Let us paint a picture. You have built your dream gaming setup which includes a console and a gaming PC. You are ready to play online on your gaming console or your PC; the devices you spent your hard- earned money to build. Your new Spectrum Connection has been set up and you are looking to pawn your enemies in an online competitive match. But you forgot to buy a new router so you use a run-down old router. You start your game and when you are about to make an awesome play, the game lags and you get a delay. That little lag and delay ruined what was about to be your perfect gaming time. You then think about what could be the problem even when you are using the best ISP out there.
The reason for the lag and delay is most likely caused by the inferior router that you are using. If you are using Wi-Fi to connect to the internet you might be using an older version of wifi technology. The only solution is to get a better new router.
The difference between gaming routers and normal routers is minimal but it sets them very apart. Gaming routers are usually focusing more on aesthetics compared to regular routers. Gaming routers offer different features which even if your primary purpose is not gaming can be very useful for you.
Upgrading your router when you get a new modem through your favorite Spectrum deals is a must. The total gaming setup is not complete without a gaming router powering your devices with fast internet. The most important reason to get a good gaming router is low latency. Latency commonly known as ping is the amount of time the signal from your PC or console takes to the remote server of your game and back to your PC/Console. The lower it is the better will be the gaming experience.
Almost all gaming routers available right now in the market whether cheap or expensive will improve your gaming experience compared to an old normal router. The difference comes when you want to focus on something specific like networking capability, download speed, security, and streaming. The number of and type of connections in the router can also be the main selling point of a gaming router.
All the routers in the list give the best gaming experience when it comes to online gaming. Your budget and what type of connections you require will determine which gaming router is best for your dream gaming setup.
These are the best Gaming centric routers available right now.
1. Asus ROG Rapture GT-AC5300
The Asus Republic of gamers is a well-reputed brand in the gaming community offering great hardware and with black and red-colored aesthetics. This is a Tri-band like many others on the list Wi-Fi gaming router. It is built for Ultimate gaming setups with 4K and VR streaming prioritized. It has a quad-core processor and AiMesh for mesh Wi-Fi system. It has 802.11ac Wi-Fi with data transfer speeds of 5GBps and boasts 8 of the Gigabit LAN Ports for wired connections. It has two 3.0 USB ports. It has a great gaming Centre interface that gives you access to control all the included features such as Game IPS (Intrusion Prevention System) and Game Boost for network security and game acceleration respectively.
This is a high-end Router and may not be affordable for everyone but if your budget allows this is a beast of a router to own. This costs around 350 USD.
2. Asus RT-AC86U
If you can’t afford the ultimate router from ASUS. ASUS has another cheaper model on offer. This is a Dual-Band Wi-Fi router. It has one 3.1 USB port and four Gigabit LAN ports for wired connection. It also has some of the same features as its expensive counterpart such as AiMesh support, which lets you connect to other ASUS routers to build a great Mesh of wireless network.
The Router will cost you around 180 USD and at this price, there is very little that could match its performance.
3. TP-Link Archer AX6000
TP-Link is a reputable brand when it comes to networking hardware and it was inevitable that there was going to be an entry in our list from this brand. This is the competitor of the ASUS ROG router mentioned at the start. This is a Tri-Band gaming router with a 1.8GHz quad-core processor and 1 GB of RAM. Wi-Fi speeds are at least as good as the ASUS ROG router if not better offering speeds up to 5400Mbps. This has support for Alexa voice commands and IFTTT applets.
This is available for around 265 USD which is a little less expensive than the ASUS ROG beast because it lacks some gamer features provided by the ASUS router.
4. Linksys EA9300 Max-Stream AC4000 Tri-Band Wi-Fi Router
If you are not into a very gamer looking aesthetic but still want a decent router for your gaming needs this budget router might be the one for you. This is a tri-band router that is easy to use and setup. Wi-Fi speeds reach up to 4Gbps. It has five Gigabit Ethernet ports for wired connectivity and two USB 3.0 ports. It has an easy to use interface on its apps and is directed towards casual gamers and streamers. This will cost around 180 USD.
5. Netgear Nighthawk Pro Gaming XR700 Router
Last but not least we have the most expensive router in our list. This is powered by a 1.7 GHz Quad-Core Processor. It offers Wi-Fi speeds of up to 7.2Gbps and has the six 10 Gigabit Ethernet ports for wired connectivity. If you are looking for the 10 Gigabit speeds on wired connections this is the router for you. With awesome gaming features included, this is a beast as well. This will cost you around 400USD to own.
Pick The Right Router
The choice for the router depends on your needs and budgets. These are all reliable routers and you should include one in your “Dream Gaming Setup”.