Network latency is critical for online activities such as gaming, video calls, and making Internet phone calls, as it directly affects the overall performance of Internet service. But, no one appreciated lightning fast Internet and low latency more than gamers.
When you’re in the midst of an intense match, every millisecond counts. But your lightning-fast reflexes don’t do much good if your Internet connection can’t keep up! In today’s blog, we’re talking about the secret sauce for a flawless online gaming experience: low ping and latency.
Spoiler alert: You’re about to discover why gamers prefer Fiber Internet to power their fun!
What Is Latency?
Let’s begin with some basic definitions, as both latency and ping are terms that are fairly technical. Latency and ping are often used interchangeably, but they’re actually separate (though related) concepts.
First, latency is the amount of time (measured in milliseconds, or “ms” for short) it takes for Internet data and information (i.e., a “data packet”) to be sent back-and-forth from one designated point to another.
To put it in gaming terms, latency refers to the total time it takes anything a gamer “inputs” while playing a game on his or her device (and Internet) to be received by the game’s server and returned back to the gamer’s device. In Fortnite, for example, that could be a command for a character to run in a particular direction or use a skill.
Those commands (or inputs) are sent from a player’s device and Internet to Fortnite’s servers and then returned to the player’s home Internet and device on the screen. What matters is just how fast that happens, and if there is any delay.
Low Latency vs and High Latency
To reiterate, the measure of the time that round-trip of gaming data takes is called round trip latency — and the shorter amount of time that trip takes, the better! Gamers need the response time of their own inputs and the game’s servers’ responses to those inputs in return to be as short as possible — even undetectable by the user.
This refers to “low latency,” which gamers (and other savvy Internet users) value highly. The lower the latency, the faster the response time — and the better the experience for players. Typically, gamers will want latency to be 50ms or less. Ideally, however, 20ms or less is the sweet spot, with single digit latency being the “Holy Grail” for dedicated gamers.
On the other hand, “high latency,” which refers to longer, even delayed responses to a gamer’s inputs, can be deeply frustrating and lead to dismal user experiences. Gamers will notice problems when latency exceeds 100ms (or to some particularly-discerning players, even when latency is higher than 50ms). Games will be practically unplayable when latency is higher than 200ms.
That’s why gamers must always consider an Internet connection’s latency to perfect their play. And measuring that latency is where ping comes into play!
What Is Ping?
We now turn to ping, which can refer to two ideas in computing. But remember, it’s common to use the terms ping and latency interchangeably. So, first, in common parlance, ping can, like latency, refer to the delay of travel time of data being sent over an Internet connection (sometimes called “lag”).
However, there is a second use of ping that is different but interrelated to latency. In that other context, ping also refers to a utility program on Internet-connected devices that sends out a signal to measure the length of time it takes for a user’s device to hit (or “ping”) a server.
You’ve probably heard that you should “test your ping.” Well, testing ping involves using that built-in utility to measure the response time and even diagnose any network connectivity problems. To keep things simple, ping is usually tested as part of a speed test to help you predict your latency during game-time.
We know these terms can sound redundant or even confusing. What’s important to remember, however, is that gamers will want low latency, low ping, and minimal lag for a better experience no matter what terms are used!
Don’t Forget About Jitter
Jitter, ping, and latency are all interconnected aspects of network performance, and together they can significantly impact the quality of your online gaming experience. Jitter refers to the variation in the time it takes for data packets to travel from their source to their destination over a network.
In simpler terms, it’s the inconsistency or fluctuation in latency. While latency is the overall delay, jitter measures how much this delay varies over time.
As we’ve discussed, in online gaming, low latency is crucial because online games require real-time communication between your device and the game server. When jitter is high, data packets might not arrive in the correct order or at consistent intervals.
This can result in unpredictable delays, causing stuttering, lag, or even disconnections during gameplay.
Using our Fortnite example again, jitter might cause your actions to register at different times, leading to delayed shots or erratic movement, which can significantly hinder your gaming performance. Low jitter is essential for a smooth and responsive gaming experience, especially in competitive online games where split-second decisions matter.
Why Gamers Need Fiber Internet
Having explained these terms, we next turn to why Fiber is simply the best technology for gamers to drastically minimize latency and ping, especially when paired with the right Internet service provider.
Compared to older forms of Internet like copper-wired coaxial cable, Fiber’s advanced materials can send data over an Internet connection at nearly the speed of light. That means that Fiber’s speeds routinely hit or exceed 1 gig per second (if on a 1 Gig speed plan)! And in general, the higher the download speed, the lower the latency.
But Fiber’s exceptional download and upload speeds are just the beginning. Fiber’s generous bandwidth also plays a role in improving latency and ping, as the greater the bandwidth capacity, the more information can be transmitted back-and-forth over a network connection at any one moment.
That allows more data to seamlessly transfer in fewer milliseconds, dramatically lowering latency and improving the response times gamers experience.
Do you have enough bandwidth?
When it comes to online gaming, having enough bandwidth is crucial for a smooth and responsive gaming experience.
Bandwidth, the maximum rate of data transfer across your Internet connection, directly affects how quickly your game communicates with the server and other players, and upload speeds are essential for reducing latency and improving performance during real-time data exchange.
Insufficient bandwidth can result in high latency, causing lag, delays, and an overall frustrating gaming experience.
Clearwave Fiber’s Fiber 1 Gig plan, with up to 1,000 Mbps upload and download speeds, is ideal for serious gamers who demand the best performance. This plan is perfect for those who play competitive online video games or stream their gameplay, as it offers more than enough bandwidth to handle multiple devices, HD downloads, and 4K streaming simultaneously.
Even if you are in a household with multiple users, this plan ensures that your gaming experience stays unaffected by other bandwidth-intensive activities.
Final Thoughts on Ping and Latency
If you’re ready to rid yourself of high latency and the delayed response times due to slower, inferior Internet from your current Internet provider, make the switch to Clearwave Fiber today. From 100 Mbps to 1 Gbps (and even 2 and 7 Gbps in select areas), there is a speed suitable for everyone, at unbelievable prices.
Third party apps, games, platforms mentioned here are for illustrative purposes only. Clearwave Fiber does not have an affiliation with any of these entities.
