When it comes to playing online games on your PC or console, having a reliable internet connection is crucial. Many users recognize this and opt to invest in a gaming router for improved performance. I recently made this very decision myself, swapping out my standard internet provider’s router for a high-performance gaming router. In this article, I’ll share my personal experience to help you determine whether the difference is noticeable and whether it’s worth the investment.
It’s important to note that this article reflects my subjective opinion and personal experience rather than a comprehensive performance or technical comparison. I had the opportunity to acquire an ASUS RT-AC88U router from a friend at a favorable price, prompting me to give it a try. To clarify, my previous router was not performing poorly by any means. However, I seized the opportunity to assess firsthand whether a gaming router could enhance my internet experience.
My Experience with a Gaming Router:
Before delving into my experience, let me outline my previous setup and the changes I made. My internet plan boasts a 1 Gbps symmetrical connection with the Romanian operator DIGI. Initially, I relied on the basic white ZTE router provided by the operator. My setup consisted of two computers connected to this router, a Synology NAS serving as a home server for storage, and a Power Line Communication (PLC) adapter extending to the living room. The PLC also acted as a WiFi repeater, serving our Smart TV and a PS4 Pro.
The router provided by the operator was functional but notably lacked external antennas, which posed a significant issue: limited WiFi coverage. To use smartphones or a Smart TV in the living room, I had to employ a repeater. Apart from this limitation, the router met basic needs and allowed for tasks such as configuring multiple WiFi networks and port forwarding. For the average user, it was sufficient, except for its subpar WiFi coverage.
Subsequently, I replaced it with the ASUS RT-AC88U, categorized as a gaming router by the manufacturer and renowned for its high performance. The first thing that struck me was its size – notably larger than the operator’s router – and it sported four antennas, including two lateral ones. After configuring and activating it, the most noticeable improvement was the WiFi coverage throughout my home. It effortlessly reached the living room without requiring a repeater. Given that I had acquired it secondhand from a friend at an affordable price, the improved coverage alone justified the investment.
But did I notice a difference while gaming? This is the pivotal question. Knowing that I would be writing this article, I conducted measurements with the DIGI router before transitioning to the new gaming router. Firstly, it’s important to note that there was absolutely no change in bandwidth performance; speed tests yielded similar results for both upload and download speeds, averaging around 940 Mbps.
Where I did notice a difference was in WiFi speed on devices like smartphones, which is unsurprising given the significantly stronger WiFi network of the new router. However, let’s focus on gaming.
In addition to features like a traffic analyzer and Adaptive Quality of Service (QoS), the gaming router incorporates specialized gaming-related functions. In this instance, it features packet prioritization for gaming devices, allowing for the prioritization of gaming traffic for selected devices.
I’m an active player of Black Desert Online, an MMORPG where latency is critical, particularly in player-versus-player (PvP) scenarios. Before enabling this game packet prioritization mode, my latency to the server hovered around 42-45 ms. After activation, I was pleasantly surprised to see it drop to 36-38 ms. While this reduction isn’t substantial, it made a noticeable difference in the stability of my connection to the game server. Prior to the router upgrade, game disconnections were relatively common, often occurring at the worst possible moments. However, over the ten days I’ve had this gaming router, not a single disconnection has occurred. Furthermore, I’ve observed shorter loading screen durations.
While this could be attributed to coincidence, my overall experience suggests otherwise. I sense a smoother connection while gaming, and although the gained 6-8 ms in latency isn’t groundbreaking, it contributes to an improved gaming experience.
So, is it worth it?
As always, the answer depends on individual circumstances. If investing €300 in a gaming router marginally improves your gaming experience, then I would advise against it. However, if you encounter latency issues, have subpar WiFi coverage with your current router (as I did), or require advanced QoS options and network traffic analysis, investing in a gaming router may be worthwhile.
Another consideration is when an opportunity presents itself, as it did for me when a trusted friend offered this router at a reasonable price. In such cases, don’t hesitate to seize the opportunity, as it can significantly outperform routers provided by internet service providers.