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What makes a router a gaming router? There is no strict definition, but you can probably tell if you look. Gaming routers usually sport aggressive angles and numerous antennas. RGB lights are often combined. MSI’s RadiX AXE6600 is a good example.
Top Rated Routers For Gaming
Gaming router? In general, with a gaming router, you can expect higher internal hardware than budget offerings, including additional bandwidth to handle more devices and often a faster CPU and more RAM to handle larger device loads.
Rog Strix Gs Ax5400
Typically, features aimed at gamers are also included in the user interface to help prioritize game traffic and packets. And additional granular control is added to optimize and optimize the performance of your network to ensure it best meets the needs of your game. Surprisingly, it is usually priced higher than most mainstream restaurants. But spending more and making the right choice can lead to a better gaming experience with less downtime, especially if your home network and Internet bandwidth are shared between multiple users and multiple devices.
All that said, gaming routers can be overkill for most people, especially if you’re in an apartment or small house without a lot of people demanding your limited internet bandwidth. If this sounds like you, consider a more mainstream router and spend the extra money on a better CPU, graphics card, or larger SSD so you can install more games.
Also remember that even if the best gaming router can prioritize your gaming packets and limit latency, it won’t give you better, faster internet than what you’re currently paying for, or give you a competitive edge. Makes the game better. A properly configured gaming router will, at the very least, ensure that the reason you win or lose has more to do with your skill set (or lack thereof) than anything else.
For more on this topic, check out our guide to buying the right gaming router. But we’ll cover some basic ideas below.
The 3 Best Wi Fi Routers Of 2023
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There’s a lot to consider whether you’re in the market for a router, whether you’re looking for the best gaming router or something less dedicated to gaming.
It doesn’t have RGB lights, and setup could be easier, but Netgear’s Nighthawk XR1000 brings powerful DumaOS 3.0 for network fine-tuning to prioritize traffic, as well as Wi-Fi 6 beamforming. There is no Wi-Fi 6E, but with so few devices actually supporting that specification, and the fact that its inclusion would sacrifice the second useful 5 GHz band, most users won’t own a 6E. At least one is better. for two. Even more years. If you want something simpler and cheaper, D-Link’s $99 EXO AX1800 offers cheap Wi-Fi 6, albeit with some limitations.
The Netgear NXR1000 might not be for everyone, especially given its $300-plus price tag. But those who want a true gaming router with granular controls instead of colorful lights should consider this the best gaming router for their needs.
The Best Gaming Routers In 2022
The Asus RT-AX82U offers a combination of Wi-Fi 6 and excellent gaming performance, all in an attractive, reasonably designed package for $230. We were impressed by the high fps score, the option for game-centric QoS settings, and integrated security.
You also get Aura-compatible RGB lighting, which some will appreciate, but you can also turn it off. Just know that your Ethernet and USB options are limited, and there is no WTFast option. There’s no Wi-Fi 6E, but we wouldn’t expect it at this price, and most devices still can’t take advantage of the 6 GHz band.
Asus’ ROG Rapture GT-AXE11000 was the first Wi-Fi 6E router available, and shows that the rapid arrival of the new standard is not without some problems. We appreciate this router’s super-fast Wi-Fi, ease of setup, integrated security, support for Outlook, a service that promises low game latency, and the flexibility of cable ports that offer link aggregation.
But the GT-AXE11000 is very expensive. There are very few Wi-Fi 6E devices on the market, and we saw poor QoS performance in our testing with the current firmware. This issue was resolved by rolling back to an older firmware, but that firmware introduced lag issues. Apparently at the time we tested, Asus was still working out some software bugs.
The Best Asus Router 2023: Top Gaming Routers From Asus
It is possible or unlikely that this performance issue will be resolved by the time you read this. But Wi-Fi 6E is still very much in its infancy. So if money is an object and you must have the latest Wi-Fi standard (some very nice features this router brings to the table), you should wait until more 6E routers are available and the standard matures for more customers. And has had some time to expand.
+ 6 Capable Wi-Fi options + Multiple Ethernet, support link aggregation + Easy to set up and use + Best compatibility tested for all clients
TP-Link’s Archer AX6000 Next-Gen Wi-Fi Router sits somewhere between full-tiled gaming routers like the Asus ROG Rapture GT-AXE11000 and entry-level budget options like TP-Link’s sub-$70 Archer A7 AC1750 . The Archer AX6000’s ‘middle of the road’ results in a router that is larger than some, with several antennas (8) and Gigabit Ethernet ports (8, plus one 2.5GB WAN). You also get Wi-Fi 6, though not the new 6E which uses the less-random 6 GHz band.
Offering a good value for about $250, the Archer AX6000 impressed us with its strong 5 GHz throughput, high game fps scores when connected via Ethernet or 5 GHz, integrated 8-port switch, and included security subscription. Just be aware that game-centric features and QoS found in expensive game routers are often absent here, as well as the third band to better handle some devices. But as a general purpose, mid-range router, there’s a lot to like about the AX6000, including decent gaming performance.
Asus Tuf Gaming Ax5400 Review: A Likeable Router For Gamers On A Budget
Other Tested Products: In recent months, we have tested several other routers enough to make a list of the best gaming routers. Asus’ mecha-inspired ROG Rapture GT-AX6000 EVA Edition delivered stable video streaming in our tests, and included some great gaming and security features. But it’s expensive as it’s only a dual-band device and doesn’t support the latest Wi-Fi 6E standard. And its security features are not enabled by default.
Netgear’s Nighthawk Mesh Wi-Fi 6 AX3600 looks like a promising mesh solution, with powerful features and ease of setup. But the insufficient QoS, connectivity issues and the fact that you have to pay for the antivirus (besides the already high price) make it hard to recommend.
D-Link EXO AX AX1800 (DIR-X1870) has a more mainstream appeal, thanks to Wi-Fi 6 support and good gaming performance, paired with a price of $ 99. But the 2.4 GHz performance is disappointing, the ports are limited ( without USB) and the router is painfully slow to accept and activate all configuration changes.
After a small start with Mattel Aquarius, Matt built his first PC in the late 1990s and dabbled in soft PC modding in the early 2000s. He has spent the last 15 years covering emerging technology for Smithsonian, Popular Science, and Consumer Reports, while testing components and PCs for Computer Shopper, PC Mag, and Digital Trends. Worked with computers for a lifetime, starting with a stint of several years in purchasing for a major IBM reseller in New York City before finally landing (when it was still published as PC Magazine). I spent over 14 years on staff, most recently as Director of Operations for PC Labs, before hitting the freelance circuit as a contributing editor. Read full bio
Best Wi Fi Routers For High Speed Internet In 2023
One of the fastest routers we’ve tested, the Asus ROG Rapture GT-AC5300 offers plenty of gamer-friendly features, plenty of I/O ports, and a great management console that lets you manage your network for lag-free gaming. that.
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Hardcore gamers rely on fast systems with graphics cards to gain an edge when competing online, but all that fast hardware means nothing if your router can’t deliver the throughput it needs to overcome network lag. Enter the Asus ROG Rapture GT-AC5300 ($399.99), a high-end tri-band router designed for gamers. This beast of a router looks the part and offers hardware and software-based gaming acceleration and optimization, a set of LAN ports, strong protection against malware and viruses, and a
How To Choose A Router (2023): Tips, Technical Terms, And Advice
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