I’ve been a fan of Tekken ever since Tekken 2 came out on the PS1. Ever since then, I’ve been playing, and I always believed that I was great at the series. However, I got humbled when I played Tekken 8 on the PS5 and took part in an online tournament for a change.
Not only did people have an insane skill set, they defeated me with perfect knock-outs in a matter of seconds.
After a couple of matches, I realized the problem wasn’t my skill, but the way I was connected to the internet. I was connected via Wi-Fi, and my game was a bit choppier than I expected it to be, though I was connected to an Xfinity internet connection, which is already really popular among the gaming community due to its high-speed internet and low latency.
After putting in some research, I found out that my mistake was connecting my console to the internet via Wi-Fi instead of an Ethernet cable (or LAN), which is a must if you intend on playing games online, especially for tournaments.
So, let’s dive into the differences between using Ethernet and Wi-Fi for online gaming, and which option you should use.
Using LAN/Ethernet for Online Gaming
While Wi-Fi is almost always the more convenient option, here are some of the reasons why you should be using an Ethernet connection for online gaming, especially for tournaments.
It Gives You the Stability That You Need
When you connect your console or your PC to the internet via Wi-Fi, the signals can fluctuate. This results in a poor internet performance, and you can kiss winning the game goodbye.
However, you can mitigate that if you connect your gaming device directly to your router through an Ethernet cable. This way, the internet data travels directly from the router to your device, eliminating the risk of a poor internet connection.
Plus, Wi-Fi is prone to interference from other devices, but an Ethernet cable is not, which ensures that you have the reliability that you need. Not only that, but you also get consistent speeds that are crucial for a multiplayer game.
This gives you all the more reason to opt for an Ethernet connection instead of the traditional Wi-Fi.
An Ethernet Connection Offers Lower Latency
Latency is the time delay data takes to travel from an internet source to a destination and back, measured in milliseconds (ms).
The lower the latency is, the better the internet connection will perform. Latency is also referred to as lag, which is an online gamer’s biggest nightmare. If the latency is high, the response rate will be low, and your game will register your actions with a delay.
In terms of gaming, latency means that when you give your game a command (such as to move or to shoot), and there is a delayed response in the action, this makes the game barely playable. However, having an Ethernet connection fixes that as it ensures your gaming device has a steady latency.
To learn more about why an Ethernet connection is better in terms of gaming, be sure to check out this article by Lenovo.
An Ethernet Connection is More Secure
An Ethernet connection offers more data security while you use the internet as compared to Wi-Fi, since it involves a direct connection between your gaming device and the router.
When you are connected to the internet via Wi-Fi, hackers can intercept the network traffic physically and extract personal data, among many other things.
On the other hand, since an Ethernet connection is a direct connection between the router and the gaming device, it makes it difficult for hackers to intercept the network traffic, making it a safer option not only for online gaming but also for other uses of the internet as well.
Using Wi-Fi for Online Gaming
But while Ethernet is clearly the better option for gaming, there are some instances where you might want to choose Wi-Fi for multiplayer gaming.
More Convenient than an Ethernet Connection
If using wires and cables makes things inconvenient for you, then you should consider sticking to Wi-Fi. It allows you to wirelessly connect your gaming device to the internet without having to connect any cables.
This is convenient for people who have a gaming setup in another room.
At this point, all you need to ensure is that you have a reliable internet connection at home, which works amazingly regardless of being a wired or wireless internet connection. I recommend going for Xfinity internet as it comes with a Wi-Fi 6-powered xFi gateway, which is a good option for online gaming on Wi-Fi.
However, if distance is still an issue for you, then there are very effective workarounds that can help you cater to the signal issue as well.
For instance, you can either get a signal extender for your home, or you can also invest in a mesh network that will ensure that every nook and cranny of your house has great internet coverage.
Faster to Set Up
Connecting a device, let alone your gaming device, to the internet via Wi-Fi is as simple as ABC. All you have to do is click a few buttons, and you are connected to the internet in no time.
On the contrary, for an Ethernet cable, you need to measure the distance between the router and the device, get a cable that is long enough, connect both devices, and then make sure the cable isn’t spread all over the place.
You have to place it on the walls securely, which is honestly a very daunting process, and ends up looking unappealing.
Keeps Your Costs in Check
Looking for cost-effectiveness in this day and age can be a hassle, especially if you don’t calculate your costs beforehand.
If you look into both of the internet transmission methods (Wi-Fi and an Ethernet connection), you’ll see that sticking to Wi-Fi is cheaper than setting up an Ethernet connection at home.
While Ethernet gives you an edge in speed and performance, Wi-Fi doesn’t require you to run cables throughout the house for every new device you set up.
Should You Choose Wi-Fi or Ethernet for Gaming?
Being an online gamer myself, I’ll definitely have to say that an Ethernet connection takes the cake here, and that too by a long shot. For a gamer, all that matters is a reliable internet connection with little to no lag, which can only be achieved with a LAN cable.
When you connect to the internet through Wi-Fi, you should expect a delay in action, which is bad for the game that you intend to play. On the contrary, an Ethernet internet connection will ensure that you experience the speed that you are paying for and that you don’t have to face unnecessary lag.
To learn more about internet connection types and how they have an impact on online gaming, you should check out this thorough article by Intel.
If you want more convenience, then you should opt for Wi-Fi, but if you’re looking for stellar performance as you play your favorite games, then you’ll have to delegate some time to setting up an Ethernet connection at home.
This way, you won’t have to worry about signals dissipating as they travel from the router to your device, or other devices, causing interference as you use the internet.
At the end, it is up to your discretion since you can judge your needs and preferences better.