Still using WiFi for gaming?

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michaelmurfy

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Topic # 201398 16-Aug-2016 23:02

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Just a trend I keep seeing is people using WiFi for online gaming and wondering why they/their ISP sucks. Here are the things I've heard:

1) WiFi doesn't have the resistance of copper to hold it back meaning my ping is awesome.
-- I want to replace my Ethernet with Wireless because then the signal doesn't have to travel through wires and will make everything faster. Physics bro. (no, not kidding, I smacked my head against the nearest wall).
2) I've got a gaming router - it is awesome for gaming but my ISP keeps lagging me out.
3) My provider gives me a crappy router for gaming. I can't get a full signal from the other end of the house.
4) I got one of those $10 WiFi dongles but my gaming still sucks.

If you're banging your head against the desk then you're not alone. I hear these so often I've lost count. Here is something a friend shared to me showing the top players on LoL (League of Legends) vs their connection type:

Now if you're using WiFi to game then you're a complete n00b. I'm sorry, there is no better way to say it. Switch to Ethernet and stop trying to find an excuse to keep using WiFi. I'll conclude this with one of my favorite xkcd comics:

Michael Murphy | https://murfy.nz
A quick guide to picking the right ISP | The Router Guide | Community UniFi Cloud Controller | Ubiquiti Edgerouter Tutorial

tdgeek

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Reply # 1612901 16-Aug-2016 23:42

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Quite funny. They need to use a repeater from their modem, then connect the repeater to their gaming rig by FIBRE to really maximise it. Fibre is the way to go....

lNomNoml

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Reply # 1612906 17-Aug-2016 00:49

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People game on WIFI? Fascinating

Help me by buying one of my classifieds so I can become a Geekzone Supporter.

hashbrown

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Reply # 1612938 17-Aug-2016 07:34

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But Ethernet is only 1000Mbit/s. My overpriced wifi router does 1900Mbit/s. It also has a name that sounds like a Lynx deodorant and looks like a spaceship, so it must be good.

ludez

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Reply # 1612951 17-Aug-2016 07:40

Alot of gamers have no choice but to use wifi, so I feel that's a bit harsh.

Behodar

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Reply # 1612952 17-Aug-2016 07:46

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ludez: Alot of gamers have no choice but to use wifi, so I feel that's a bit harsh.

How does an alot manage to use the mouse and keyboard?

1101

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Reply # 1613253 17-Aug-2016 14:31

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michaelmurfy:

Just a trend I keep seeing is people using WiFi for online gaming and wondering why they/their ISP sucks. Here are the things I've heard:

I'll add

5) " but my friends down the road dont have issues with their wifi "

~ somehow wifi is expected to go through 3 stories or 6 walls and still be 100% reliable

ludez

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Reply # 1613254 17-Aug-2016 14:32

Behodar:

ludez: Alot of gamers have no choice but to use wifi, so I feel that's a bit harsh.

How does an alot manage to use the mouse and keyboard?

Through wifi :)

I should also say while it was harsh they are still noobs

Crowdie

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Reply # 1613459 17-Aug-2016 21:21

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I find it somewhat ironic that in a forum where 95% of posts are from so called "n00bs" (who was the idiot that thought of that term?) people are being belittled for being "n00bs". Rather than belittling people who are just less experienced in that particular field or technology how about showing your superior knowledge by writing an article, how to guide, etc.

michaelmurfy

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Reply # 1613463 17-Aug-2016 21:24

@ludez @Crowdie there are other options other than using WiFi such as powerline adapters but yes I was referring to people in "gamer" terms.

Michael Murphy | https://murfy.nz
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Crowdie

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Reply # 1613466 17-Aug-2016 21:31

I have always hated that term as so called "n00bs" are just beginners and every "expert" started out as a beginner.

michaelmurfy

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Reply # 1613473 17-Aug-2016 21:47

Crowdie:

I have always hated that term as so called "n00bs" are just beginners and every "expert" started out as a beginner.

Yes you have a good point here but I am saying even the most "l33t" gamers can be better again by not using WiFi for online gaming :)

Michael Murphy | https://murfy.nz
A quick guide to picking the right ISP | The Router Guide | Community UniFi Cloud Controller | Ubiquiti Edgerouter Tutorial

darylblake

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Reply # 1613494 17-Aug-2016 22:45

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So 13% of master gamers are actually Rookie Muppets who game on WiFi.

If you want to game just buy a desktop and put windows on it (Unless you are a console gamer, in which case console + ethernet cable), with no wireless bridge back to your modem. I have years gaming on Linux (since ~2003) and I can tell you its just a massive waste of time. For gaming windows is the best operating system period.

If you game on a laptop, then either you have an very expensive laptop, or you are not particularly interested in reducing input lag or viewing nice graphics in new titles. In addition to this if you are gaming on a laptop then you probably are one of the 13% who get sore wrists from using the laptops keyboard and you will more often than not be gaming on wifi. Even a $500 PC will probably provide a better gaming experience than a laptop. And I know this because I was playing some games on a HP 17" notebook until I decided it was too slow and I wanted something more decent. Built a cheap desktop with a second hand GTX780 and the games look amazing well over 60 FPS even at 1440p.

Yeh Mike, they all suck at gaming if they are using the WiFi. They are probably only getting 30 FPS too on a Gsync 144Hz monitor.

And to be honest ISP's make very little difference to gaming experience, provided they are not dropping packets. Unless you are gaming on a server far away, in which case the AS# that the ISP has chosen to Peer with will make a small difference, by routing traffic across different networks to its destination. If it travels across a busy network there is the potential for packet loss, so some of this is actually out of control of your ISP. But if your a gamer in NZ and Australia and you play on a NZ or Australian Server (most Aussie servers are in Sydney, AWS, Azure or Next DC or Equinix based), there is also some Azure DC's in Melbourne. Then you should be happy with about a < 35ms ping on Fibre, perhaps <40-50ms on DSL copper and you live in the wops.

My pings from home to Overwatch (AWS) are 28ms on VDSL, 24ms of that is from Auckland to Sydney.

hio77

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Reply # 1613507 17-Aug-2016 23:55

darylblake:

So 13% of master gamers are actually Rookie Muppets who game on WiFi.

If you want to game just buy a desktop and put windows on it (Unless you are a console gamer, in which case console + ethernet cable), with no wireless bridge back to your modem. I have years gaming on Linux (since ~2003) and I can tell you its just a massive waste of time. For gaming windows is the best operating system period.

If you game on a laptop, then either you have an very expensive laptop, or you are not particularly interested in reducing input lag or viewing nice graphics in new titles. In addition to this if you are gaming on a laptop then you probably are one of the 13% who get sore wrists from using the laptops keyboard and you will more often than not be gaming on wifi. Even a $500 PC will probably provide a better gaming experience than a laptop. And I know this because I was playing some games on a HP 17" notebook until I decided it was too slow and I wanted something more decent. Built a cheap desktop with a second hand GTX780 and the games look amazing well over 60 FPS even at 1440p.

Yeh Mike, they all suck at gaming if they are using the WiFi. They are probably only getting 30 FPS too on a Gsync 144Hz monitor.

And to be honest ISP's make very little difference to gaming experience, provided they are not dropping packets. Unless you are gaming on a server far away, in which case the AS# that the ISP has chosen to Peer with will make a small difference, by routing traffic across different networks to its destination. If it travels across a busy network there is the potential for packet loss, so some of this is actually out of control of your ISP. But if your a gamer in NZ and Australia and you play on a NZ or Australian Server (most Aussie servers are in Sydney, AWS, Azure or Next DC or Equinix based), there is also some Azure DC's in Melbourne. Then you should be happy with about a < 35ms ping on Fibre, perhaps <40-50ms on DSL copper and you live in the wops.

My pings from home to Overwatch (AWS) are 28ms on VDSL, 24ms of that is from Auckland to Sydney.

Remember to account for input lag of going over 144hz on gsync too.

Personally, after going to 144hz dropping down to even 90 fps is enough to annoy me something cronic, it feels unplayable.

taken a long time to perfect my queuing to be bearable for packetloss and spikes from other users..

When i was on VDSL, the difference between DLM-1 and DLM-2 was painful on the latency.

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