Wired better than wireless for gaming

So you get all the advantages of ethernet without having to run long ethernet cables through the house to reach your router! It is true that house electrical wiring is more susceptible to interference than the specially constructed twisted pair copper found in ethernet cables, and the quality of the signal transmitted can vary depending on factors such as the age and condition of the wiring, the circuitry of the house and the presence of certain electrical devices nearby that can cause interference.

See our article on the subject. We have gone through the main reasons why wired connection are almost always more better than wireless ones for home networking in general and gaming in particular.

Put simply, wired connections have certain advantages and wireless connection have certain disadvantages that make wired the best choice for gaming to keep latency down:. These factors all add up to mean that delays in sending and receiving traffic and therefore suffering latency become much more likely using Wi-Fi and less likely using wired connections.

Therefore wired connections should be the connection of choice for online gamers, with Powerline Adapters being a excellent alternative to those who cannot run ethernet directly. As a closing point though, how important this issue is does depend on the type of game you play online.

If for example, you mostly play only slower, turn based games online eg. If however you play faster paced multiplayer games eg. First Person Shooters, Racing Games where the relative position of players is important, this is where lag on a Wi-Fi connection can start to let you down, and it is in these cases that getting onto a wired connection really does make a big difference to your experience online.

Bottom line — most times, for most gamers, wired connections are going to be preferable to Wi-Fi. Online gamer and general home networking enthusiast. I like to create articles to help people solve common home networking problems.

It has to be said that the online experience for the F1 game hasn't been the best, with loads of bugs, lag, de-syncing and a poor connection in general. Not to mention a poorly functioning Home internet users commonly need to reset their routers, but does doing this actually change the IP address of a router or of devices connecting to a router? This can become a more obvious issue Skip to content. Cable drag can make the mouse uncomfortable to use, and unwanted friction can slow down your response time during games.

The cable is the weakest point of a wired mouse and is prone to breaking. Wired mice are not a good option if you frequently travel because the cable is vulnerable to snags and getting tangled in transit.

However, a mouse with a detachable cable mitigates this issue entirely. Most of the time, detachable cables are easy to replace if they are damaged or lost. With a wired mouse, the length of the cable determines how far you can sit from your PC. This makes a wired mouse a poor choice if you sit far from your PC or have it hooked up to a TV.

Wireless mice are used less than wired mice for professional play, but the gap is narrowing gradually. Older gaming mice commonly use a Bluetooth connection that introduces significant lag and connection issues. Modern wireless gaming mice use the 2. Although wired mice still reign supreme, the tide is slowly turning as technology advances. The unrestricted movement translates to smoother tracking and faster flicks while you play.

The best wireless mice can match the speed of their wired rivals. Top gaming mice manufacturers use in-house technology like Hyperspeed and Lightspeed to eliminate interference. Razer uses its proprietary Hyperspeed tech, allowing the mouse to switch between wireless frequencies to avoid interference.

Both technologies ensure the mice in their respective lineups have the fastest response times with no latency. Modern wireless mice have a longer-range, making them an excellent choice if you sit far from your screen or have your PC connected to a TV. One way to improve the wireless connection if you sit far away from your PC is with an extender cable.

One end of the extender cable plugs into the PC, and you can plug your USB receiver into the other end of the cable. Most wireless mice come with an extender cable, and you can sometimes purchase them separately. But some wireless mice use cables or docking stations to charge, and they can be costly to replace if they get damaged.

All wireless mice have batteries that run out at some point. Some wireless mice have rechargeable batteries, and others use replaceable batteries. Many wireless mice avoid the battery life issue by including a USB cable to charge while you play.

The USB cable prevents the battery from dying but introduces cable drag. The overall lifespan of the batteries can also be a problem. High-end mice like the G Lightspeed use more expensive lithium-polymer batteries that are expensive and are non-replaceable in the unlikely event that it dies out completely. Wireless gaming mice are always more expensive than wired versions of the same mouse.

Wi-Fi, like Ethernet cables, has changed dramatically over the last few decades. Wi-Fi has also embraced a simpler naming convention, with the most recent being Wi-Fi 6.

You can read more details about the Wi-Fi 6 standard here , but suffice it to say, Wi-Fi 6 provides the fastest wireless connection speeds currently available in a home network. Almost all laptops have built-in wireless controllers, and most modern desktop motherboards do as well. As with Ethernet, there are wireless solutions often integrated in current generation motherboards, including features like Wi-Fi 6 support.

Wireless routers offer a wide array of Wi-Fi customization options, including features like guest networks, built-in security, and Quality of Service tools that can help reduce latency. As with Ethernet based networks, many of these options will depend on your router, so ensure you find one that incorporates the features you want. Wi-Fi has come a long way, and is now comparable to Ethernet connections in terms of upload and download speeds, as well as latency.

If you have the right ISP, a solid modem and a good router, Wi-Fi is a great option for gaming online. Playing games online uses a relatively small amount of data when compared to other activities like streaming video, but having a fast internet speed with a high bandwidth is always a plus, and will likely make your experience online all around better.

Having low latency and low ping should be one of the most important priorities for a solid gaming network as it has a direct impact on your experience. This is especially true in games where accuracy and responsiveness are critical to success, such as fighting games or competitive first-person shooters.

Choosing the right server is an important part of reducing lag. One of the best ways to reduce latency is to consider distance when choosing a server to play on. The further data has to travel, the longer the trip will take, and the higher the ping. There are also steps you can take with your local network to help reduce latency, including disabling competing traffic. The fewer devices utilizing your network while gaming, the more resources can be dedicated to your connection, and the lower your latency.

Router configuration can also impact latency. Whether you choose to go with Wi-Fi or a wired connection, prioritize low latency and a stable connection alongside fast upload and download speeds. With all of these criteria met, you should have everything you need to enjoy a solid online gaming experience. Skip To Main Content. Safari Chrome Edge Firefox. Highlights: Your choice of network can have a substantial impact on your gaming experience. Connection speed is important, but so is stability and low latency.

Having a high-quality internet connection is important when it comes to modern PC gaming. The Basics of Networking. Download speed is also measured in megabits per second Mbps or gigabits per second Gbps for significantly faster connections. Download speed refers to how quickly data is pulled from the internet to a device think watching a movie from a streaming service. Upload spee d is how quickly data can be pushed out from your device to the internet think streaming gameplay from your PC to the internet and is also measured in Mbps and Gbps.

Latency, Ping, and Lag. Latency refers to the amount of time it takes for data to make the round-trip from your PC, through your network and to its goal, and then back to your PC. Ping is how latency is measured, usually in milliseconds for example, The lower the ping, the lower the latency.

Lower ping is better; less than ms is ideal. You can measure your ping with services like this one. Lag is the result of high latency, and can be one of the most challenging issues when gaming online. If a player is sending or receiving information to a game server slower than another player in the same match, it can result in game-breaking connection issues such as input delay or connection errors.