Improve Internet for Gaming: 10 Pro Tips for Lower Ping & Lag

You’re in the final circle. It’s a 1v1. You line up the perfect headshot, click your mouse... and then it happens. A massive lag spike. Your screen freezes for a split second, and suddenly you’re staring at the defeat screen. Jirre, that’s frustrating. For South African gamers, a dodgy connection can feel like a constant battle. But don't rage-quit just yet. You can absolutely improve your internet for gaming. These ten pro tips will help you lower your ping and get back to winning.

Why Your Connection is Key to Winning

Before we dive in, let's quickly break down the enemies: ping and lag.

• Ping: This is the reaction time of your connection. It's the time (in milliseconds) it takes for data to travel from your PC to the game server and back. Lower is always better.
• Lag: This is the noticeable delay or stutter you experience because of high ping or an unstable connection (packet loss).

A stable, low-ping connection is the foundation of competitive online gaming. Let's build that foundation.

10 Pro Tips to Improve Internet for Gaming 🚀

Work through these steps, from the simplest fixes to the more advanced tweaks, to get a better gaming internet experience.

1. Go Wired: Ethernet is King

Wi-Fi is convenient, but it's terrible for serious gaming. Wireless signals are prone to interference from walls, microwaves, and other devices. An Ethernet cable provides a direct, stable link to your router, drastically reducing latency and eliminating packet loss. Even for less twitch-based games like the stunningly detailed Microsoft Flight Simulator, a stable connection is crucial for streaming world data smoothly.

2. Optimise Your Router's Position

If you absolutely must use Wi-Fi, placement is everything. Think of your router's signal like a lightbulb—you want it to illuminate as much of your space as possible. Place it in a central, elevated location, away from thick walls and other electronics. You wouldn't want your signal dropping while you're busy creating a masterpiece on one of our custom-built Minecraft gaming PCs.

3. Update Your Router's Firmware

Just like your PC's drivers, your router's software (firmware) needs updates. Manufacturers release these to patch security holes, fix bugs, and often improve performance. Log in to your router's admin panel (usually by typing 192.168.1.1 or 192.168.0.1 into your browser) and check for an update. It’s a simple step that can boost stability.

4. Prioritise Your Game with QoS 🔧

Quality of Service (QoS) is a feature on most modern routers that lets you tell it which data is most important. By giving your gaming PC or console priority, you ensure your game traffic isn't slowed down by other devices on the network. With QoS enabled, your crucial Overwatch 2 data packets get to jump the queue, which is vital for reducing lag during intense team fights.

5. Shut Down Bandwidth Hogs

Your internet connection is a shared resource. If other applications or devices are gobbling up bandwidth, your game will suffer. Before you play, close streaming services like Netflix, stop any large downloads or torrents, and pause cloud backups. This is especially true if someone else is streaming in 4K while you’re trying to build-battle your way to a victory royale on a high-performance Fortnite gaming PC.

6. Choose the Right Game Server

Most online games let you choose your server region. Always pick the one closest to you geographically. For us in SA, that means connecting to Johannesburg or Cape Town servers whenever possible. Connecting to a European or US server will add 150-200ms to your ping instantly. When dropping into Al Mazrah, selecting the right server can be the difference between a win and the gulag, especially when you're running on a powerful Warzone 2.0 gaming PC.

7. Try a Faster DNS Server

Think of the Domain Name System (DNS) as the internet's phonebook. Your ISP's default DNS isn't always the fastest. Switching to a public DNS like Cloudflare (1.1.1.1) or Google (8.8.8.8) can sometimes speed up the initial connection to game servers and shave a few valuable milliseconds off your ping—a slight but meaningful edge in games like PUBG.

8. Talk to Your Internet Service Provider (ISP)

If you've tried everything and your speed is still poor, the problem might be outside your home. Run an online speed test. If the results are much lower than what you're paying for, it's time to call your ISP. Explain that you need a stable, low-latency connection for online gaming and ask them to check your line for faults.

9. Invest in Better Network Hardware

The free router your ISP gave you might not be up to the task of heavy gaming. A dedicated gaming router offers powerful processors, more RAM, and advanced features like better QoS to handle multiple devices without breaking a sweat. A modern router is essential for managing a smart home and ensuring your massive Cyberpunk 2077 download doesn't cripple everyone else's connection.

10. Make Sure Your PC Isn't the Real Problem ✨

Sometimes, what feels like network lag is actually your PC struggling to keep up. If your frame rate drops or your game stutters, it can look and feel exactly like a connection issue. In a fast-paced shooter where every millisecond counts, a rig that can deliver a high, stable frame rate is non-negotiable, which is why our Counter-Strike 2 gaming PCs are so popular. Similarly, if your machine struggles to render the sprawling city of Los Santos, even the best fibre line can't save you. Our GTA V gaming PCs are built to handle it with ease. A powerful PC is the other half of the low-lag equation.