If you’re a keen online gamer and want to take your performance to a higher level, buckle up! This blog might get a bit geeky, but stay with us as we dive into ping-science….
Ping is a good thing
‘Ping’ is a critical metric for online gamers because it measures the responsiveness of their internet connection. Expressed in milliseconds (ms), it’s essentially the delay between a gamer’s input (like pressing a button) and the server’s response to that input. Here’s why it’s important:
- Game Performance: High ping times can significantly impact a player’s ability to play a game smoothly. Higher ping can cause lags, delays in character movement or action, and even disconnections from the game server.
- Real-Time Interaction: Online gaming often requires real-time interaction. Any delay (high ping) can affect the gameplay experience, especially in fast-paced action games that require split-second response times.
- Fairness: High ping will invariably disadvantage a player. For instance, in a first-person shooter game, if a player fires a shot at an enemy, a high ping could cause a delay in the action registering. By the time the shot fires, the enemy could be in a different location.
- Type of Game: The impact of ping can also depend on the type of game. For example, a turn-based game might be less affected by high lag compared to a game that requires quick decision-making.
So, what is a good ping score?
According to boffins at IDNet, one of the UK’s fastest and most responsive networks, a good ping typically ranges between 5-10ms on Fibre to the Premises (FTTP) and Leased Lines. An average ping is around 10-15ms on FTTP circuits, but IDNet would consider this “a bit sluggish” if you had one of their leased lines where pings of under 4ms are not uncommon!
Unfortunately, ADSL/SoGEA connections don’t really cut it anymore at the elite end of online gaming where a 15ms ping might be the best you can achieve.
If you’re experiencing high ping, there are several things you can do to reduce it. For example:
Get the best Gigabit Fibre Package:
You should ensure that you have the best connection for gaming such as the IDNet’s Gigabit Gamer offerings. IDNet can hook you up with a cross section of network infrastructure providers. Examples include:
IDNet Gigabit Gamer using the CityFibre network
FTTH 1200/1200 @ £41.66 per month
IDNet Gigabit Gamer using the Openreach network
FTTP 1000/115 @ £50.00 per month
IDNet Gigabit Gamer using the FibreHeroes network
FTTP-FF 1000/1000 @ £41.66 per month
All these IDNet gaming packages come with an inclusive pre-configured ASUS TUF-AX3000 gaming router. Chack availability at your address here
Get the best gaming router and go wired if you can:
IDNet offer ASUS TUF and ROG models which come with ‘Quality Of Service’ and/or a dedicated gaming LAN port that will prioritise your gaming devices and prevent other devices from dominating your connection. Time after time these routers have shown to be an essential weapon for any serious player.
Try, if possible, to use a wired connection to connect your console to your router and make sure other devices especially bandwidth hungry ones are not simultaneously using your connection.
Select an ISP with superior peering:
A better ISP will hook you up faster with global gaming servers. For example, IDNet’s core global Internet connectivity is presented in London at LINX & LONAP and they have multiple transit connections to America and Asia plus peering connections with over 1000+ global networks. This enables IDNet to deliver data from around the world at incredibly fast speeds. Some of their more prominent gaming peers include: Blizzard, iSD, Multiplay, and Riot, to name a few.
If it floats your boat, you can deep dive even further into the performance of IDNet’s data network here
Now that you understand the science, what are you waiting for?
Upgrade to a better gaming experience with low ping. Become a Gigabit Gamer Now!
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