Ping is referred to the amount of time taken for a data packet to be sent from your device to another device or another server. The time is measured in milliseconds or Ms. It's an important indicator for a gamer because without having an ideally lower ping, you won't be able to play online. So, what does a ping stand for?
Ping stands for packet internet or it's also known as an inter-network groper. It helps to determine whether you have a fast connection or not. In addition, ping can be used for troubleshooting and testing connectivity and determining the overall response time. If you want to conduct any online activity that requires a high-end connection, a higher ping can cause a lot of trouble. Because you won't be able to enjoy the ultra-smooth browsing experience with an aggressively higher ping. Therefore, it's important to know everything about this term and what exactly is a higher ping and lower ping to facilitate a lag-free online experience.
In this article, we will discuss everything in detail related to ping. Let's get you covered with all the in-depth information that you should know,
A ping or also known as an inter-network groper is an internet program that allows users to test whether a particular IP address exists or not and also verify it. It works by sending the ICMP request to a specific interface and waiting for its reply. When you use a ping command, the signal is sent out to the specified address. When your target host receives the request, it sends out a reply packet and responds back. This approach helps you find whether the host is available and the total amount of time taken by the entire process.
If there's an extreme delay in the entire process, then your ping rate gets higher. The higher ping rate will hinder your online experience. Generally, a ping rate close to zero is recommended for gaming. You won't be able to do any high-end internet activity with a high ping. But, it majorly impacts your online gameplay.
Ping is one of the most crucial factors in high-tier online gameplay. This is why any professional sports events use LAN to minimize the ping rate. The most common genre of game where low ping is highly essential is the shooter game or FPS game.
In such games, timing and positioning play a crucial role which is why a low ping is required. The player with the lowest ping will be able to see his competitors faster than others with a higher ping. So, to have the advantages by your side, make sure you have a low ping or moderate ping. Now, what's the measurement for a low ping or a moderate ping? Or, how do you know that you have a high ping or low ping?
Well, a high ping rate from 50Ms to 300Ms is considered unplayable for gamers. If you're a competitive gamer, it's recommended to keep your ping between 10Ms to 50Ms to have an optimal speed. Generally, the 10Ms ping rate is considered a professional ping. If you're playing online for winning some cash prize, then try to achieve this ping rate to have your device better respond to you. However, 20 to 50Ms ping rates are still fine to have an optimal speed. But, try not to exceed that. Otherwise, your game server will drive you out of the competitive gameplay.
But, does your ping increases automatically? Well, not really! There are a few influences that can negatively impact your ping rate. Let's take a look at the reasons that increase the ping rate,
There are a lot of factors that may affect your ping rate and some of them are under your control and some aren't. But, mostly, the reasons can be made under control by taking proper steps. Let's take a look at the possible influences that negatively impact your ping rate,
1. An Unstable Connection
If you don't have a reliable internet service provider and suffering from an unstable connection, then a higher ping rate isn't an uncommon scenario. It's because to keep your ping lower, it's important to have a stable connection. If your devices are getting consistently disconnected and reconnected for no reason, then the server will have a hard time sending out information and receiving it back. This results in a higher ping rate.
In addition, make sure your ISP is providing you with optimal bandwidth. It's important to have double the amount of bandwidth than the required amount. This ensures that you will enjoy an uninterrupted connection regardless of any reason. However, most of the time, ISP don't provide the promised bandwidth that they feature. So, these things can negatively impact your ping rate.
2. Failure In Traffic Prioritization
Well, a standard router won't be able to prioritize traffic based on their action. It's because these are not designed with the latest and greatest technology that helps them differentiate between high-priority and low-priority actions. Therefore, if there are multiple devices connected to your network, while some of them are streaming Netflix, watching a movie online, or doing any high-end activities, then it will impact your gameplay.
You will not be able to have the optimal speed when too many devices are connected to the same network and conducting high-end activities. This will result in higher ping as your internet speed drops to a significant level. This is why it's important to have a gaming router installed if you're a competitive player looking for ways to keep your ping rate lower.
Since a gaming router is designed with such technologies and capabilities, it will help you prioritize the traffic based on their action. For example, if you're playing online games and close to winning a match while at the same time others are watching Netflix or streaming another game, then you will get the advantage of bandwidth. This is the best part of a gaming router. It will never be responsible for increasing the ping rate.
3. Server Location
Well, the physical distance between the server and your device is one of the most critical factors that negatively impact the ping rate. If you're far away from your server, then it will take a significant amount of time for the data packets to travel back to your device and vice versa. After all, the data packets need to travel a long distance before it reaches you. Isn't it? Therefore, it will result in a higher ping. To avoid the situation, it's essential to choose a local server instead of a distant one and keep your ping lower or to an optimum level.
To ensure that you have an optimal ping and no factors are affecting your ping negatively, it's important to use reliable ping testing tools. It will help you provide all the necessary details regarding your ping rate.
So, we have closely discussed everything related to ping starting from how it works to what factors affect it and what it means in gaming. Generally, the ping rate is highly crucial for gamers rather than ordinary internet users. Because, in games, you won't be able to play it until your ping rate drops. Therefore, it's important to understand the nitty-gritty about the ping rate and take appropriate action to lower your ping. Usually, with proper actions, it's pretty simple to lower your ping rate to an optimum level.
WRITE FOR US!