The numbers that matter
For a smooth experience in most online games, look for the following.
- Ping under 50 ms (under 30 ms for competitive shooters)
- Jitter under 10 ms
- No packet loss
- Download of 10 to 25 Mbps is enough for play; more helps with large game downloads and updates
Why a fast plan can still lag
Lag spikes usually come from unstable Wi-Fi, another device saturating the line, or bufferbloat, where latency jumps while something downloads. WiFi Ping's loaded latency reading shows exactly how much your ping rises when the connection is busy.
How to get the best gaming connection
Plug in with Ethernet. If you must use Wi-Fi, use 5 GHz or 6 GHz near the router. Schedule large downloads outside play time, enable Smart Queue Management if your router supports it, and pick game servers in your region.