If you’re an online gamer, you know you need a reliable high-speed internet connection. If you game with a slow cable internet connection, you may lose through no fault of your own. Let’s dig into what “gaming-fast internet speed” means and what to look for in a provider.

Why Internet Speed Matters for Gaming

Have you ever blamed your internet connection — or, more accurately, lag — for your poor gaming performance? You may not be wrong! If it happens frequently, it might be time to check that you’ve got enough speed to support your gaming system.

Choosing the right internet plan depends on your internet habits. What else are you doing online: work, school, video calls, streaming? How much time do you spend connected each day?

How many devices are connected at once? If you’ve only got one to two devices and you’re mainly sending emails and surfing the web, you’ll be able to use a lower speed.

But that’s not true for anyone asking the question, “What is a good internet speed for gaming?” — or anyone who hopes to improve their online gaming stats.

You may be wondering, what is the minimum internet speed for gaming you need? Recommended speeds for gaming vary but aim for at least 25 Mbps download and 5 Mbps upload at a minimum. Remember that this is only if you use your internet connection for gaming. If you or someone else is doing anything else, like live-stream gaming, you’ll need higher speeds.

Most internet plans focus on the download speed — how fast you can receive information from the internet. But you also need to consider upload speeds.

Upload speeds are how fast you can send information (including the movements and actions of your character in the game).

Traditionally, speeds have been asymmetrical, with download speeds being faster than upload. But upload speeds have become more important than ever because of the role they play in interactive situations like gaming with friends or on public servers.

So the real question might be: what is a good upload speed for gaming?

What is a Good Internet Speed for Gaming?

For intense multiplayer games, you’ll likely want to find a plan that offers at least 100 Mbps download speed. But depending on what the rest of your household is doing (like streaming or playing a game of their own), you’ll need more than that. Speeds up to 200, 300, and even 400 Mbps are all well-suited for gaming.

While you’re not required to have symmetrical upload and download speeds, it’s one way to get closer to victory. For instance, an upload speed of 5 Mbps isn’t ideal for gaming, but an upload speed of 200 Mbps can mean the difference between you clinching a win. Just remember, the faster the speed and more symmetrical, the better.

Choosing the Right Type of Internet for Gaming

Not all internet connections are built equally, especially when it comes to online gaming. Here’s a breakdown of your options and why some outperform others for gamers.

Fiber Internet – The Top Choice for Gamers

Fiber internet is the gold standard for gaming. Here’s why:

• Fastest Available Speeds: Fiber offers superior download and upload speeds, often symmetrical. For example, a 300 Mbps fiber plan ensures 300 Mbps for both downloading and uploading.
• Low Latency: Say goodbye to lag. Fiber provides the stable, low-latency performance essential for real-time gameplay.
• Dedicated Connection: Unlike cable, fiber connections aren’t shared with neighbors. You’ll get consistent speeds no matter how many people are online in your area.

Recommended Option: Check if EarthLink Fiber is available in your area for reliable, ultra-fast internet service.

Cable Internet – Good, but Shared

While cable internet delivers decent speeds, it comes with drawbacks for serious gamers:

• Shared Bandwidth: Speeds can dip during peak hours when others are online.
• Suitable Anywhere Fiber Isn’t Available: A solid option for casual gaming or areas without fiber access.

Satellite Internet – Not Recommended

Satellite internet is at the bottom of the list for gaming due to its limitations:

• High Latency: Expect delays ranging from 500–600 ms, making smooth online gameplay almost impossible.
• Low Upload Speeds: Speeds typically range from 5–20 Mbps, limiting responsiveness in multiplayer games.

Recommended only for rural areas without other options.

Wireless Home Internet – For Casual Gamers Only

This option works for light gaming but comes with restrictions:

• Data Caps: Many wireless plans throttle speeds after a certain data limit.
• Signal Stability: Performance can vary based on location and other household usage.

Best for suburban or semi-rural areas with light internet needs.

Fixed Wireless Internet – A Middle Ground

Fixed wireless uses microwave signals beamed from dedicated towers:

• Reliable for Casual Gaming: More stable than satellite and ideal for non-intensive gaming.
• Potential Data Caps: Be mindful of usage limits that could affect performance. Thankfully, EarthLink Business Fixed Wireless comes with unlimited data.

A good alternative where fiber or cable aren’t available, such as rural Midwest towns.

Different Connections for Different Games

Keep in mind these speeds only factor gaming in mind. If you’re going to do other tasks on the internet, like watching a movie, downloading an album, or video chatting with friends while gaming, you’ll need higher speeds.

Different consoles have different minimum required internet connections to run your favorite game. What will be enough for an Xbox One may not be the same for PC gaming. The minimum speed will also not always be enough to get the most out of your console. We’ve put together a helpful guide of the minimum download speeds required for the most popular gaming consoles.

How to Reduce Lag Time

Lag times are the Achilles heel of online gaming. A ping rate, or latency, is how much time your device needs to send signals to a server and receive a response back.

The lower it is, the better. An ideal ping rate is less than 50 milliseconds (shown as ms if you run a speed test). If you’re getting anything less than 100 ms, that’s average. If your ping rate is over 150 ms, you’re likely to experience problems.

When faced with high ping times, most games will process another player’s move first. If you’re playing a shooter game, that means your character could be on the ground before you realize you lost.

Looking for an internet gaming test? High Speed Options’ internet speed test can help you check your connection and beat lag. To learn more about the relationship between latency and gaming, check out our blog post.

Why You Should Avoid Data Caps

If you’re an avid gamer, you’ve probably already heard about internet data caps. To put it simply, data caps are a restriction on how much data you can send and receive online.

Once you reach your monthly limit, your internet service provider can either throttle you to lower speeds or hit you with a hefty fee. Most people who use the internet casually don’t usually reach these limits. However, if you enjoy playing live-stream games with friends or prefer high-quality graphics, you are more likely to reach the data limit.

You know high-speed internet is crucial for online gaming, so you want to avoid speed throttling. Your best bet? Choose a fiber internet provider with no data caps and no throttling.

If you want to play competitively or use the internet for hours on end in your home, fiber internet is your best option. Fiber internet has the lowest available ping times, the fastest upload and download speeds, and can support the most devices at once.

Bonus: Fiber uses a dedicated line, so it doesn’t matter if your whole apartment building is online at once. Your connection won’t be affected.

And if you don’t want to worry about needing to upgrade your speed in the future? Go for a 1 Gbps (or 1 Gig) plan. It’s the gold standard and helps future-proof your connection.

Now that you know how to choose the right high-speed internet plan, reduce lag times, and avoid data caps, your internet is more prepared for online gaming than ever. Ready to upgrade? Find out if EarthLink Fiber Internet is available near you today.

Why Gamers Love EarthLink

EarthLink provides gamers with reliable high-speed internet to support seamless online play, whether you enjoy fast-paced gameplays or immersive MMOs. Trusted by households across the U.S., EarthLink’s fiber plans deliver:

• Fast and Symmetrical Speeds: Boost your gaming and streaming with equal upload and download speeds.
• Stable Connections: A game-changing dedicated line so your neighbors’ activities won’t slow you down.
• No Data Caps: Game as much as you like without worrying about performance throttling.

From casual players to competitive streamers, EarthLink offers tailored internet solutions to minimize lag and maximize performance during critical gaming moments.

Tips to Improve Your Gaming Speed

You may be wondering; how do I improve my speeds without upgrading my data plan? There are a few things you can do to help optimize your current internet performance.

Hardwire your connection

By plugging your console directly into an ethernet connection, you reduce latency and lag in that can cause your gaming to suffer.

Move closer to your router

If you can’t plug directly into the ethernet port on your wall, the next best thing is to move your setup closer to your router. This can help improve your connection and reduce lag.

Update your router

If neither of these tips work, you may need to upgrade your router. If you own your router, it may be outdated and require an update to run as smoothly as possible.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is 50 Mbps good for gaming?

50 Mbps will be adequate for most types of gaming. However, if you’re looking to compete online or stream while gaming, you’ll likely need a higher speed.

Is 100 Mbps good for gaming?

100 Mbps is a good speed to choose for average gamers and non-gamers to connect their devices.

Is 300 Mbps good for gaming?

300 Mbps is a great speed for most types of gaming. This is a popular speed for gamers and non-gamers alike and can accommodate up to 12 connected devices at once.

Is 500 Mbps good for gaming?

500 Mbps is more than high enough speeds for gamers and most households. 500 Mbps will give you the speeds you need to do most online activities without interruption.

Is 1000 mbps good for gaming?

1000 Mbps, also known as 1 Gig, is an excellent speed for gaming. This is especially true if you want to game online in a home with other frequent internet users.

Conclusion

We hope this guide can help you get a leg up on the competition while you’re gaming! If you feel like your connection doesn’t work for your gaming needs, call our team to upgrade your connection today at 866-618-0264.