Having a high quality internet connection is essential when it comes to modern gaming PCs. As physical media becomes less and less sparse and digital distribution becomes more and more popular, access to the internet has become critical to even playing single-player titles.
Choosing the right type of internet connection for your gaming PC shouldn’t be a sidelined consideration. To get the most out of your network, it’s important to understand the basics of how network technologies work and how they can impact your gaming experience.
Networking basics
To communicate with the internet, a device (such as your PC) must be connected to a modem, often via a separate router. The modem changes the signal from your Internet Service Provider (ISP) and modifies it so that it can be used in your home.
The router then communicates with the modem and creates the actual network your device is connected to. Modems and routers often come in a single device, usually provided by your ISP when you set up your service. When this local network is attached, your PC can connect to the internet, and you can start playing games online. The basics are pretty simple, but each step in the process is worth exploring.
Network Bandwidth & Speed
There are four main links in the network chain, and all of them should be considered when building your network.
- ISP
- Modem
- Router
- Network Connection (wired or wireless)
Let’s start with the external gateway to the internet, the ISP.
Your IPS options may be limited depending on where you are, but most ISPs have different levels of service with different price points. You can compare the services available in your area to find the ISP with the best reputation, as well as the service that best suits your needs. To find the right internet service, you’ll want to know the basics of what to look for. These are metrics you should consider when making those choices.
Bandwidth refers to the amount of data sent over your internet connection, and is measured as the number of megabits per second (for example, 100 Mbps.) This is the amount of data the connection allows, but it is a different metric than the speed of the connection. Speed is separated into two measurements; how fast data can be downloaded and uploaded.
Download speeds are also measured in megabits per second (Mbps) or gigabits per second (Gbps) for significantly faster connections. Download speed refers to how fast data is fetched from the internet to a device (think about watching a movie from a streaming service).
Upload speed is how fast data can be pushed from your device to the internet (think about streaming gameplay from your PC to the Internet) and is also measured in Mbps and Gbps.
To simplify, bandwidth is how much data can be transferred over your connection, while speed is how fast that data can be transferred.
Many ISPs offer residential internet service via cable or DSL, and often these connections prioritize download speeds over upload speeds. Other connections such as fiber optic internet allow for symmetric bandwidth, where download and upload speeds are the same. That’s why we have to choose Jom Apply the best Time fibre in Malaysia.
