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I’ve often found myself in situations where optimal network performance is non-negotiable, especially for gaming. If you’re fed up with lags, high ping, and latency issues while gaming on your PS5 or Xbox Series X, you’re not alone. These issues can disrupt not just your gameplay but your overall gaming experience. Luckily, several strategies can effectively tackle these woes.
In the UK, our broadband speeds are finally getting decent (depending on location). Many people now have access to 500Mbps or even synchronous 1Gbps connections. However, if your home network is reliant on Wi-Fi, it can be difficult to make the most of these speeds.
If you are forced to use Wi-Fi on a console or gaming PC, this can often introduce various issues while gaming online, often referred to lag. This is a catch-all term for high pings and latency.
Furthermore, most AAA games are now absolutely gigantic. Call of Duty caused a stir this year when it was revealed the install size of the game was 95GB on older consoles, 135GB on next-gen consoles and up to 250GB for the PC.
Many people like to question the need for gigabit Internet, but with the popularity of gaming and limited local storage, gaming downloads are one of the best arguments for it.
So, you have your PS5, a gigabit connection, but how do you make the most of it?
Playstation 5 and XBox Series X Wi-Fi Specification (TLDR the Xbox is Wi-Fi 5 only)
I am a PC gamer, so I have not upgraded to next-gen consoles yet. However, the PS5 and Xbox have quite different specs.
Wi-Fi is surprisingly confusing, made worse by the way it is marketed.
Intel themselves state:
Wi-Fi 6 is capable of a maximum throughput of 9.6 Gbps across multiple channels, compared to 3.5 Gbps on Wi-Fi 5.
But you won’t achieve that. That’s the theoretical maximum throughput possible using two 5Ghz channels. So, multiple users can push through that much data through a router, but a single user could never achieve that.
Sony doesn’t advertise detailed specs, but it appears they support Wi-Fi 6 using 2×2 with an 80Mhz channel width. You don’t need to understand that terminology, but it means it can theoretically achieve 1200Mbps.
The Xbox Series X uses the older Wi-Fi 5 standard, and I would assume t is also 2×2 at 80Mhz, which then limits the speed to 866Mbps.
How to improve your Internet connection to your PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, and PC
Wired Connection
| Preview | Product | Rating | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Veetop 30m/98ft Flat CAT7 High Speed 10Gbps RJ45 Cat 7... |
£36.99 | Buy on Amazon |
Completely ignoring the title of this post, but wiring up your console to the router is 100% the best solution. If there is any possibility to do this, this is what I would strongly encourage. It should be a cheap solution, too.
If you have to be a little creative with your cabling, that’s fine. I used to run ethernet under the carpet. I know others that run it up the edges and across walls. With this option, you can paint over the cable to make it as discrete as possible.
There are also ultra-slim or flat cables you can use.
The Ugreen ultra slim is one option I used, but it only goes up to 10 metres. You can buy it from Amazon here.
Flat Ethernet cable is good for running under carpets and comes in sizes up to 50M.
Ethernet will not only be the best option but the cheapest. Just get permission from whoever you live with first. Partners or parents may not be so eager for this solution.
Router Placement
The location of your router plays a crucial role in signal strength. A centrally located router is generally more effective. Avoid placing it near walls, metal objects, or other electronic devices that may interfere with the signal.
Use the Right Frequency Band
Modern routers offer dual-band or even tri-band options, giving you a choice between 2.4GHz and 5GHz bands. Generally, the 5GHz band is faster and less congested but has a shorter range. On the other hand, the 2.4GHz band may be slower but offers a broader range. For gaming, 5GHz is usually the better option if you’re close enough to the router.
Opt for Gaming Mode
Some routers come with a gaming mode that optimises settings for a better gaming experience automatically. If your router has this feature, make sure it’s enabled.
Tweak QoS Settings
Quality of Service (QoS) settings allow you to prioritise specific types of traffic over others. Set your gaming console as a priority to ensure it gets the most bandwidth.
Disable Other Bandwidth-Hungry Applications
If others in your household are streaming 4K videos or downloading large files, it can affect your gaming performance. Coordinate with your housemates to ensure that heavy internet usage is restricted during your gaming sessions.
Power Line Adaptors
| Preview | Product | Rating | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NETGEAR PLP1000-100UKS 1 Port, 1000 Mbps, 1 Gigabit Port... |
£109.90 | Buy on Amazon | |
| TP-Link TL-PA8033PKIT AV1300 3-Port Gigabit Passthrough 2x2... |
£69.99 | Buy on Amazon |
This one can be a bit hit or miss. If it works, it works really well. Powerline adaptors are plug sockets which turn your home electrical wiring into data cables. If the quality of your home wiring is good, it can often provide superior and more stable speeds than Wi-Fi.
I’d advise buying from someone like Amazon for easy returns if it does not work the way you would like.
Wi-Fi 6 Routers for smaller homes or consoles near the router
If you live in a smaller house, or your console or PC is relatively close to the main router (and you can’t wire it up), then a Wi-Fi 6 router is the best solution (for PS5 & PC).
If you are a hardcore online gamer, then the Netgear Nighthawk Pro Gaming XR1000 is a superb option, not only does this have Wi-Fi 6, but the router has a specialist operating system geared for gamers. Within the settings, you can filter out gaming servers or players that are not near you or have a high ping.
| Preview | Product | Rating | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NETGEAR Nighthawk Pro Gaming 6-Stream WiFi 6 Router (XR1000)... |
£155.61 | Buy on Amazon |
Alternatively, if you want the best Wi-Fi 6 speeds possible regardless of devices, and/or you have a lot of people using Wi-Fi in the house, then the TP-Link Archer AX11000 or Netgear Nighthawk RAX200 offer the highest throughput possible for Wi-Fi 6.
| Preview | Product | Rating | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| TP-Link Next-Gen WIFI 6 Gigabit Tri-Band Wireless Cable... |
£279.00 | Buy on Amazon | |
| NETGEAR Nighthawk Wifi 6 Router (RAX200) | AX11000 Tri-Band... | £234.06 | Buy on Amazon |
These are tri-band Wi-Fi 6 routers which will accommodate more users at maximum speeds at once; they also have multi-gig Ethernet ports so they can transfer data at over gigabit speeds to Wi-Fi 6 equipped PCs.
Xbox users can still use Wi-Fi 6 routers, but you will be limited to the Wi-Fi 5 speeds, so you could save money by opting for more affordable Wi-Fi 5 routers. The older Nighthawk Pro Gaming XR500 offers similar features to the previously recommended XR1000 but for around £100 less.
| Preview | Product | Rating | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NETGEAR Nighthawk Pro Gaming XR500 Wi-Fi Router with 4... | £129.99 | Buy on Amazon |
Wi-Fi 6 Mesh System for larger homes or when far from the router
A Wi-Fi 6 Mesh System is a Wi-Fi 6 router, but with additional satellite devices that you can place strategically around your home. You will have to plug them into the power, but apart from that, no wires are needed for the satellites, they transmit data back to the main router over what they call a backhaul channel.
If you want the best speeds possible on Wi-Fi 6, then it is not a very cheap solution. Sorry about that. Because they use one of the Wi-Fi bands as a backhaul channel, you ideally want a triband system; this will give you the two normal bands available to your devices, plus the third band, which acts as a backhaul channel.
The more affordable dual-band Wi-Fi mesh systems share a channel between the client devices, such as the PS5 and the router. This effectively halves your speed.
I have not tested it yet, but the Netgear Orbi RBK752 looks to be one of the best choices on the market. It is a little bit more wallet-friendly than the Orbi RBK852 I previously reviewed.
| Preview | Product | Rating | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NETGEAR RBK752, RBK762S New Model |
£553.80 | Buy on Amazon |
I have also not reviewed this one, but the Asus ZenWiFi AX XT8 is a touch cheaper and well-reviewed.
| Preview | Product | Rating | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ASUS ZenWiFi AX Whole-Home Tri-Band Mesh WiFi 6 System(XT8),... | 2,358 Reviews |
£329.99 | Buy on Amazon |
For dual-band systems are good if you can locate the router in the most important place in the house, allowing your devices to connect at the same super-fast speeds as the above recommendation via the main router. Then the satellites still offer good speed, just not as good.
The Netgear MK63 is a three-piece system and is often one of the cheapest available. The two-pack dropped to £160 on Black Friday, so it is worth looking out for sales.
The TP-Link Deco X20 is a good alternative option for a similar price. I have not reviewed that one, but the TP-Link Deco X60 was good.
| Preview | Product | Rating | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NETGEAR MK63-100UKS | £299.99 | Buy on Amazon | |
| TP-Link Deco X20 AX1800 Whole Home Mesh Wi-Fi 6 System,... |
£179.99 | Buy on Amazon |
Wi-Fi 5 Tri-Band Mesh System – Good for the Xbox or an alternative to dual-band Wi-Fi 6
Tri-band Wi-Fi 6 mesh systems are still incredibly expensive, and for many, it may be more than you need.
Opting for the older Wi-Fi 5 standard is a little more wallet-friendly. The excellent Netgear RBK23 (three pack) is under £300, or a new contender to the market is the TaoTronics Mesh Wi-Fi Router (two pack) for well under £200 on Amazon
| Preview | Product | Rating | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NETGEAR RBK23-100UKS | Buy on Amazon |
Bonus Tip For PC Users: You may need to upgrade your PC with Wi-Fi 6
Most PCs don’t come with Wi-Fi out of the box, and if you are already using Wi-Fi and you PC is over a year old there is a good chance it is using the older, slower Wi-Fi 5.
At the moment, I am not aware of any USB Wi-Fi dongle that offers Wi-Fi 6, so if you are on a desktop PC, you will need to open it up to install an adapter. It is an easy process.
I now have a motherboard with Wi-Fi 6 built-in, but previously I was using the Fenvi PCIe Wi-Fi card, the aerial on the cable should give you a bit of flexibility to try and get the best signal.
With W-Fi 6 on the PC, if you have a router that supports it, you should be able to connect with 2×2 on 160Mhz, offering 2400Mbps. When connecting at this speed, and using a multi-gig port, I have seen transfer speeds over 180MB/s or around 1500Mbps
| Preview | Product | Rating | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gigabyte , GC-WBAX200 , GC-WBAX200 Dual-Band WiFi 6 2x2 MIMO... | £43.16 | Buy on Amazon | |
| Ziyituod WiFi 6 Card, 3000Mbps Wireless Adapter with... | Buy on Amazon |
Ping Differences between Wired, Wi-Fi 6 and Wi-Fi 5
I am writing a separate post about the differences with ping speeds between wired and Wi-Fi 6. However, a quick overview:
The British Esports Association states an acceptable ping is around the 40ms-60ms mark or lower. A speed of over 100ms shows a noticeable delay, and over 170 some games will reject your connection entirely.
If you have, say a 10ms ping (0.01 seconds), your gameplay will seem faster and smoother than playing with 100ms, for example.
During my testing, as you would expect, there is a difference in ping between wired and wireless.
Testing with a server close by, all my pings were well within acceptable speeds regardless of how I connected. To the point where most of us would not notice any difference. However, the difference could add up the further away the server is.
A wired connection provided me a 14.4% faster ping on average than Wi-Fi 6 with 10.1ms vs 11.8ms
Wi-fi 5 was 22% slower at 13ms.
The max ping is also important and could cause intermittent issues while gaming. For wired, it was 16ms, which was 20% faster than the 20ms of Wi-Fi 6.
This rose to a 48% difference when comparing the wired and Wi-Fi 5 ping of 31ms.
So, if you do use Wi-Fi for gaming, a Wi-Fi 6 router will offer the lowest pings.
I am James, a UK-based tech enthusiast and the Editor and Owner of Mighty Gadget, which I’ve proudly run since 2007. Passionate about all things technology, my expertise spans from computers and networking to mobile, wearables, and smart home devices.
As a fitness fanatic who loves running and cycling, I also have a keen interest in fitness-related technology, and I take every opportunity to cover this niche on my blog. My diverse interests allow me to bring a unique perspective to tech blogging, merging lifestyle, fitness, and the latest tech trends.
In my academic pursuits, I earned a BSc in Information Systems Design from UCLAN, before advancing my learning with a Master’s Degree in Computing. This advanced study also included Cisco CCNA accreditation, further demonstrating my commitment to understanding and staying ahead of the technology curve.
I’m proud to share that Vuelio has consistently ranked Mighty Gadget as one of the top technology blogs in the UK. With my dedication to technology and drive to share my insights, I aim to continue providing my readers with engaging and informative content.
Last update on 2024-04-18 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
