The Best Gaming Lag-Reducing Hardware

When it comes to online gaming, lag can either make or break an experience. There are many contributors to lag, but an equal measure of latency-reducing solutions that ensure your connection is as stable as possible. Here's a roundup of some of the best options.

[Statix]

Fyi, I find that enabling QoS algorithms in the router tend to increase gaming lag. Counter-intuitive, but true. That's why I don't buy into a lot of these "gaming routers" that market themselves to "reduce gaming lag via advanced QoS features."

After researching and testing out dozens of different routers, switches, and networking equipment, I'm a firm believer that QoS adds processing overhead, which actually increases the amount of lag you ultimately experience.

[Baka-akaB]

True , it's mostly hogwash when it comes to the field actually supposed to benefits from those PR flaunted features : gaming .

Anyway the best thing to do with routers ? Never use wireless when you have a choice.

[GentlemenRUs]

I've always been using wireless N and never once have I had a problem.

Maybe it's just some people or something...

[Baka-akaB]

Wireless N can be fine .. but there is still a drop . Wired is faster, no contest. Full duplex, little to no retransmits and higher reliability . Wireless anything is a convenience and will almost always be slower than the wired alternative in real world applications.

The rest depends on your need and if practical at all to remain wired

[thehitman]

This isnt a gaming router it is just the new generation of routers. Right now most likely if you are using a 4th gerneation wireless 802.11 N routers you get only like 500mb/s max which is much less after all the tcp overhead. The new wirless 802.11 AC routers give up to 1.3 gb/s which is more than 2x the speed larger range better wall penetration for wireless signals. It also operates on an entire different bandwidth frequency so you are not bumping heads with all the other devices around you which is the greatest plus. All devices will probably start rolling out with 5G wireless cards the start of 2014. I think HTC already has 1 5g phone. I dont know though how much of an effect this will have on console gaming since none of the gaming devices have wireless AC compatibility.

[Baka-akaB]

I also find it weird how they seeked High end tvs with minimal lags , but forgot choices like some of the high end plasmas released between 2010-2013 . Some panasonic are know to be awesome for gaming , since they are input lag free (well compared to other hdtvs anyway) , benefits from the colors that are only matched by a few LED and oled screens , got awesome blacks , and no longer have the known plasma issues from the past

[Statix]

I currently have a Panasonic plasma from ca. 2010-2011. It has pretty good input lag, so gaming is quite responsive on it, but I don't think it is quite as good as my monitor.

I do know that Sony's recent lineup of LED televisions has truly exceptional input lag--even lower than my Panasonic--and are extremely responsive for gaming purposes. Check CNET TV reviews for more info on this matter.

[Baka-akaB]

I find cnet's TV review not worth a lot in that field . i'm much more of an AVSforum and the like dweller .

However i'm not refuting your claim about those sony screens . I just feel some of the plasma models should be up there in those kind of list . When not compared to pc monitors at least

[jeffgoldwin]

"no longer have the known plasma issues from the past"

Not completely true. Plasmas are still best viewed in a pitch black basement and are far less energy efficient than led and oled TV's.

[TwistingWords]

I have Drobo storage device which is networked on a 802.11ac connection and its unbelievably fast within my home network, but for normal internet usage it has no gains from what I had before in my experience.

I also have a BenQ monitor which yields low screen latency, but it still doesn't have much of a noticeable difference when it comes to multiplayer gaming.

[Baka-akaB]

Depends on the genre , and if the low latency claims is even truly there and not just a PR stunt . It can be felt easily with fighting games , even if it's not something necessarily everyone will notice ... except on the worst screens

[TwistingWords]

You have a point, I've not really played many fighters but I can understand the minimal latency need.

[fsfsxii]

Most fighting games have crap Net Code actually. Where i live, internet is not so good. I've had many fighting games, a few exceptions had amazing lag free net code unless you're connection is anything under 1 mbs. TTT2 online mode runs like offline mode. While games like Persona 4 Arena have crap net code, you can't even make a single combo with the amount of lag

[Baka-akaB]

We were discussing screen latency , not online . But yeah you're mostly right under 1mbps is hardly usually enough .
Persona doesnt run as smoothly as Blazblue , but i've had no issues on ps3 at least . I just remember reports of issues on 360 , and a patched being released to fix it

Basically :

Good:
-Any game that uses GGPO (Darkstalkers Resurrection, 3rd Strike Online, Skullgirls, or the GGPO client itself obviously)
Tekken Tag 2
-ArcSys games (Persona, BlazBlue, Arcana Heart 3...Guilty Gear's netcode is not as good, sadly)
-Virtua Fighter 5

Decent:
-Street Fighter 4
-Soul Calibur 5
-Street FIghter x Tekken
-Ultimate Marvel vs Capcom 3

Bad:
-Injustice
-King of fighters XIII
-Mortal Kombat

Unplayable:
-Marvel vs Capcom 3
-King of Fighters XII

[FragMnTagM]

I have an ASUS RTN56U and it is capable of 300 Mbps. I have all the ports that need to be forwarded, forwarded.

It works great. Never had a problem with lag. I do not have a single device in my house wired, yet they all work without lag.

Two android phones, an android tablet, two gaming PCs, 2 XBOX 360s, and occasionally a PS3, and all are running just fine. I have had all of them running at once to push the router to it's limit and it handled it really well.

Couldn't be happier with that router. What I was really surprised with it though is it's range. The signal from it can literally be picked up well over 400 yards from my house.

I can prioritize the connections on it too, which I put my 2 PCs and 360s as high priority and the rest as low priority. Works great.

My internet connection is up to 30Mbps.

My one computer monitor is 2ms response time and has no discernible input lag. My Samsung plasma TV also has virtually no input lag. The other TV in the bedroom is an older LCD and does have some input lag, but it is not much of a problem.