I am a true gamer at heart, so trust me when I say a good internet is a game-changer.
Why?
Well, just a few months ago, when I was relying on DSL, I broke three controllers, and here is my story.
While using DSL, getting a lag was pretty common. I would be in the middle of a game, and suddenly, pressing the button fanatically wouldn’t help. My character would walk into a moving train or directly into a wall. Lag kills, right?
So, I would throw my controller in frustration. I mean, I outplayed someone, but just because I don’t have decent internet, I am losing.
In a competitive gaming environment, everything matters. Your internet, gear, overall gaming setup, and your skills as well.
In my case, I had everything else except decent internet. So I finally decided to upgrade to the fiber optic plan of WOW! Internet.
How I did it and whether it was a successful upgrade, let’s explore the details together.
What Makes the Internet Ideal for Gaming?
Unlike most online activities where download speed is the main focus, ideal gaming internet has slightly different requirements.
What are they?
Let’s look at the details:
Ping
Ping is also known as latency, and it is measured in milliseconds (ms). The ping is the time it takes for your data to travel from your device to the gaming server and eventually back. If your internet is offering lower ping, it is definitely better for the gaming experience.
Jitter
Next on our list, we have another important factor, the jitter. If the jitter is higher, this means that your ping is bouncing from 30ms to 120ms, which is causing stutter. So, higher jitter means a bad gaming experience.
Packet Loss
The term might look a little different, but it is very important to consider. Packet loss happens when the data chunk is lost while traveling. For every packet lost, your shots don’t register, which means more delays and misses.
All these things are equally important. So, when we talk about a good gaming internet, we also talk about high download speeds along with low ping and no packet loss at all.
So, is it possible?
The answer is yes. There are internet connection types and ISPs that are perfect for gaming because they have all these features.
If you are currently considering your options, my recommendation is to check WOW! Internet Bundles for affordable internet plans.
DSL Vs. Fiber Internet – What’s Better for Gaming?
Even before getting into details, you must know my name. Fiber is so far the best internet connection type. It offers the best speed, ensures minimum ping, and has no packet loss. All these features make fiber the best possible option in the market right now.
However, to help you understand this in detail, let’s break it down and compare both options.
DSL (Digital Subscriber Line)
DSL relies on old copper telephone lines for data transmission. Since the infrastructure is quite old, the packet loss is at its maximum. In most areas, these copper wires are so old and rusted that the internet randomly stops working.
So, if the reliability is so bad, why is DSL still a popular option?
Well, the answer is simple. Copper-based telephone lines are quite common, and they are everywhere. So, when there is no other option, DSL becomes the quick fix. Another important thing to consider here is that DSL is a relatively cheaper option.
Here is a quick overview of its pros and cons, so you can have a better understanding.
| Pros | Cons |
| Connection stability depends on the distance between your location and the ISP’s central office.It is widely available. It is affordable compared to other options.For casual gaming, Nintendo Switch titles or turn-based strategies, it is a good option. | The infrastructure is quite outdated, which is the reason it is not a very good option.Changes in weather, especially rain, storms, or windy conditions, can impact the quality of the internet.It offers asymmetrical speeds, which are not ideal for gaming.The speed depends on peak hours, the number of people connected to the internet, and the overall usage of the internet at the time. |
Fiber (Optical Fiber Internet)
Fiber is so far the best and latest technology available when it comes to the internet. With fiber, data travels through a thin microscopic strand of glass. The data packet travels as pulses of light, so the speed is really good.
Since it is a modern system designed for the current digital age, you will get to enjoy the best perks, including the best speeds and good quality.
For better understanding, here is a quick overview of its pros and cons.
| Pros | Cons |
| With fiber, the data travels as pulses of light. Since light travels faster, you can expect a very good speed. Fiber offers the lowest possible latency, so the gamer can enjoy less ping.Fiber offers symmetrical speeds, which means upload and download speeds are the same. There are speed bottlenecks due to the number of devices or during peak hours. | Fiber has limited availability.Since the infrastructure is relatively new, fiber is quite expensive compared to other options.Fiber is mainly available in metropolitan cities and mostly in suburbs, which smaller cities out. |
The above-mentioned comparison highlights the importance of fiber internet in the gaming arena.
However, for an in-depth understanding, we have a side-by-side comparison with numbers that can help you know why fiber makes the cut.
For this comparison, we will be considering features like ping, jitter, speeds, and the outside environment. We will then compare both options so you can know which internet will be perfect for your gaming experience.
| Features | DSL Internet | Fiber Internet | The Winner |
| Average Ping | 30ms – 60ms | 5ms – 20ms | Fiber |
| Jitter | Moderate to High | Extremely Low | Fiber |
| Upload Speeds | Slow (typically 1–10 Mbps) | Ultra-Fast (Matches download) | Fiber |
| Weather Resistance | Poor (Rain/Heat affects copper) | Excellent (Glass is immune) | Fiber |
Average Ping
In the case of online gaming, ping rate plays a very important role. The ping rate determines if your response will be delayed or if your character will move at the right time to kill the opponent. Since fiber offers minimal ping, which means that it is the ultimate winner here.
Jitter
As mentioned earlier, jitter should be minimal if you want to enjoy a good gaming experience, and fiber offers extremely low jitter.
Upload Speed
While DSL offers a good download speed, it doesn’t offer a good enough upload speed. On the contrary, fiber offers symmetrical speeds, which is the reason fiber is considered best for gaming.
Weather Resistance
Fiber optic is made of thick glass with multiple layers. This helps in seamless yet speedy data travel, and when there is any weather change outside, fiber optics is never affected.
All the above-mentioned reasons make fiber optic a clear winner.
So, if fiber is available in your area and you are an online gamer, it is best to pick fiber over any other type of internet connection.
FAQ’s
Why does Fiber have lower ping than DSL?
With fiber optics, data travels based on light signals, so the speed is high. On the contrary, when it comes to DSL, the data travels as electric signals on old copper cable. Since the infrastructure is older, it takes longer, and some data is lost as well, which only makes the ping higher.
Will switching to Fiber be best for my gaming career?
Yes. As mentioned above, fiber has lower lag, offers massive bandwidth, and symmetrical speeds. All the features make it ideal for gaming.
Is 50 Mbps Fiber better for gaming than 100 Mbps DSL?
Yes, because fiber offers symmetrical speeds. With gaming, you need both good upload and download speeds. So, in this case, fiber wins because it has both good download and upload speeds.