideal for gaming, and especially multiplayer or "competitive" gaming. Anything lower than that falls into the danger "lag zone", and there's nothing worse than lagging just when you were about to pull off a sick kill shot (and you get PWNed, womp womp).
Is 300 Mbps fast for gaming? ›
Yes, 300 Mbps is good for gaming, including competitive multiplayer games. Internet speeds above 100 Mbps are ideal for most types of gaming, so increasing speeds to 300 Mbps will allow you to play without lag time and enable you to simultaneously perform other tasks such as streaming or downloading.
Is 300 Mbps overkill? ›
For most households with three or four people living together, a 300 Mbps internet download is enough for the various uses ranging from online gaming, streaming, and general browsing.
Do I need 500 Mbps for gaming? ›
Yes, It Is! 500Mbps is a high-speed powerhouse. It supports most activities, from streaming 4K content on multiple devices to competitive online gaming and efficient remote work. While 25Mbps suffices for basic tasks, and 1Gbps is for the ultra-connected, 500Mbps strikes a perfect balance between price and performance.
Is 200 Mbps fast enough for gaming? ›
Stream HD content: 5-25 Mbps minimum. Stream 4K content and play competitive online games: 40-100 Mbps minimum. Stream 4K content, play competitive online games, and download very large files: 200 Mbps minimum.
Is 32 Mbps good for gaming? ›
Check your Internet speed
The ideal speed for gaming are often debatable, but typically the optimal range is from 5 Mbps to 30 Mbps. You should consider the time to download, too. Especially with the PS4, it can be incredibly slow to download games. For example, a 2GB file would take around 40 minutes.
What speed is best for gaming? ›
To play online games seamlessly without disruption, a minimum download speed of 25 Mbps is recommended by experts. However, for the ideal gaming experience, broadband speeds of 100 Mbps or above will allow lag-free 4K gaming, support multiple connected devices, and enable smooth multiplayer experiences.
If you're using a dual-band Wi-Fi 5 or Wi-Fi 6 router, you can connect your client devices to either a 2.4GHz band or a 5GHz band. If you have a tri-band router, you get an extra 5GHz band that you can dedicate to gaming and video streaming. A 5GHz connection will provide better performance at short ranges than 2.4GHz.
What is the best internet for gaming? ›
What's the best internet for gaming?
- Verizon Fios: Best internet provider for gaming overall.
- Frontier Fiber: Best low-cost internet for gaming.
- Astound: Best gaming router offer.
- Spectrum: Best cable ISP for gaming.
- Starlink: Best rural internet for gaming.
Multiple devices demand more bandwidth.
If you plan on streaming 4K video content on your TV while having multiple devices connected to your network, you should seriously consider investing in a plan that can provide faster download speeds like 200 Mbps. This speed should work for more data-hungry households.
How many devices can run on 300Mbps? ›
For starters, at 300 MBPS, multiple people in one household can generally use around five to nine devices at once for basic email, web browsing, and social media use. More TV and movies can be streamed simultaneously as well, with 300 MBPS providing streaming capability for three or four devices at one time.
Do I need 400 Mbps for gaming? ›
Most Internet Service Providers suggest a minimum speed of 3 Mbps to 6 Mbps for online gaming, so a 400 Mbps speed should be more than enough for gaming on multiple devices. So, whether you're a PC or console gamer – a 400 Mbps internet connection will take your gaming experience to the next level.
Is there a big difference between 100 Mbps and 300 Mbps? ›
100 Mbps WiFi is adequate for internet basics, like streaming videos, light online gaming, video conferencing, downloading files and working from home. If you are more than a light internet user, consider a higher speed connection like 300 Mbps, or fast speeds like 600 Mbps and 1500 Mbps.
Is 100 Mbps considered high speed internet? ›
How Fast Is 100 Mbps? At 100 Mbps (megabits per second), internet speed is classified as fairly fast and can effortlessly handle various online activities. To put it into perspective, a 1GB file would take approximately 80 seconds to download at this speed.
Is 100 Mbps fast enough for 4K streaming? ›
40 to 100Mbps: Perfect for 4K streaming on multiple devices and moderate online gaming. 500Mbps to 1Gbps: Great for high-demand households with multiple devices and smart home systems.
Do you really need more than 100 Mbps? ›
The required bandwidth will vary widely depending on the size of the household, the number of users, connected devices, online activities, and more. A 100 Mbps connection is still more than sufficient for most users, based on current data and a clear understanding of what "Internet speed" and "bandwidth" really mean.
