Gaming requires a lot of focus and even the most split-second decisions have a huge effect on whether you’ll win or lose. So, it is needless to say you need the best internet connectivity possible to make sure you don’t lose, right? 

Well, this article is going to help you do just that as we’ll go over what you need to consider before buying a router and what features you’ll need to look out for as well. 

A high-performance gaming router will be able to handle smooth speeds comfortably and will provide the highest frames and low latency, which is paradise for gamers. Keep on reading to find out how to select the perfect gaming router for you!

Understanding The Basics 

You might be wondering, what is the difference between a normal router and one that is additionally suitable for gaming? What makes gaming routers better than normal gaming routers? 

Well, a router connects the device you want to use, such as a computer or a TV to the internet. It allows that device to access functions that would be possible through the internet, such as streaming and video gaming, etc. 

Gaming routers are special in the sense that they are made with the intent of reducing lag, making sure low latency exists, and prioritizing gaming traffic.

Things To Consider When Buying A Router For Gaming

Now, that you know the basics, let us go over some important factors that you need to consider before buying your gaming router:

Speed And Bandwidth

The speed and bandwidth of the router are important factors to take into consideration when buying a gaming router. Look for routers that offer high Mbps speeds, which are megabits per second. 

High-speed routers are better, but they won’t be able to magically make your internet speeds faster if you are subscribed to a low-speed internet plan. That is why it is important to check the plans offered by your ISP. If the maximum speed is 100 Mbps, buying a router that supports higher speeds will not add anything. 

Routers also operate on various frequency bands, and the best out of all of them for gaming is 5Ghz, as it only prioritizes important functions which allows it to offer higher speeds. Routers with dual and tri bands are optimal if you’re looking for the best performances at the highest speeds.

Quality Of Service (QoS) Settings

Quality of service (QoS) settings enable you to only prioritize specific types of network traffic, which allows you to get faster speeds than usual. This in turn prevents latency and helps you get a smooth gaming experience, especially if you have a lot of devices connected to the internet. 

Look for a router that allows you to customize QoS settings, which will ensure priority is given to gaming-related activities and not other activities.

Low Latency And Ping Rates

Low latency is an important factor to consider as it elevates your online experience. Low latency means that your input is transmitted to your game quicker, which means you can act faster, which is key to victory in some cases. The ping rate is measured in ms and is a good indicator of how low your latency is. 

Routers with technologies like MU-MIMO (Multiple User, Multiple input, multiple output) or even modes specifically designed for gaming. They will help you get the most out of your router and its performance.

Router Processor And RAM 

The processing of your router is also a key factor that needs to be taken into consideration while buying a gaming router. The better the processor and the RAM ability, the better the capacity of the router to handle multiple devices at the same time and also maintain a stable connection in times like intense gaming sessions. 

Routers with powerful processors and a sufficient amount of RAM can help provide more than enough power to handle intense gaming sessions. The best choices to look for are dual and quad-core processors as they are faster and provide much better performance.

Advance Features For Gaming Routers

In addition to these factors mentioned above, there are additional factors you can look for to further enhance your gaming experience by buying a router that sets itself apart from the competition. 

Beamforming Technology

Beamforming is a technology that allows the router to only send signals to the devices that are connected, so this helps save time and helps the speeds, which makes the speed incredibly fast and strong. This is ideal for gaming because a stable connection is key for a lag-free online experience. 

Gaming VPN Support

VPNs are usually used to ensure privacy and security while browsing online. However, it can increase latency in some cases, therefore affecting gaming performance as it increases the ping as well. This means that the time taken for input to be registered is increased. 

That is why choosing a gaming router that offers VPN support is ideal if you are a regular VPN user because this will reduce input delay and ensure low latency at the best speeds. 

Customizable Firmware 

Some gaming routers allow their users to customize the firmware, which can help each setup be customized according to the unique needs of the user. This makes it more accessible and can also allow you to tweak interfaces, essentially expanding the control you have over your network. 

However, there is a downside as customizing firmware may render the router warranty void so please proceed with caution if you choose to explore this option.

Considerations For Different Gaming Scenarios

The ideal gaming router may look different for everyone depending on what your needs are and what your gaming environment is. The points listed below should be taken into consideration to better fulfill your search for the router you are looking to buy: 

Console Gaming Vs PC Gaming

A good gaming router will support both console and PC gaming, the needs of gaming on each platform differ and will have to be taken into account. Console gaming is a little bit more challenging as it does not support wired connections as well as PC gaming does. 

So if you are a player who games on a console, a wireless router with a strong connection is going to be ideal for you. You must know the router settings for PlayStation gaming are different. If you are a PC gamer, on the other hand, a wired router that ensures low latency is perfect. 

Single-Player Vs Multiplayer Gaming

The gaming settings should also be focused upon, as the network requirements if you play single-player games are different from multiplayer games. Single-player games might not require a really low level of latency as multiplayer games do. So a slightly higher latency might be acceptable. 

However, in multiplayer games, low latency is the best option along with QoS settings. 

Streaming While Gaming

If you are a video game streamer and consistently stream your games online, you might require a lot more bandwidth than you think, so this aspect should also play a major role in your decision to buy a router. Routers with high-speed support and QoS settings will support both your streaming and your gaming experience and make it lag-free. 

Gaming In A Crowded Network

If you have multiple devices connected to the same network, that might lead to network overload or congestion, which can affect the performance of the network, too. 

This is why you should look for a tri-band router or one that supports MU-MIMO technology because these technologies will help reduce the pressure on your router and make it function more efficiently.

Conclusion

Choosing a gaming router is not a task that is to be taken lightly as it affects every part of your gaming experience. 

In this guide, we went over factors to consider while looking to buy one such as one with low latency, high speeds, and other advanced features along with specific gaming scenarios that will help you understand which router to choose depending on your preferences. 

Additional factors to keep in mind are budgeting and future-proofing, to make sure that you get the best possible deal for your investment. 

So, why wait? Buy the best possible gaming router today and dominate the virtual space! Also, for more such guides, follow BCCA on Pinterest.