What is ping?
Are you an avid gamer or a beginner looking to beat some of the best players out there? Well then, you’ll need to know about ping speed, and we can help you understand the ins and outs of it.
In this article, we’ll answer the question “what is a good ping for gaming?” and more, to ensure you get the best out of your gaming experience. So, read on to uncover what is a good ping, what affects ping, ping vs latency and other useful insights to help you game with ease. After all, you want the most out of your gaming experience, with as few interruptions as possible.
What is ping speed?
First, you’ll be thinking to yourself, “what is ping speed exactly?”. Well, ping speed is based on the reaction time of your internet connection, and relates to how speedily your device will receive an initial response once you’ve sent a request. This will likely lead you to ask yourself, “what is a good ping?”.
A good ping is essentially a fast ping, as a speedier one provides a more responsive connection as a whole. And this is particularly applicable to time-sensitive applications where speed is of real importance, like video gaming, for example. You’ll also need to know that ping is measured in milliseconds (ms), which allows you to review different ms speeds with absolute confidence.
What is ping latency?
Ping latency refers to the time it takes for a small data set to be sent from the device you’re using to an internet server – and then transmitted back to your device all over again. Basically, the more devices you have linked to your internet connection, the higher your latency. And you want to keep your latency speed as low as possible when getting your games console out.
But what is a good latency speed? It’s usually in the range of 20ms to 40ms because lower latency is best for gamers like yourself. Higher latency can bring a few hurdles along the way.
Ping vs latency: What’s the difference?
You may have seen the terms “latency” and “ping” flying around different pages on the internet in the past and wondered what they mean, and how they differ. To give you a better understanding, latency is the time it takes in total (and in milliseconds) for the initial ping to return to your laptop. Whereas a ping is entirely one way, there is no return – simple.
What is a good ping for gaming?
Low ping is what you’ll require to get the best out of gaming. Unlike most things, higher isn’t best when it comes to your ping while gaming. In fact, the lower the ping, the better. But what does ping mean in gaming? It refers to the network latency between your laptop/computer and someone else’s, or even the game’s own server.
A good ping for gaming is around 40ms to 60ms, or even lower. For reference, if your ping has a speed over 100ms, it will have an obvious delay. And if you have a 10ms ping, playing on your chosen game will feel like a smoother experience, and a faster one, in comparison to a 100ms ping.
How to reduce ping
To reduce ping when gaming, first use a gaming ping test which measures your current ping speed. It does this by considering your broadband connection. Tools such as Speedtest are excellent for finding out this information for free. And you can source your ping speed in just a couple of seconds. It will come up with a ping score and if it’s too high for the game you’ll be playing, you can then work on reducing it.
If you’re wondering what affects ping speed when gaming, how to reduce your ping and how to lower latency, we have a few tricks under our belt. To ensure your ping speed is always up to scratch, ensure you check and follow these simple steps:
- Make sure your internet connection is a reliable one
- Upgrade your router to a speedier one; this lets you get the most out of your gaming by “talking” back to your internet quicker
- Close any background applications and programmes
- Choose a gamer server that’s nearest to your location, as this boosts connectivity
- Double-check the game server’s ping
- Disable any updates temporarily to improve your ping speed
- Ensure you use an ethernet cable to stay connected directly to your router
- Always check your cables: ask yourself whether they are up-to-date and if they’re not, replace them
Gaming seamlessly is a doddle when you know how to avoid disruptions, so these handy tips should help you beat your competitors.
Put this knowledge into practice
Now you’re aware of what a good ping is and how to reduce ping latency problems, you can game with confidence – and without any interruptions. For more insights on internet speeds, cloud gaming and even how to start out on Twitch, read our other helpful blog posts.
FAQs
A good ping for gaming is around 40ms to 60ms, or even lower. For reference, if your ping has a speed over 100ms, it will have an obvious delay. And if you have a 10ms ping, playing on your chosen game will feel like a smoother experience, and a faster one, in comparison to a 100ms ping.
Is 20 ping good for gaming? ›
In general, an acceptable ping would be around 40ms-60ms or lower. A speed of over 100ms shows a noticeable delay, and over 170ms, some games will reject your connection entirely. Less than 20ms would be ideal for gaming, with clear visuals, quick actions, and no lags during gameplay.
How do I lower my ping? ›
How to lower ping: 7 fixes to try
- Check your router. The first step to improving ping is to make sure you are getting the most out of your home router. ...
- Run an internet speed test. ...
- Remove other devices from your network. ...
- Close apps and pause updates. ...
- Connect to a different server. ...
- Use an ethernet cable. ...
- Use a VPN.
A good ping speed typically ranges between 10-20ms for professional gamers. Although a perfectly average ping for gaming is around 20-50ms. It's important to consider that the lower your ping, the faster your connection and the more competitively you can play.
What is bad ping for gaming? ›
If your ping is higher than 100ms, it's likely detracting from your online gaming experience and you should look into how to fix high ping. Wondering what is a good ping to aim for? Ideally, you want a ping of 50ms or lower, but a ping below 20ms will offer you the smoothest gameplay with no noticeable lag.
Is 0 ping possible? ›
In a nutshell, in real life, a 0 ping is nearly impossible. But you can get a ping that is close to 0 by making some efforts.
Is 600 a bad ping? ›
Generally, a ping of below 20 ms (milliseconds) is considered excellent, between around 40 to 50 ms is great, around 80 to 120 ms is fairly good, and 150 ms and up is considered high. Most people would consider a ping of above 250 ms to be unplayable, especially in competitive games.
Why is my ping so high but my internet is good? ›
Some reasons your ping might be high include: Routers and how updated they are, where they're placed, and whether their firmware is up to date. Computers and whether they're outdated, un-optimized for gaming, or need to be cleaned. Caches on your router or modems whether they're full.
Does lower ping make you better? ›
Ping is measured in milliseconds (ms), with lower ping values being better. Conversely, higher ping values have the potential to completely tank your gaming performance.
Will a better router improve ping? ›
Absolutely. Gaming routers (and other top-of-the-line routers) are engineered to minimize latency, directly impacting your ping. A gaming router can significantly reduce your ping times by prioritizing gaming traffic and using features like QoS and beamforming.
A ping rate over 150 milliseconds (ms) will generate noticeable lag, and this will definitely affect gameplay, graphics, and an ability to stream watchable content to Twitch. Anything less than that should be ok. A ping rate under 50 ms is fantastic and is desirable for professional gamers.
How bad is 500 ping? ›
Decent Ping (100-200ms): Ping between 100 to 200 can cause lag and noticeable latency in-game, but the game is still playable. Bad Ping (200-500ms): When your ping is above 200 or even 500, then it's definitely a bad ping. The latency is serious and the game is nearly unplayable.
Will faster internet reduce ping? ›
Yes, faster internet can help lower your ping — but it's a little more complicated than that. In this article, we'll help you understand how ping and latency can massively impact online video games and other activities.
How to get rid of ping spikes? ›
First, make sure your network connection is steady, and then consider modifying your router's Quality of Service (QoS) settings to prioritize network traffic over speed. You can reduce latency by updating your network drivers and turning off unused background apps or processes.
Is ping related to internet speed? ›
Additionally, the term “ping” or “ping rate” refers to how fast you get a response from your Internet connection after you send out a request. Surprisingly, latency has a bigger impact on game performance and response time than your upload speed or download speed.
How fast is 20ms? ›
20 milliseconds are 1/50th of a second. Something occurring every 1/50th second is said to have a frequency of 50Hz.
Is 20 ping good for Fortnite? ›
Ping is the time it takes for the system to respond to an action (such as pressing a button or moving a joystick), and a low ping rate in the 15 to 20 ms range is considered exceptional. For professional gamers, low ping, high speeds, and guaranteed service is a good business decision.
How much ping is acceptable for gaming? ›
A good ping for gaming is around 40ms to 60ms, or even lower. For reference, if your ping has a speed over 100ms, it will have an obvious delay. And if you have a 10ms ping, playing on your chosen game will feel like a smoother experience, and a faster one, in comparison to a 100ms ping.
Is 20 40 ping good? ›
Anything at 100ms or less is considered acceptable for gaming. However, 20-40ms is optimal.
