- MyRepublic
Gaming and streaming are two of the most bandwidth-intensive activities in any household. Whether you’re battling it out in an online multiplayer game or broadcasting high-quality gameplay to your audience, both require a stable and high-speed internet connection.
Managing bandwidth between these two activities can be challenging, especially in a household with multiple users. But, not to fear. We have you covered! This article will guide you on how to optimise your internet connection, ensuring seamless gaming and streaming for your needs.
Understanding Bandwidth Requirements
To effectively balance gaming and streaming, it’s crucial to understand the bandwidth demands of each activity.
Gaming Needs
Gaming primarily relies on low latency, stable ping, and minimal packet loss rather than sheer speed. Online multiplayer games require a fast and reliable connection to ensure real-time responsiveness. Cloud gaming, on the other hand, demands higher bandwidth, as games are streamed directly from remote servers.
- Latency & Ping: Competitive gaming depends on a low ping (below 30ms) for the best experience.
- Bandwidth Usage: Traditional online games use approximately 3-10 Mbps, while cloud gaming services such as GeForce Now and Xbox Cloud Gaming can require 15-50 Mbps.
- Stability: Consistent speeds and minimal jitter are crucial for uninterrupted gameplay.
Streaming Needs
Unlike gaming, streaming is highly dependent on upload speeds and bandwidth capacity.
- Bitrate & Resolution: Higher streaming resolutions require more upload speed. For example, lower resolution streaming requires less bandwidth, while higher resolutions demand more. Streaming in HD or 4K places a heavier load on your connection, impacting overall performance.
- Upload Speed Matters: Since streaming involves sending data to platforms like Twitch, YouTube, or Facebook Gaming, a high upload speed is necessary to maintain quality.
- Encoding & Compression: Using software-based encoding can optimise bandwidth use without sacrificing too much quality.
Choosing the Right Broadband Plan
Having the right broadband plan ensures a smooth experience for both gaming and streaming. Here’s what you need to consider:
- Speed vs. Stability: High speeds are great, but stability and low latency are more critical for gaming. A fibre broadband plan is recommended for optimal performance.
- How Much Speed Do You Need? With modern internet demands increasing, a baseline of 3 Gbps is now ideal for most households, ensuring multiple users can game and stream simultaneously without interruptions. For those engaging in 4K or even 8K streaming while gaming, a 10 Gbps plan provides the best experience.
- Choosing the Right Plan: Look for plans that prioritise low latency and stable connections to support both gaming and streaming without compromise.
Optimising Your Network Setup
Ensuring a seamless gaming and streaming experience requires not just a high-speed connection, but also efficient network management. Here are some additional strategies to maximise performance:
- Limit Other Bandwidth-Heavy Activities: Schedule large downloads and system updates for off-peak hours to prevent them from disrupting gaming and streaming.
- Use Separate Networks if Possible: If you have a dual-band or tri-band router, consider connecting gaming devices to one band (e.g., 5GHz) and streaming devices to another to reduce congestion.
- Enable DMZ for Consoles: Setting your gaming console in the router’s DMZ (demilitarized zone) can help bypass network restrictions and improve connection stability.
- Consider a Dedicated Line: If gaming and streaming are crucial activities, some users opt for a second broadband connection dedicated solely to these activities to prevent interference from other household users.
Even with a high-speed plan, optimising your network setup is crucial for balancing bandwidth effectively.
