For online gamers, high ping times and lagging connections that cause delays in gameplay are incredibly frustrating. But what exactly causes this lag – is it solely based on internet speeds?

A question that competitive players frequently ask is, “Does faster internet mean lower ping?”

Yes, faster internet speeds generally translate to reduced ping times and latency. This is because quicker bandwidth and data transfer rates enable packets to travel faster to game servers, resulting in less lag.

However, there are some nuances to this – geographical factors like distance to servers and network conditions like congestion also impact ping.

This article explores the relationship between internet speeds like bandwidth and latency metrics like ping in depth. Read on to learn what makes an online gaming connection truly fast and responsive.

What Does Ping Mean?

The short answer is – “Ping is basically a signal that your computer sends out to the internet, which is then received by another computer that sends a signal back in return. The time taken for the signal to go back and forth is measured in milliseconds (ms).”

Typically, a ping of less than 20 ms is considered to be a low ping. Whereas, a ping between 50 ms to 100 ms is average. And a ping of more than 150 ms is deemed to be high ping, which is undesirable by most gamers as it can affect performance and can cause lag.

For example, if you are playing a first-person shooter, real-time strategy, sports, racing, or any kind of multiplayer game, then having a high ping will lead to lag or delays, which can disrupt your experience, especially if you are playing a competitive game.

5 Factors That Affect the Amount of Ping

If you want to lower your ping, then here are a few things that you should keep your eye on.

1. Upload Speed

While it’s common for people to go with an internet service provider based on their offered download speed, if you are a professional gamer, then you should check the upload speed.

That is because upload speed determines the latency, response time, and overall online game performance more than download speed.

2. Connection Type

We recommend going for a wired connection instead of just using your WiFi while playing because wireless connections are a lot more prone to interference. This may cause your network to be inconsistent, which can lead to high ping. Also, if you do decide to use wired internet, make sure to get an optical fiber connection.

3. Location

The amount of distance between your PC and the server you are playing on has a huge impact on the amount of ping. The larger the distance, the higher the ping will be.

Hence, choose servers that are relatively closer to you geographically. For instance, if you are from a European country, try playing on EU servers instead of Asian servers to get the lowest ping.

4. Router

Sometimes, the main culprit for high ping can turn out to be your router. If you are using a very old router and have a bunch of devices connected to it at all times, then having a high ping shouldn’t come as a surprise. Upgrade your router to get a better ping if this is the case.

5. Line Quality

It’s also important to take into account who you are taking your internet connection from. Check reviews and see what customers are saying about your chosen internet provider. Getting a 25 Mbps line from a reputed ISP will likely give you a lower ping than taking a line with the same speed from a poorly reviewed ISP.

Final Verdict

When people talk about getting a faster internet connection, in most cases, they are only increasing their download speed. But this does not take into account the quality of the line, the location of the server, the type of connection they are using, etc. Hence, only asking your ISP to increase your internet speed is not going to be enough to lower the amount of ping during gameplay.