The launch of PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X marks a new era for console gaming. The next-generation gaming platforms will embark on a new journey for the fans and are destined to create benchmarks in the world of gaming.
You will get to experience gaming like never before. The launch of these consoles is a dream come true. This past decade was defined by games like The Last of Us, Horizon Dawn, Forza, and many games like these.
Whether you are looking forward to buying Xbox Series X or PS5, we will not delve into which one is better but we will be talking about a common dilemma faced by the gaming community. What is the best internet speed for gaming?
Online gaming doesn’t necessarily require a lot of speed since it’s not a very bandwidth-intensive activity. But you do need a stable internet connection that offers the lowest ping rate as latency is something best known as the ‘enemy’ for online gamers.
If you are looking for a reliable internet connection to boost up the gaming experience we recommend you check out Windstream Internet. They offer multiple internet packages that support up to 10 compatible devices at the same time. To check their availability in your area you can contact Windstream customer service and get further information.
Getting back to strict ideal figures of speed required for online gaming, we need to understand the science behind internet speeds and how factors like download speed, upload speed, and latency influence your gaming experience. Once these factors are well understood, you can easily pick the right internet connection for you. So without any further delay let’s get into it:
Download Speed
Every gamer is familiar with this term. It is the time taken by the data from the gaming server to reach your console or PC. Download speeds are considered the bottleneck for all the activities involving the internet and online gaming.
In case you sign-up for less download speed, your online gaming will suffer. On average, the minimum recommended download speed for gaming is 3 Mbps but this varies according to the type of console at which the games are being played.
Upload Speed
Many people undermine the importance of upload speed. It is quite important when it comes to gaming. It is the time taken for the data to reach the server from your console. It should be higher while online gaming as we are continuously sending the information to the server. Take notes!
Latency
As you all know, this is the most important factor for online gaming. It is commonly referred to as “ping”. It is the most important one as the broadband speed is just raw bandwidth. While gaming online, you need a rapid response from the server.
Latency in the most simple word is the delay taken by the data while reaching its destined server. While signing up for the internet service provider, you will not get the exact ping rates since it keeps on fluctuating.
Now that you have understood the basic factors related to online gaming and internet speeds let us tell you what internet speed different gaming systems require.
Internet Speed Requirements for Gaming by System
To understand speed requirements better, gamers must keep in mind that different platforms have different requirements. Therefore, we have categorized the best internet speeds for gaming according to the requirements of each console.
Requirements for PC
PC gamers consider themselves the elite of the gaming community. Their Ethernet cables, high-end hardware, and better frames per second are enough for all sorts of validations. For PC gaming, the minimum download speed should be 10 Mbps. The higher the better.
For upload speed, they must have a network that gives them almost 1 Mbps. Latency is always changing because of the bandwidth and several other factors. Using an Ethernet wire reduces the latency from your end. For an ideal online gaming experience, the ping should be lower than 100ms. The games that require a rapid response from the server will run smoothly in this case.
Requirements for PS4
PlayStation fandom is literally obsessed with the new generation console that is expected to launch in the holiday season. Most of the PS4 users are still satisfied with the console. If you are a PlayStation user, the minimum download speed from your provider should be 15 Mbps. This is for a single user. If multiple people are using the internet simultaneously, then obviously a greater download speed is required. The connection should have a latency of 50-150ms the maximum.
Requirements for Xbox
Xbox is set to take on the PlayStation with its new generation of consoles. The console will launch in the holiday season. For Xbox users, the minimum download speed should be 15 Mbps. The rules are the same as PlayStation. More users will require a greater internet speed. The latency should be the same as mentioned earlier.
Wrapping up
Online gaming is great fun as long as you have a good internet connection. And if you’ve opted for it as your profession and live-stream along with playing then you must invest in a connection that can hold multiple devices at the same time. Just make sure that the plan you pick gives you the lowest latency so you can continue everything smoothly and get the best out of your gaming experience.
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