If there’s one thing gamers really hate, it’s lag in online gaming. Experiencing high latency (i.e., a long delay between player interaction and the game’s response) is enough for a hardcore gamer to quit playing and throw the controller at the screen. But with these useful tips, you’ll enjoy smooth sailing as you go on a killing spree on Call of Duty or fight a raid boss on World of Warcraft.
- Choose a game server that’s physically close to your location. This shortens the amount of time needed to transmit information between your computer and the server, thereby diminishing the possibility of lag.
- Terminate unnecessary programs, including ones running in the background. You’ll want your video game to fully benefit from your computer’s resources and Internet access.
- Lower game settings or requirements. Maybe your computer no longer has the graphical prowess to render every frame smoothly. Newer games are often taxing to aging hardware, even when the hardware is just a year old. To remedy this and make your games more responsive, lower game settings or requirements. A lower screen resolution, anti-aliasing, and texture resolution, for instance, mean faster gaming. Alternatively, if you can afford it, upgrade your gaming rig.
- Choose a wired connection over wireless. A wired Ethernet connection is more reliable and faster than Wi-Fi access.
- Don’t let your devices overheat. Overheating computers and routers behave abnormally, and one of the issues that may arise is lag.
- Optimize your router. Choose the right settings that are recommended for online gaming. Let it prioritize the bandwidth for online games. Make sure the required ports for your games aren’t blocked in your router.
A single problem may only cause a slight delay. But when they all add up, you’ll suffer from lag in a major way. Make sure that every aspect of your computer and the game server are operating normally.