Latency or “ping” can be a major problem when playing video games, especially gaming over the internet. This has been true from the early days of modem-based dial-up to modern high-speed broadband connections.
Some games are very sensitive to latency, whereas other types will perform well with higher latencies. In general terms, a low ping means better responsiveness during online play. A low ping also usually means less lag and a more enjoyable gaming experience overall.
But exactly, what is good ping? What is considered acceptable these days for an online game? Let’s take a look at some numbers and get an idea.
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How To Check Your Ping Or Latency?
The “ping” is an ICMP protocol command that will tell you how long it takes to send data between the client and server.
To check your ping to the source server, use this command:
/ping password_source_server_address
Note: Remember to replace the password with the correct password for that specific server.
If you want to display only the result without having the black window flash up, put the cursor on the desired line and press the SHIFT+END key combination. The text selection should contain the ping result now.
Now run the following command from the console:
/console cmdResult 1 (if you have selected the first line)
or
/console cmdResult LINE (for example 2).
This will print the last copied text into the chatbox.
Or just go to devicetests.com to easily check your ping with multiple servers worldwide.
Understanding Connection Speeds
Very few connections offer consistently low pings for most gamers, including cellular wireless and satellite internet services. The most consistently low pings come from dedicated lines such as DSL, Cable, Fiber, and LAN connections using dedicated fiber or coaxial cabling. For the purpose of this article, we’ll mainly be talking about these types of connections.
To understand what is good ping, you need to know that connection speeds (download and upload) are measured in bits per second (bps). One byte consists of 8 bits so that a 100mbps connection can move 12.5 million bytes every second! That’s impressive, but how does that relate to latency?
What is Latency or Ping?
Latency or “ping” is how long it takes for a signal to make the round trip back and forth between two points, such as your devices at home and the servers you are connected to. Latency is expressed in milliseconds (ms).
- 1000ms equals one second.
- 1000 milli-seconds equals 1 second.
- 1000 seconds equals 1 minute, and so on.
That means that a 100 bps connection can handle roughly 83 ms worth of ping before data starts getting delayed enough to matter. The higher the latency value, the longer it takes for the signal to get there and back again.
One thing that needs to be considered when thinking about latency figures is network overhead which has nothing directly whatsoever to do with bandwidth but instead deals with things like packet headers, error correction information, multiple connections running at once, etc.
These technically have no effect on speed or lag between devices, yet they still consume bytes of traffic and add to latency; this is why you often see lower reported latencies on lower bandwidth connections where overhead limits the maximum data throughput. When it comes to internet gaming, which requires low and consistent pings, overhead is something we want to keep in mind.
Why Do Both Upload and Download Speeds Matter?
Latency is a round trip time measurement, and your ping can be affected by either your download speed (to the game servers) or your upload speed (from the game servers back to you).
Servers use their available connection bandwidth as equally as possible when servicing all players at once. That means that if 50 people are playing but there’s only 3% of the total bandwidth, each player will receive roughly 1/50th of the packets sent. If all of those players are far away from the server, they will need to wait longer for packets to arrive.
Some connections are more upload-biased, meaning that it takes longer for packets to get back to you than it does for them to go out. A game with a download speed cap can be extremely unpleasant due to latency issues yet still allow high bandwidth throughput since player data is only flowing one way most of the time.
For example, suppose your connection is fast enough that even playing 50 players’ games, supposedly you never surpass 3% of the total available bandwidth; the case then is any data transfer will be exactly the same as if you were just transferring files locally on your home network.
But that depends on how much overhead is used, though. Most connections have about a 10% overhead in their connections, so in this case, you’d actually be limited to 3.4 Mbps download speed for gaming which is still enough for 50 players’ games at 100 bps but not much else. You can check your download and even upload speed using an internet speed test.
In most cases, the best upload speeds are achieved from within LANs or on shared internet connections such as those found at many hotspots and coffee shops since they’re shared between fewer users with less lag resulting from using them.
In these cases, higher bandwidth will simply allow for faster data transfers through local backup processes rather than directly impacting latency or ping times. If your connection is fast enough, it can even outperform a direct internet connection by rapidly sending data between a small handful of machines.
This is why some gamers who are lucky enough to have very low latency internet connections are still able to get LAG or high latency when playing games because they’re running into bandwidth limits that their connection can’t surpass.
Once you move past the basics, a lot more goes into what determines your latency and ping time, yet for now, this should serve as an adequate primer to understand just how much impact each factor has on overall performance.
Remember that network overhead can change depending on factors such as distance between hardware, types of hardware used, protocols employed, etc. There’s never any exact way to tell what percentage will affect ping times, but these figures should serve as rough guidelines.
The best thing you can do is look at the overall packet loss across your entire connection (you can use devicetests.com again) and use that as a metric of what areas need more work. For example, suppose your pings are around 50 ms normally but jump to 200+ when playing a particular game in a specific location; in that case, you may want to do some optimization to better balance resources.
Frequently asked questions
What is ping latency?
Ping latency, also known as ping time or simply latency, is a measure of the time it takes for a small data packet, called a “ping,” to travel from a source computer to a destination computer and then back again. It is typically measured in milliseconds (ms) and is used to determine the responsiveness of a network or an internet connection.
Ping latency is determined by measuring the round trip time (RTT) of a ping packet. The RTT is calculated by measuring the time it takes for the ping packet to be sent from the source computer, travel to the destination computer, and then return to the source computer. This time is then divided by two to get the one-way latency.
A low ping latency indicates that a network or internet connection is fast and responsive, while a high ping latency indicates that a network or internet connection is slow or congested.
Ping latency is commonly used to test the quality of a network connection, diagnose network issues, and troubleshoot problems with online gaming or other real-time applications that rely on a fast and responsive network connection. Additionally, it can be used to measure the time it takes for a packet to travel to a specific server, which can be useful in determining the closest server to a user.
Is latency called ping?
Latency is a measure of the time it takes for a packet of data to travel from one point to another, and it is commonly referred to as “ping” in the context of network testing and troubleshooting. The term “ping” comes from the name of the command used to test network connections on many operating systems. The “ping” command sends a small data packet, called an Internet Control Message Protocol (ICMP) echo request, to a destination computer and then waits for an ICMP echo reply. By measuring the round-trip time (RTT) of the echo request and reply, it’s possible to calculate the latency or delay between the source and destination computers.
In summary, “ping” and “latency” are often used interchangeably and refer to the time it takes for a packet of data to travel from one point to another. The term “ping” is often associated with the ICMP echo request and reply, which are commonly used to measure the round-trip time of a network connection.
Is 200ms latency good?
Latency is typically measured in milliseconds (ms) and a lower latency is generally considered to be better. A latency of 200ms is considered to be relatively high and may cause noticeable delays in network-sensitive applications such as online gaming or video conferencing.
For online gaming, a latency of around 20ms or lower is considered ideal for a smooth and responsive experience. Latencies above 100ms can start to cause significant lag and make the game difficult to play. For video conferencing, a latency of around 150ms or lower is considered good, but above 200ms can cause noticeable delays and make it difficult to have a conversation.
It’s important to note that latency can be affected by many factors, including the distance between the source and destination computers, the number of hops or routers the data must pass through, and the amount of network congestion. While a latency of 200ms is considered high, it may still be acceptable in some scenarios, such as a geographically distant location, high traffic, and other factors that may affect the network.
In summary, 200ms latency is relatively high and may cause noticeable delays in network-sensitive applications, but it is not always an indicator of poor network quality and it can be affected by various factors.
Why is my ping good but I still lag?
There can be several reasons why you may experience lag despite having a good ping. Some possible causes include:
- High network traffic: Even if your ping is low, if there is a lot of network traffic, it can still cause lag.
- Internet congestion: If the internet is congested, it can slow down your connection and cause lag.
- High CPU usage: If your computer is running many programs or processes, it can cause your computer to lag, even if your ping is low.
- Limited bandwidth: If your internet connection has limited bandwidth, it can cause lag, even if your ping is low.
- Game servers: The servers that host the game you’re playing can also cause lag if they are overloaded or not functioning properly.
- Your device: if your device is outdated or doesn’t meet the minimum requirements of the game, it can cause your device to lag.
It would be best to check all the possible causes and try to troubleshoot them accordingly.
Does faster internet improve ping?
Faster internet can potentially improve your ping in online games and other online activities that rely on a low ping.
Ping is the measure of the time it takes for a data packet to travel from your device to the server and back. A lower ping means a faster connection, and a higher ping means a slower connection. If you have a faster internet connection, it can decrease the time it takes for data packets to travel to and from the server, resulting in a lower ping.
However, it is not always the case, other factors such as distance to the server, network congestion, and the server’s performance can also affect your ping. So even if you have a faster internet connection, it doesn’t guarantee a lower ping.
It’s also worth noting that while internet speed affects the amount of data you can transfer, it doesn’t affect the time it takes for that data to travel between your device and the server. So a faster internet connection can help in some cases, but other factors are also at play.
How do I lower my internet latency?
Here are a few steps you can take to try and lower your internet latency:
- Restart your router: Sometimes restarting your router can help clear any temporary issues and improve your connection.
- Check for network congestion: If there is a lot of network traffic, it can cause latency. Try disconnecting any devices that are not in use or consider upgrading your internet package to one with more bandwidth.
- Change your DNS server: Using a different DNS server can sometimes help lower your latency. Try using a public DNS server like Google‘s (8.8.8.8 and 8.8.4.4) or OpenDNS (208.67.222.222 and 208.67.220.220).
- Check for malware: Malware or viruses on your computer can slow down your connection and cause latency. Run a full scan on your computer to check for any issues.
- Check for updates: Make sure your router firmware and your computer’s operating system are up to date. Outdated software can cause latency issues.
- Check your hardware: Make sure your computer meets the minimum requirements for the games you’re playing or the apps you’re using.
- Disable or limit background programs: Some programs run in the background and can cause high CPU usage, which can cause latency.
- Check your router placement: Make sure your router is placed in a central location and is not obstructed by walls or other objects.
- Use a wired connection: If possible, try using a wired connection instead of Wi-Fi. A wired connection tends to have less latency than Wi-Fi.
Why is my Mbps high but ping high?
A high Mbps (megabits per second) is a measure of the speed at which data is being transferred, while ping is a measure of the latency (or delay) in that data transfer. It is possible for the Mbps to be high, indicating a fast connection, but for the ping to also be high, indicating a slow or unreliable connection. This could be caused by a variety of factors, such as network congestion, interference, or distance from the server. Additionally, you should check your home network, if you have multiple devices using the network at the same time, it could cause the issue.
How much latency is good for gaming?
Latency, also known as ping, is a measure of the time it takes for a packet of data to travel from one point to another, and it can have a significant impact on the quality of the online gaming experience.
Lower latency is generally considered better for gaming because it means that the packets of data are traveling to the destination and back faster, resulting in a more responsive and smooth gaming experience.
For online gaming, a latency of 20ms or less is considered to be very good and should provide a smooth gaming experience. The latency between 20-40ms is still considered to be playable, but players may notice a slight delay between their actions and the response in the game. Latency above 40ms can become increasingly noticeable and may cause problems with gameplay.
However, it’s important to note that other factors such as the internet connection speed, the number of players in a game, and the type of game being played can also affect the gaming experience.
In summary, low latency is desirable for online gaming, and a latency of 20ms or less is considered to be very good. Latency between 20-40ms is playable but may cause some delay and above 40ms, it may become increasingly noticeable and may cause problems with gameplay.
