Your IP:
Your Location:
Your Status:
VeePN Blog VeePN Blog
  • Apps
    • All Apps
    • Windows
    • Mac
    • Linux
    • iOS
    • Android
    • Smart TV
    • Fire TV
    • Andriod TV
    • Apple TV
    • Router
    • Xbox
    • PlayStation
    • Chrome
    • Firefox
    • Edge
  • Features
    • All Features
    • VPN Servers
    • Double VPN
    • No Log VPN
    • Kill Switch
    • NetGuard
    • Extra Features
  • What is VPN?
    • How does a VPN work?
    • Access Content
    • Unblock Websites
    • VPN for Gaming
    • Streaming Media
    • Streaming Music
    • VPN for Netflix
    • Internet Privacy
    • Anonymous IP
    • Conceal Identity
    • Prevent Tracking
    • Save Money
    • Online Security
    • VPN Encryption
    • What’s my IP
    • Hide your IP
  • Pricing
  • Help
Get VeePN
Get VeePN
Digital identity Safe surfing Mobile security Wireless security Big brother
More categories
Good to know Online threats Entertainment Hackerwatch Cryptocurrency
Digital identity Safe surfing
More
Mobile security Wireless security Big brother Good to know Online threats Entertainment Hackerwatch Cryptocurrency
Digital identity Safe surfing Mobile security Wireless security Big brother Good to know Online threats Entertainment Hackerwatch Cryptocurrency
Search
Blog Entertainment

What Is a Good Internet Speed for Gaming? (Tips on How to Reduce Lag)

VeePN Research Lab
March 9, 2023
Entertainment
7 min read
What Is a Good Internet Speed for Gaming? (Tips on How to Reduce Lag)

Secure your digital life with VeePN

  • Privacy on any Wi-Fi
  • Unlimited bandwidth
  • One account, 10 devices
  • 2 500+ servers in 89 locations
Get VeePN Now
Quick Navigation
1. Internet connection speed: The basics
2. What is a good Internet connection speed?
3. Ideal Internet speed for gaming
4. Tips to reduce lags in gaming
5. FAQs

Lags. Everything freezing up. This must be a nightmare for gamers. To keep yourself on track and win that game, it’s crucial to know the best Internet speed. And knowing how to decrease lag surely wouldn’t hurt, too. Read along to find out what connection speeds are great for gaming to not let your rivals take hold. Let’s go!  

Internet connection speed: The basics

Before we get into the nitty gritty, let’s clear up some terms first. 

  1. Mbps — or megabits per second — with it, we measure how much information flows to and from the web every second. The higher the number, the more you can either upload or download.
  2. Download speed — shows how many Mbps it takes to get data onto your device from a server elsewhere. For example, listening to music on Spotify or streaming shows on Netflix requires downloading data.
  3. Upload speed — indicates how many Mbps you can send from your device to another one or to a server on the web. This includes emailing, taking part in multiplayer games, making video calls. To send data elsewhere you need fast upload speed.
  4. Latency — the time between action and response — tells you how long it takes for data to go from your device to the gaming server and then back again to your system. Low latency is a must for online games.
  5. Ping — it’s how we measure latency milliseconds (ms). Ping tells you how long it takes for your device to respond to a request from the game server. Let’s say, for example, you have a ping rate of 200ms and you’re playing a game. When you tap a button on your keyboard to complete some action, it will take 200 milliseconds for you to see it happen on screen. Unlike download and upload speeds, a low ping is better as data is being sent quicker. 
  6. Lag — is caused by high ping rates. Slow speeds and delays are lag in action. 

What is a good Internet connection speed? 

Here’s what speeds are considered good for common deeds. 

what is a good Internet connection speed?

We see that the greater the speeds are, the more traffic-intensive tasks you can do while online. 

Ideal Internet speed for gaming 

But now, let’s get to gaming — that is, figure out the recommended download and upload speeds on different consoles. All gaming consoles aren’t manufactured equal and differ in terms of recommended speeds for online games. To slay in a game with no lags, you should know your system’s precise requirements. Based on the gaming console you have, here’s the minimal and recommended connection speeds for each popular gaming device. 

What are good connection speeds on different gaming consoles

Swift online gaming also depends on the Internet use in your household. For example, if your household consists of 4 people, and each of them stream or game a lot, your bandwidth has to multiply accordingly. And if several people are engaged in traffic-intensive activities at the same time — for example, one is downloading a huge file while the other is playing Call of Duty — your ping will grow.

But when you’re using a PC or Mac for gaming, the Internet speed should be somewhat different.  

Here’s a good connection speed for PC or Mac:

what are good connection speeds for PC or Mac?

Note: Please note that these numbers are based on general guidelines. Your gaming experience may be different depending on the device you have and the game you’re playing.

If your Internet connection hits the above speeds, you should be able to play online without any lags.

What connection speed do you need for different game types?

what are good connection speeds for different types of games?

The types of games you play can affect Internet speed requirements, too. For some games, if your connection is sluggish even for a mere second, other players may get you before you can get them. So, to dominate in these competitive games, you should go beyond the bare minimum of your Internet plan requirements.

Your Internet plan allows for a good speed but you still come across lags while gaming? We know a couple of solutions. 

Tips to reduce lags in gaming 

 Whether you’re conquering Minecraft or rising to fame in Call of Duty, lags can be a real deal breaker. So, here’s how to reduce lags and enjoy your favorite game.

Turn off other devices or downloads on your network

The first thing in helping reduce lags would be to minimize load within your network, which can come from other devices. In this case, you should cut any ongoing downloads and turn off devices that are taking away bandwidth. A good idea would also be to see if there are any current in-game downloads running in the background.

Use a wired connection

An Ethernet cable usually provides a faster and stable connection, since wireless connections can create added delay. Plug the Ethernet cable into your device directly to enjoy a more responsive connection with less latency. 

Secure your Wi-Fi 

Change a password to your network and limit access to it to prevent someone from piggybacking on your Wi-Fi and taking away your Internet.

Use online game servers closest to you

The physical distance between a player and gaming server affects the gaming experience, too. The closer you are to the server, the lower the latency. Since most online games provide regional servers to cater to players globally, use a server nearby. If you can’t, we know just a way to change your virtual location — connecting to a virtual private network (VPN). 

Use a VPN 

VPNs are bound to slow down your connection a bit, as it takes time to encrypt data. But this slowdown is practically invisible with modern VPNs. In fact, they can even boost your speed in some cases. By changing your IP address and encrypting all of your Internet traffic, a VPN helps you to: 

  1. Switch to another virtual location. Just choose the closest server to your actual location and enjoy an improved gaming experience.  
  2. Avoid Internet throttling. Your Internet service provider (ISP) may slow down your speed based on your online activity. This can potentially include gaming sessions. A VPN can prevent bandwidth throttling by hiding your online activity from your ISP. Which means no one can deliberately slow you down. 

A reliable VPN for gaming like VeePN will do the job. With 2,500+ servers in 89 locations in 60 countries which can be easily switched, you can pick the closest server to you and change your virtual whereabouts in an instant. You can also set up the app on your router to secure the traffic on all your home devices. With a new anonymous IP address and your data protected by next-gen AES-256 encryption, you’re free from the prying eyes of your ISP and all other third parties that may be snooping around. Give VeePN a try to keep your scores and achievements rock solid. Forget about lags with a hassle-free connection. 

FAQs

Is 100 Mbps fast good for gaming?

Yes, 100 Mbps is a solid speed for gaming online. A lot of online games you can play online will also work well even when you have a slower connection.

Is 1000 Mbps fast for gaming?

1000Mbps is considered a blazing connection speed. It works great when you have several devices connected within your home network, where each is engaged in a traffic-intensive activity online, like playing a game or streaming in 4K.  

Is 500 Mbps fast for gaming?

Totally. In fact, any speed over 50 Mbps is perfectly suitable for traffic-intensive activities, like gaming, streaming, or downloading huge files. 

Knowledge is power, VeePN is freedom
Get VeePN Now
30-day money-back guarantee
Keep your personal data private.
Protect yourself with VeePN
Get VeePN Now Learn More
Written by VeePN Research Lab VeePN Research Lab is dedicated to provide you latest posts about internet security and privacy.
Related Posts
What Is Online Privacy: Definition, Tips, Issues
What Is Online Privacy: Definition, Tips, Issues
Digital identity 14 min read

What Is Online Privacy: Definition, Tips, Issues

Do you really care about your online privacy? If the answer is “not so much,” you may just be unaware of all those snoopers, hackers, and other third parties trying to collect and compromise your personal data on the web – maybe even at this very moment. So read along to learn what Internet privacy is and how to enhance it.

VeePN Research Lab
March 23
How to Fix “ChatGPT Is at Capacity Right Now” Error With a VPN (And Other Methods)
How to Fix “ChatGPT Is at Capacity Right Now” Error With a VPN (And Other Methods)
Good to know 9 min read

How to Fix “ChatGPT Is at Capacity Right Now” Error With a VPN (And Other Methods)

Looks like you tried to use ChatGPT and got an error message saying “ChatGPT is at capacity right now”, huh? Welcome to the team then. This error means that there are too many requests, and ChatGPT is temporarily unable to handle any new ones. But that doesn’t mean all fun is lost — we know some workarounds!

VeePN Research Lab
March 22
VPN by Google One: Is It Better Than Other VPN Services or Not?
VPN by Google One: Is It Better Than Other VPN Services or Not?
Safe surfing 8 min read

VPN by Google One: Is It Better Than Other VPN Services or Not?

Google and privacy. An oxymoron, knowing it’s well, Google? Maybe. Still, it’s making efforts to expand its VPN footprint. Recently Google One VPN became available for all its Google One cloud-storage subscribers. It’s also available for all major operating systems — Android, iOS, Windows, and Mac. But is this fledgling VPN a solid alternative to some experienced providers? Let’s find out.

VeePN Research Lab
March 21
© 2023 VeePN. All Rights Reserved.