What to look for in an internet provider for gaming
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What to look for in an internet provider for gaming
A massive 75% of Aussies play video games. Whether that’s on a PC, console, or mobile phone, there is no doubt that gaming is an everyday part of our lives.
Being a good gamer relies on skills and knowledge, but there is something else you need — a fast, reliable internet provider. After all, no one wants to play an MPG with you if you’re slower than the Sydney Harbour Bridge during Friday rush hour.
So, whether you’re a casual gamer who relaxes by firing up Fortnite, or you’ve got dreams of packing out an e-sports stadium and joining the pros, here is everything you need to know about fast internet for gaming.
How fast does your internet need to be for gaming?
First up, what even is internet speed? Internet speed refers to how fast data from your device takes to get to the server. It’s measured using download speed and upload speed.
Download is how long it takes for data to go from the server to your device, and upload is how long it takes to go from your device to the server.
The recommended internet speed differs depending on the complexity of your games, but we reckon a solid internet speed of around 100 Mbps is the minimum you should be aiming for. Mbps stands for megabits per second, and the higher the number advertised from your internet provider, the faster your internet speed.
Mobile hotspots for gaming: How much data will gaming use?
Whether you’re using a standard wifi connection or you’re tethering to your mobile phone, there’s actually no difference in terms of the amount of data used for gaming. The actual amount of data you’re going to burn through depends on the complexity and style of game you’re playing, and what you’re up to in it.
As a general rule of thumb though, for a standard hour of gaming, you’ll likely use around 40MB and 300MB per hour.
- Fortnite data usage, 100MB
- Minecraft data usage, 40MB
- Overwatch data usage, 135MB
- Microsoft Flight Simulator (2020) data usage, 700MB
- PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds (PUBG) data usage, 40MB
- Dota 2 data usage, 120MB
- League of Legends data usage, 45MB
- Counter-Strike: Global Offensive data usage, 250MB
- Team Fortress 2 data usage, 80MB
- Call of Duty: World War II (COD) data usage, 40MB
So, that 10GB per month you’ve got in your current data plan could last you between 250 and 33 hours. Or, a 100GB could keep you gaming every minute of the day if you wanted to. Though we’d probably recommend a break every now and then. Even a gamer’s gotta eat.
Finding the best internet provider for gaming
If you want to be the next PewDiePie, you’re going to need to make sure you’ve got the best internet possible. Here’s what to look out for:
Low latency or ‘ping’ times
Nothing hurts like losing Call of Duty because your internet speed can’t keep up with your ammo reload. That’s where low latency and ping times come in.
- Ping. This is how quickly the server responds to the command you're sending it. Ping time is measured in milliseconds (ms). The lower the number, the better the ping
- Latency. This is the time it takes for data to go from your device to the server. Although on the face of it latency and ping sound the same, they’re different. Much like ping time, the lower the number the better here
If your ping time or latency is high, you might find yourself experiencing lag — a delay between what you’re asking the game to do and when it happens. This can have a huge negative impact on your gameplay (not to mention your patience).
Bandwidth
Bandwidth is how much data can be transmitted at any one time. Low bandwidth and you could find yourself in the dreaded lag zone again. Unlike ping and latency, the higher the number here, the better.
You can easily find your bandwidth speed by typing ‘Bandwidth Speed Test’ into Google and hitting the ‘Run Speed Test’ button.
Typical evening speed
The busiest time for Aussies online is 7 pm-11 pm, so if this is when you’re going to be getting your gaming fix, you’re going to want an evening speed that’s just as good as your first-person shooter skills. When you’re choosing your supplier don’t just look for their average speed, look for their typical evening speed too.
The distance from your home to exchange (if on an ADSL connection)
Not everyone has access to wireless broadband. ADSL is the other connection you might have. It stands for Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line. AKA old-school copper telephone wires.
Don’t knock it till you’ve tried it though; you can still give some serious game on an ADSL connection, but it does depend on how far your home is from the local telephone exchange. The closer you are, the better your speed.
If you are having issues with your ADSL connection, there isn’t much you can do in terms of the copper wiring that’s linking you with the exchange. But you can take a look at your modem (replace it if it’s old or faulty) and the wiring in your own home. Make sure you use an electrician and give your telco company a call to check the external wiring too.
Console speed requirements
We’ve talked a bit about how games themselves can impact speed alongside other external factors. But did you know that your games console itself has recommended speed requirements? Not all consoles specify, but some do. Take Xbox One as an example — the minimum speed requirements for HD streaming is a download speed of 3.5 Mbps and a ping of 150 milliseconds or less.
Fast internet for gaming
When you’re choosing your internet provider with gaming in mind, you should be exploring the above. If you’ve got slow internet right now though, there are a few sneaky tips you can put into play to get faster internet for gaming.
Try moving closer to your router, closing down background applications, or using the ethernet cable instead of wifi if you need to. If there are multiple people on the wifi at one time this can also impact speed.
Or, check out Circles.Life to help up your speed game. Our 100GB $30 per month limited edition Big Freeze offer, is perfect for gamers. It’s only available until 31st August, so you better get in quick.
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^Roll over your unused base data monthly and build up to a massive 500GB. Data will not expire while plan remains the same, but may be lost if plan is upgraded or downgraded. On selected plans only. T&Cs apply.
Switch to Australia’s Most Trusted Mobile Plan Provider
Offer ends in
00
day
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hr
00
min
00
sec
*All for use in Australia. Personal use only and not a broadband replacement. Plans auto renew every month. T&Cs apply, refer to our Critical Information Summaries.
^^Offer ends 01/04/2024 at 15:00 AEDT. T&Cs apply.
**Additional IDD Allowance means an additional 3,000 minutes of International Direct Dial (IDD) voice minutes (in total) per billing month for calls from Australia to the following countries: Bangladesh, Canada, China, Denmark, France, Germany, Greece, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Japan, Malaysia, New Zealand, Pakistan, Philippines, Singapore, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Taiwan, Thailand, United Kingdom, USA and Vietnam. T&Cs apply.
***Purchase our $45/month or $55/month plan receive a $50 Prezzee voucher after your fourth full month with us on the same plan, redeemable at prezzee.com.au. Offer ends 01/04/2024. On eligible plans only. Not redeemable for cash. T&Cs apply.
^Roll over your unused base data monthly and build up to a massive 500GB. Data will not expire while plan remains the same, but may be lost if plan is upgraded or downgraded. On selected plans only. T&Cs apply.
Circles.Life
2022-08-01
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Acknowledgement of Country | Circles.Life acknowledges and pays respect to the past, present and future Traditional Custodians and Elders of this land where we work and live. We celebrate stories, culture and traditions of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Elders of all communities who also work and live on this land.
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