What is ping and why does it matter? – The basics of latency
Never suffer from laggy games or choppy video calls again.
A ping (or latency) is the time it takes for a data packet to travel from your device to the server and back. It is measured in milliseconds (ms). The lower the number, the faster the network responds.
| Ping value | Rating | What activities is it sufficient for? |
|---|---|---|
| 0–20 ms | Excellent | Competitive games, pro gaming, VR |
| 20–50 ms | Good | Online gaming, video calls, streaming |
| 50–100 ms | Average | Browsing, streaming, home office |
| 100–150 ms | Poor | Noticeable delay, video calls stutter |
| 150+ ms | Poor | Gaming unplayable, calls drop |
Tip: Ping is not the same as internet speed (Mbps/Gbps). You can have 1 Gbps download but 150 ms ping – and your game still lags.
Why is reducing ping important in 2026?
- Cloud gaming (GeForce Now, Xbox Cloud) – above 50 ms, latency becomes noticeable
- Video conferencing (Teams, Zoom, Meet) – above 150 ms, speech delay becomes disruptive
- Competitive games (CS2, Valorant, LoL, Fortnite) – must stay below 30 ms to remain competitive
- Real-time applications (trading, remote desktop, IoT control) – every millisecond counts
Why is ping high? – The most common causes
The provider is not always at fault – often your own network is the bottleneck.
Wi-Fi vs. wired connection
Wi-Fi is convenient, but unstable. Walls, microwave ovens, neighbor networks, Bluetooth devices – all of these disrupt the signal. An Ethernet cable (Cat5e/Cat6) immediately cuts 10–30 ms off your ping.
Network congestion
If someone downloads a 100 GB game, streams in 4K, or a torrent client runs in the background – your bandwidth fills up, and ping fluctuates. QoS (Quality of Service) setting on the router solves it.
Router hardware and firmware
A cheap 5-year-old router cannot handle modern loads. Old firmware = security gaps + poor performance. Updated firmware + modern router (Wi-Fi 6/6E/7) = more stable ping.
DNS server response time
The ISP's default DNS is often slow. Cloudflare (1.1.1.1), Google (8.8.8.8), Quad9 (9.9.9.9) – these can be 10–30 ms faster.
VPN and proxy
VPN encrypts and reroutes – this adds 20–100 ms of latency If you don't need it for security reasons, turn it off during gaming/streaming.
ISP routing
Data packets do not travel by the shortest route. Some providers use cheaper but longer paths. You can only solve this by switching providers or using a gaming VPN .
Background processes and malware
Windows Update, Steam downloads, cloud sync (OneDrive, Dropbox), antivirus scans – all of these „steal” bandwidth.
How to measure ping accurately? – Speedtest365.hu tools
Don't trust a single measurement. Measure multiple times, at different times of day, to different servers.
Quick ping test on Speedtest365
Visit our ping test page – with one click you get ping, jitter, packet loss, and download/upload speed values.
Why Speedtest365? Our independent servers are located in Hungary and at several points across Europe, so you get a real picture of your ISP's actual route.
Independent speed test with multiple servers
A independent speed test page, you can choose from more than 20 server locations – Budapest, Vienna, Frankfurt, Amsterdam, London. This way you can see where your route goes.
Wi-Fi-specific measurement
If you're on Wi-Fi, the Wi-Fi speed meter shows signal strength (dBm), channel utilization, and noise level – all of which affect ping.
Measurement protocol – how to get reliable data:
- Connect with a cable (if possible) to the router
- Close all applications (browser, Steam, Discord, etc.)
- Run 3 measurements every 5 minutes, to different servers
- Record the worst, the best, and the average
- Repeat in the morning, afternoon, and evening (during peak hours)
7 proven steps to reduce ping – Step-by-step guide
Don't try everything at once. Go step by step, and check the effect after each measurement.
Step 1: Switch to an Ethernet cable – The only guarantee
Reduce ping by 10–30 ms with a 2000 HUF cable.
- Buy a Cat6 or Cat6a cable (supports up to 10 Gbps, up to 100 m)
- Connect it directly to the router or a switch
- Turn off Wi-Fi on your device (so it doesn't search for networks)
- Measure again – this will be the biggest improvement
Tip: If you can't run a cable, use Powerline adapters (network over the electrical grid) – expect a 20–50 ms improvement compared to Wi-Fi.
Step 2: Router optimization – QoS, channel, firmware
Enable QoS (Quality of Service)
Modern routers (ASUS, TP-Link, Netgear, AVM Fritz!, Keenetic) support Game Boost / Gaming Mode / Adaptive QoS mode.
- Prioritize gaming/streaming traffic
- Limit downloads, cloud sync
- Location: Router web interface → QoS / Game Accelerator
Wi-Fi channel change
- 4 GHz: only channels 1, 6, 11 do not overlap
- 5 GHz: more channels, less interference – use 5 GHz if both the router and device support it
- Use a Wi-Fi Analyzer app (on phone) to find the least used channel
Firmware Update
- Log in to the router interface (often 192.168.1.1 or 192.168.0.1)
- Check the System / Administration / Firmware Upgrade menu
- Update to the latest stable version
Step 3: Stop background processes – The invisible bandwidth thieves
| Application | What does it do? | How to stop it? |
|---|---|---|
| Steam / Epic / GOG | Automatic updates | Settings → Downloads → „Only when I'm not playing” |
| Windows Update | Downloads in the background | Settings → Update & Security → Advanced options → Delay |
| OneDrive / Dropbox / Google Drive | Continuous sync | Right-click on the tray icon → Pause syncing |
| Torrent clients | Upload/download | Exit / Set speed limit |
| Browser tabs | Video preloading, ads | OneTab extension / close tab |
Pro tip: Open the Task Manager (Ctrl+Shift+Esc) → Network column → sort in descending order. The ones at the top are the worst „offenders”.
Step 4: DNS optimization – Faster name resolution = lower ping
By default, your ISP's DNS is set. Switch 1–2 minutes, free, immediately effective.
Windows 10/11:
- Settings → Network & Internet → Advanced network settings
- „More adapter options” next to the active adapter”
- Right-click → Properties → Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4)
- „Use the following DNS server addresses”:
Preferred:1.1.1.1(Cloudflare) or8.8.8.8(Google)
Alternate:1.0.0.1(Cloudflare) or8.8.4.4(Google)
At the router level (recommended – all devices benefit):
- Router interface → DHCP / LAN / WAN settings → DNS server
- Set the above addresses
Tip: A Cloudflare 1.1.1.1 WARP app (free) is even more secure and sometimes faster.
Step 5: VPN impact – When is it useful, when is it harmful?
| Situation | VPN impact on ping |
|---|---|
| Normal browsing, streaming | +20–100 ms (harmful) |
| Gaming on region-locked servers | Can be beneficial (if the ISP uses a poor route) |
| Public Wi-Fi security | Necessary (accept the +ping) |
| Avoiding ISP throttling | Can improve (if the ISP throttles specific traffic) |
Rule: If not needed for security reasons, turn it off during gaming/streaming. If needed, choose a nearby server (e.g., Vienna, Frankfurt, Budapest) and WireGuard protocol (faster than OpenVPN).
Step 6: ISP-related issues – What can you do with the provider?
- Call customer support – say: „My ping is X ms to server Y, expected <30 ms". kérj ping measurement to the end device (not just to the modem).
- Request a public IP (if behind CGNAT) – this can improve NAT traversal.
- Check the contract – is there a „guaranteed ping value”? (Some business plans have it.)
- Switching providers – if nothing helps, the market offers alternatives. Use the independent speed test for the decision.
Step 7: Advanced settings – Bufferbloat, MTU, Hardware
Bufferbloat – The hidden ping killer
When download/upload is full, the router buffer fills up → ping jumps to 200–500 ms.
- Test: Run a speed test and ping 1.1.1.1 simultaneously. If the ping jumps → you have bufferbloat.
- Solution: On the router Enable SQM (Smart Queue Management) / Cake / fq_codel (supported by OpenWrt, AsusWRT-Merlin, Keenetic, OPNsense).
MTU (Maximum Transmission Unit) optimization
- Default: 1500 bytes
- PPPoE (for many): 1492 bytes
- VPN: 1400–1450 bytes
- Test:
ping -f -l 1472 8.8.8.8(Windows) – if „Packet needs to be fragmented”, decrease by 10 until it passes. The value + 28 = optimal MTU.
Hardware upgrade – When is it worth it?
- Router > 5 years / no Wi-Fi 6 support → New router (Wi-Fi 6E/7, 2.5G/10G ports)
- Network card Realtek RTL8111/8168 → Intel I225/I226 (2.5G) or I210 (1G)
- Switch: Unmanaged → Managed switch (VLAN, QoS, port mirroring)
Ping requirements by activity – How much is enough?
| Activity | Recommended ping | Maximum ping | Jitter tolerance | Packet loss tolerance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FPS / MOBA / Battle Royale (CS2, Valorant, LoL, Fortnite) | < 30 ms | 50 ms | < 5 ms | 0% |
| MMO / RPG (WoW, FFXIV, Destiny 2) | < 50 ms | 100 ms | < 10 ms | < 0.5% |
| Cloud Gaming (GeForce Now, Xbox Cloud, Luna) | < 40 ms | 60 ms | < 5 ms | 0% |
| Video calls (Teams, Zoom, Meet, Discord) | < 100 ms | 150 ms | < 30 ms | < 1% |
| 4K/8K Streaming (Netflix, YouTube, Twitch) | < 100 ms | 200 ms | < 50 ms | < 1% (manageable with buffering) |
| Web browsing, Email, Office 365 | < 150 ms | 300 ms | < 100 ms | < 2% |
| Remote desktop (RDP, TeamViewer, AnyDesk) | < 50 ms | 100 ms | < 10 ms | 0% |
| Trading / Crypto bots | < 10 ms | 20 ms | < 2 ms | 0% |
Recommendation: Run a ping test to your favorite server (e.g., Frankfurt for most EU servers) before starting your game / call.
FAQ – Frequently Asked Questions about reducing ping
What is the difference between ping, jitter, and packet loss?
Ping (Latency): The time it takes for a packet to travel round trip (ms).
Jitter: Ping fluctuation (e.g., 20 ms → 45 ms → 18 ms). High jitter = unstable connection, audio/video stutter.
Packet Loss: The percentage of lost packets (%). Even 1% can cause noticeable lag in games.
How much ping is „good” for gaming?
Under 30 ms excellent, Under 50 ms good, Above 80 ms noticeable lag in gaming. Competitive players aim for 15–20 ms.
Does 5 GHz Wi-Fi always give better ping than 2.4 GHz?
Yes, generally. 5 GHz: less interference, more channels, higher bandwidth. But: shorter range, worse through walls. If you sit next to the router → 5 GHz. If across two rooms → 2.4 GHz may be more stable.
Does restarting the router help reduce ping?
Yes, temporarily. It clears buffers, renews DHCP leases, and reconnects to the ISP. Restarting once a week (or on a timer) is good practice.
What router should I buy for gaming in 2026?
Look for these features:
- Wi-Fi 6E / Wi-Fi 7 (6 GHz band)
- 5G / 10G WAN and LAN ports
- SQM / Cake / fq_codel support (OpenWrt, AsusWRT-Merlin, KeeneticOS)
- VPN Fusion / Game Boost / Adaptive QoS
- Multi-Gig support (if you have a >1 Gbps plan)
Recommended models by category:
- Entry-level: TP-Link Archer AX55 / AX73
- Mid-range: ASUS RT-AX86U Pro / TUF Gaming AX6000
- Pro: ASUS GT-AXE16000 / ROG Rapture GT-BE98 Pro, MikroTik + UniFi AP
Does changing DNS really speed up the internet?
Not the bandwidth, but speeds up website loading (DNS lookup 20–50 ms → 5–15 ms). It doesn't change ping in gaming, but game launchers, patchers, and web menus load faster.
Is there a free tool for continuously monitoring ping?
Yes:
- PingPlotter Free (visualizes the route, shows where the bottleneck is)
- WinMTR (Windows, traceroute + ping combination)
- Grafana + Prometheus + Blackbox Exporter (if you have a home server)
- Speedtest365.hu for regular measurements – bookmark the ping test page!
Special cases and myths
Myth: „Higher bandwidth = lower ping”
False. Bandwidth (Mbps) = how much data passes at once. Ping = how long a packet takes to go back and forth. You can have 1000 Mbps download with 100 ms ping, and 100 Mbps with 15 ms ping.
Myth: „Gaming router automatically improves ping”
Partially true. The hardware helps (better processor, QoS), but if the ISP route is bad, the router can't help either. Measure first, then decide.
Special case: CGNAT (Carrier-Grade NAT)
If the provider shares a public IP If you have CGNAT, then:
- Port forwarding is difficult
- NAT type „Strict” / „Type 3” on console
- Solution: Request a public IPv4 (often free or a paid add-on), or IPv6-only mode (if the game supports it).
Special case: Starlink / 4G/5G internet
- Starlink: 20–50 ms ping, but high jitter (0–100 ms fluctuation). For gaming, you need a wired backup (DSL/Cable).
- 4G/5G: 30–80 ms, but congested during peak hours. External antenna + router (e.g., MikroTik, Teltonika) = more stable ping.
Summary – Reducing ping in 7 steps
- Cable > Wi-Fi – The only guaranteed fix
- Router QoS + 5 GHz + Firmware – Basic settings, 10 minutes
- Kill background processes – Task Manager, 2 minutes
- DNS → 1.1.1.1 / 8.8.8.8 – Free, 1 minute, for all devices
- VPN off (if not needed) – Immediate +20–100 ms gain
- Report to ISP / switch providers – If your network is fine, the ISP is the bottleneck
- Advanced: SQM, MTU, Hardware – If you've tried everything, this is the final 10–20 ms
Ready for the test? Go now to the Speedtest365 ping meter, run a measurement, apply steps 1–3, and measure again. Comment below: how many ms you gained!