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Online gaming is by far one of the best ways to keep yourself entertained and busy during leisure times. However, unlike other online activities, this source of entertainment can push your internet service to its limits. Quite often, online gamers ask us how much internet speed is required for gaming, and if you are also one of those individuals who are circling this question, then you have come to the right place because, in this article, we are going to discuss everything that you need to know about internet gaming. So, without further ado, let us get started right away!
A Quick Overview of Factors Related to Online Gaming
In the gaming arena, you are only as good as your internet service. A slight lag in your connection and turn your victory into defeat. Therefore, we recommend a plan that delivers at least 25 Mbps of internet speeds with minimum latency. Here are some of the factors that you need to keep in mind when playing online:
- Download Speed should be at least 25 Mbps
- Upload Speed should be at least 10 Mbps
- The ping rate should not be greater than 30ms
- The latency rate should not be more than 50ms
- Ideally, your data limit should be unlimited, but if you cannot get that, go for at least 100 GB per month
What are Latency and Ping Rates?
Ping is the time it takes for data to travel from your device to the web server in milliseconds. Latency, on the other hand, is the time it takes for the data to travel from your computer to the server and then, back to your computer. Both these terms are measured in milliseconds.
For avid online gamers, we usually recommend a ping rate ranging from 10ms to 30ms, which means that the data will reach the webserver is not more than 30ms. As far as latency is concerned, we do not suggest more than 50ms. This means that the information will leave your computer, reach the web server, and then, come back to your computer in not more than 50ms.
How Much Internet Speed Do You Need for Online Gaming?
This may come as a surprise to you, but most popular online games only require around 3 to 4 Mbps of download speeds with 1.5 Mbps of upload speeds. Nevertheless, this does not apply to all online games. Heavy games such as Fortnite and Call of Duty require at least 5 Mbps of download speeds to function properly.
Here is a list of some popular games and their required internet speeds:
| Platform | Game | Download Speeds | Upload Speeds | Latency (ms) |
| Xbox One | Halo: The Master Chief Collection, Red Dead Online, 2k20, Rocket League | 3+ Mbps | 1.5+ Mbps | <100 |
| PlayStation 4 | Call of Duty: Modern Warfare, Grand Theft Auto Online, Mortal Kombat 11, Fifa 20 | 5+ Mbps | 3+ Mbps | <100 |
| Nintendo Switch | Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, Animal Crossing: New Horizons, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, Splatoon 2 | 3+ Mbps | 1.5+ Mbps | <100 |
| PC | Overwatch, Fortnite, Apex Legends, League of Legends, DOTA 2 | 3+ Mbps | 1.5+ Mbps | <100 |
| Google Stadia | Destiny 2, Borderlands 3, Doom Eternal, Final Fantasy XV | 10 to 35 Mbps (4K Quality) | 3+ Mbps | <100 |
| GeForce Now | Dauntless, Path of Exile, The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, Control | 15 to 25 Mbps (1080p Quality) | 3+ Mbps | <100 |
Understanding the Concept of Bandwidth for Online Gaming
Gamers who live with families or multiple internet users would need greater internet speeds and bandwidth so that they can enjoy uninterrupted gaming sessions with minimum lag. Bandwidth refers to the amount of data that can pass through a connection in a given period. You might have noticed that when internet providers advertise their services, they write “up to” right next to the mentioned speeds.
For instance, if an internet connection like Spectrum internet is offering a connection that delivers speeds up to 100 Mbps, this means that the highest bandwidth that this service can produce is 100 Mbps. The greater the speed, the higher will be the bandwidth. So, if multiple users will be connecting their devices to the same network, you should get a plan that offers at least 100 Mbps of internet speeds so that all the devices can get commendable speeds and bandwidth for uninterrupted internet access.
| Number of Users | Download Speeds | Upload Speeds |
| 1 to 2 | 10 to 50 Mbps | 1 to 5 Mbps |
| 3 to 4 | 100 to 200 Mbps | 2 to 10 Mbps |
| More than 5 | 400 to 940 Mbps | More than 10 Mbps |
Which Internet Provider Do We Recommend for Online Gaming?
High-speed internet service does not have to be expensive. You can get a good internet connection that offers admirable speeds at quite an affordable price if you choose Spectrum because the Spectrum internet plans start from up to 200 Mbps and escalate up to 940 Mbps of internet speeds. No matter which plans you use, you always get unlimited data, super-steady speeds, 24/7 customer support, and free access to nationwide hotspots as soon as you sign up for the service. Spectrum is an ideal option because they offer higher internet speeds which are best for online gaming purposes.
Conclusive Notes
To avoid speed lag issues while you are playing online games it is very vital to choose the right internet speed. In this article, we have mentioned the best speeds that you need along with an internet service provider that offers you high internet speed. All you need is to make the right choice!
