The Best Ways to Lower Your Ping

The most extreme measures are often taken by gamers in order to stay competitive. They buy the most powerful consoles, the latest controllers, and the best monitors that money can buy. The ping component has the greatest effect on performance, but it is often overlooked.

You have a bad ping (high ping) if your connection to the server is poor. Whatever quick trigger inputs you make, no matter how fast, will not help you win. High ping is one of the problems.

However, have no fear...

If you adjust your networking hardware or tweak your settings, you can dramatically improve your network performance and lower your ping. Simply changing a few network settings can improve your connection and lower your ping.

The following tips will show you how to fix connectivity issues and lower your ping. You are more likely to remain at the top of the leader boards of your favorite multiplayer online games when your ping is lower. If your ping decreases but still you are not on top, we are unable to help you. Okay, so how do you lower your ping?

Ping Lowering and Speed Increasing Tips

How Does Ping Work?

It is important to understand what ping is before jumping into the topic too quickly. A ping is a measure of latency, or how fast your PC or console sends and receives signals.

You send a signal to the server every time you take a shot in an online combat game. As soon as the server takes a shot, it must confirm the shot by returning an indication to you whether the opponent was hit. Ping indicates whether the opponent was hit. This is the amount of time that the server and you spend back and forth.

When the ping is low, gameplay is at its best. You would, in an ideal world, be able to send your input and receive your server's response immediately. With a low ping, you are trying to get that response time as close to an ideal state as possible.

A slower ping, however, can make games unresponsive, and sometimes even unplayable as all your actions seem to have no effect on others. Your opponent may not suffer any damage from any hail of bullets that you are firing. Even though you think you are directly shooting at them, they may have moved behind cover without this information reaching you in time. Lowering the ping is important. You can truly make or break your gaming experience when it comes to it.

Is my ping so high?

There can be many reasons why your ping is high. Not bad, huh? So don't make snap judgments. There is a reason ping is complicated. It is hard to pinpoint the cause of high pings and gaming lags. See if we can isolate the cause of high ping by looking at some common causes.

Ping of your game server

Some good news and a few bad news...You might not be responsible for your high ping. You might be playing on the wrong server. A website called Game Server Ping is an excellent way to find out the ping on many common game servers.

You can test your game server through a third party if you know its IP address. It is important to check the servers with the highest results as many of them are fast. Find a server that is close to your residence as well. Lastly, compare your ping with that of a third party. See this article if you do not know how to ping out.

You are the problem, not the server, if your ping is high and the third party's is low. The third party's highest ping was 25.8 ms, while my test result showed 32.0 ms.

Since these ping values are almost the same, I infer a server-side issue does not exist. If both the third party's and my pings were high, I would know it's the game server. I would know what the ping issue was if a third party had a low ping and I had a high ping.

Broadband

Ping can also be affected by bandwidth. There can be issues with jitter, packet loss, and latency when bandwidth is scarce. As the number of people on your network fluctuates throughout the day, so may bandwidth. High ping may occur during peak usage hours of the day due to reduced bandwidth.

The main consideration is the need for a lot of bandwidth with cloud-based games. Downloading data is especially burdensome. Changing the frame rate could potentially offset this. You may be surprised at what happens when you lower your graphics.

As the day progresses, keep an eye on the performance of your network. Take note of any bandwidth issues you encounter. During this time, you should avoid playing multiplayer games or temporarily lower your graphics settings.

Does speed matter?

Games don't generally require ultra-high-speed internet connections. It has actually been demonstrated that over 3 Mbps is enough to send and receive the information required by games to play online multiplayer. Then you may want to consider investing in a faster connection if you are constantly downloading new games. Despite this, 3 Mbps should be sufficient for most purposes.

It is recommended that gamers opt for a bit more than 3 Mbps. In some cases, ISPs report inaccurate speeds, or speeds may decrease during times of heavy usage. In addition, you might just want an extra margin of safety. We've seen recommendations ranging from 6-12 Mbps. In the United States, the average internet speed is 19 Mbps, so this shouldn't be a problem for those reading this. Globally, the average speed is around 9 Mbps, so this may or may not pose a problem for those outside of the United States.

Ping and Speed Test Your Internet

There are many sites that come up in Google if you want to test your internet speed or ping. One that we recommend is Speedtest since it is the most accurate. You can also choose a Speedtest server that is close to the gaming server you are using. Your ping will be lower if you connect to a server that is closer to your location rather than one that is farther away, since the signals from your PC or console would take longer to reach the location and send information back. Using the tool, you can even compare your connection speed with other users so you have an idea of what other gamers may experience.

How does ping affect gaming performance?

Ping times are measured in milliseconds. Even though that may not seem like a lot of time, when you're gaming every millisecond counts. If you are a serious gamer, you want your ping to be around 20 ms or less. In general, however, things below 100 ms are considered playable by most gamers.

For the average gamer, we recommend a ping around 50 ms. It is often impossible to achieve 20 ms. A ping of 20 ms is almost never consistent if the server is far away. Use your common sense when dealing with ping times. Don't worry if you cannot lower your ping below 100 ms but notice it doesn't affect your gameplay.

What is better for gaming online: Ethernet or WiFi?

Even though a wifi signal from your router to your console is much cleaner (clutter-free and requires no additional wires), the signal integrity and speed of your network connection may suffer as wireless signals may degrade due to many reasons. Wireless signals are also intermittent and may fluctuate. Wireless signals can be interfered with by walls or other electronic devices, as well as from other wireless signals. It's better to use a cellular connection since it moves signals faster and more consistently than wifi. Ethernet connections will also be virtually unaffected by interference. Wireless users also experience much more jitter. A faster ethernet connection will also result in a lower ping. There can be a small difference in ping time, usually around 3 ms for wireless and 0.3 ms for wired connections, but every little bit helps. The only downside of this approach is the unsightliness of the wires if they are not run through the wall.

While we have reinstituted an Ethernet connection for serious gamers, most average gamers won't notice much of a difference between a wired or wireless connection. A simple and easy way to lower your ping is to connect to a wired connection and run a ping test. Compare the results with your wireless ping. wired versus wireless and compare.

When you already have a wired connection and suspect you may have interference, consider using a gold-plated, high-quality network cable instead of the traditional ethernet cable you might be using.

How to Lower Your Ping Quickly and Effectively

So you have decided on an appropriate internet speed and whether or not you want a wireless connection but you are still wondering how to lower your ping, right? Well, here are some of the most effective ways to lower your ping:

Your modem or router needs to be restarted.As the cache on your router or modem fills up, the device becomes slow. By resetting your router, you will clear out the cache and start from scratch. You can also flush your DNS cache.
Your router's firmware needs to be updated. Latency can increase when your router's firmware needs to be updated.
In the case of an outdated router or modem, purchase a new one. Newer routers and modems typically have faster connection speeds as well as other technologies that will help improve speed and lower your ping. Similarly, if you are using a wireless connection, many newer wireless routers and modems offer improved range, which could reduce the signal degradation that wireless signals are prone to.
While gaming online, do not use a VPN or proxy. VPNs add an extra node to the connection, thereby increasing latency. However, there are some rare exceptions as to why you might consider a VPN for gaming.
Decide which server you want to use. If the game you are playing allows you to choose which server you want to play on, choose one that is close to where you are. The closer you are to the server, the better the ping.
Remove all devices from your network. If your connection is slow, avoid using any devices that introduce more information. If you use a microphone to communicate with teammates, this reduces the overall bandwidth and further slows your connection.
Connect to a 5GHz network. If you're playing over WiFi, connect to the 5 GHz connection if it is available. 5 GHz has a much faster frequency and may have a larger range than 2.4 GHz. Make sure your wireless router or modem is close to your console if you are using 5 GHz.
Ensure that background applications are closed. You should close any background applications that are running (for PC gamers) to reduce your device's load.
You need to change your DNS. You can try changing your DNS, if you're a techie. One of the fastest DNS servers is Google's DNS server. By typing in 8.8.8.8 as your preferred DNS server and 8.8.4.4 as your alternate DNS server, you can use Google's DNS.
The bandwidth hogs should be removed. Make sure you stop using any services that eat up bandwidth before you begin playing games, such as streaming 4K movies or downloading large files.
Choose the ideal router settings. Find the best settings for your router model (or modem) by searching online. Some really smart tech geeks have already figured out some of the best settings for your router or modem. Plug the best settings into your router or modem and watch your ping drop.

You should be able to lower your ping by following these tips. Even though the results may not be dramatic for each tip, combined you should see at least some noticeable improvement in your ping.

You should contact your ISP if you continue to experience noticeable lag or latency while gaming. Perhaps they can provide you with some tips to reduce your latency and improve your ping. Consider changing your router or upgrading to a new one as well.

The best products for lowering ping

Here are some of the best products available on the market that will help you lower your ping.

1. A Quality Gaming Router

The best way to keep your ping low while gaming is to use a good router. Dedicated gaming routers allow you to prioritize your network traffic so that your bandwidth can be dedicated to gaming. Some routers claim to route gaming traffic to servers that are as fast as possible. However, a good gaming router will certainly help to rule out other issues you might have, even if it doesn't ensure a low ping.

2. Powerline Ethernet Adapters

Your power lines can be used to transmit network signals throughout your home with powerline adapters. Connect one to the source (near your router) and the other to the destination (your computer or gaming console). You no longer need to run cable or do anything complicated to get lightning fast speeds.

According to CNET:

"With a good set of powerline adapters, you can expect speeds and latency that are similar to those of a direct wired connection with your router."

–CNET

3. Gold Plated or New Network Cable

It is essential to ensure that you have a decent network cable, even if the benefits are minimal. Ensure your cable has gold plating so that you get the best connection to your device. Choose a cable that minimizes electrical interference.

A Cat 8 cable is capable of speeds up to 40 GBPS and 2000 MHz. In addition, it will not be damaged by extreme bends. It's a great cable just to have in general, even if it doesn't increase your ping too much.

Best VPN for PC gaming to lower your ping

Adding an extra node to a Virtual Private Network (VPN) provider will slow your gaming. Still, VPN services aren't completely worthless. Using a VPN for gaming has pros and cons, so let's examine some of them and consider when using a VPN is recommended.

Pros aren't always readily apparent. One pro is that regionally restricted servers can be accessed directly. With a VPN, you can play any game from anywhere in the world. You can even play games that haven't been released in your region yet with a VPN.

An added benefit is the extra security. DDoS attacks are used by some gamers to gain an advantage over their competitors. Protect yourself against such attacks with a VPN. In addition to protecting your privacy while gaming, a VPN can also keep others from knowing where you are.

Another large concern for gamers is bandwidth throttling, which is easily solved by a VPN. Your ISP cannot target you for throttling when you use a VPN. If you play a lot of video games, this is a huge plus.

A VPN can increase latency, but that is the only major disadvantage. However, if you choose a VPN server with a low ping, you can get around this problem. Sometimes you'll find a server that has an extremely low ping. It might therefore be faster for this server to connect to the gaming server than if you connected directly to it. As a result, your ping will actually be reduced to the gaming server.

It is vital to find the right VPN to lower your ping. Examine the server distribution of the VPN (or the server map) to determine this. Locate the gaming server where you prefer to play. Your favorite game or games server distribution should be near the VPN provider you choose.

Additionally, opt for a VPN with lots of servers. In comparison to Express VPN, Nord VPN has the advantage of 5450+ servers, whereas the latter has only 3000+. You'll have a greater chance of finding servers near your favorite games if your VPN has more servers.

Consider the country-based distribution of servers. If you play in different countries a lot, make sure the VPN you choose supports those areas as well. The games you play most often are largely based in a particular country, so pick a VPN that has the most servers in that country.

According to PCMag, Nord VPN is one of the best VPNs for gaming as well as the "best for general users." They ranked Nord VPN highly when searching for "best VPNs for gaming... that can protect your privacy without making your connection sluggish."

Getting a router compatible with your VPN of choice is also important. We recommend the ASUS AC1900 router for fast gaming and VPN. You can use Express VPN with this router.

Fastest VPN for Console Gaming

You should use Express VPN instead if you play Xbox, Nintendo Switch or Playstation. Gaming on consoles is easier and more secure with Express VPN. Express VPN is the largest VPN network in the world and one of the most trusted names in the VPN industry.

As the world's largest VPN service, Express VPN is a good place to start. Approximately 3000 servers are located in 94 countries across the globe, spanning over 3000 servers. With their VPN you can also connect five devices simultaneously, so you can run five devices on the same VPN. Additionally, you can connect your Xbox, PS4 and Switch with your phone and computer to enhance security and privacy.

A good VPN router is vital to Express VPN working properly with gaming. Express VPN has routers that are compatible with its system. Express VPN recommends the ASUS AC1900 because it's highly compatible with Express VPN. Setup is easy, it works well with the VPN, and it even works exceptionally well on its own without the VPN.

When you have a VPN router, all the traffic going through it can easily be encrypted. Gamers can also change their IP addresses and disable ISP throttling. All of your devices are also protected since your router routes all of your traffic. You are not limited to the VPN's five device limit in this case.

Express VPN also offers TCP and UDP options. Most people find UDP to be more effective for gaming. Since they have 24-hour technical support, it is very easy to ask them for assistance during the setup process.

The best VPN for console gaming is definitely Express VPN. Techradar ranked it as the best VPN for gaming in 2020.