Cómo mejorar la latencia (ping)

Modern gaming has come a long way since the release of the original Nintendo or Atari. Individual gameplay on console systems has now evolved to multiplayer systems that bring gamers together virtually from all over the world. With today's online gaming, it's more important than ever to have a conexión a Internet sólida.

Whether you play first-person shooter (FPS) games, racing games or real-time strategy games, you need a fast internet connection to keep your gameplay seamless. If you've seen a delay between pressing a button and seeing the corresponding action in the game, then you may be experiencing latency issues. Latency refers to the average time it takes your gaming devices to send data to the corresponding server and then back to your device.

 

Keep reading to understand more about high vs. low latency, the causes of latency and tips for how to improve latency to create a better gaming experience. 

Young white man, online gamer in pink light frustrated at the computer

Diferencia entre latencia alta y baja

Latency (also called "ping") is the more technical term for lag, which is when you experience response delays during gaming. High latency means more lag, which everyone knows makes gaming way less enjoyable. Low latency means less lag and smoother gameplay.

 

Generally, when you test your ping, an acceptable number is anywhere around 40 to 60 milliseconds (ms) or lower, while a speed of over 100 ms will usually mean a noticeable lag in gaming. Essentially, you want the latency from your gaming device to the internet server to be as close to 0 ms as possible, as this means it takes little to no time for one device to respond to another.

Rango del ping Calidad del ping Effect on gaming experience
0 - 20 ms Fabuloso Las demoras o fallas durante el juego deberían ser mínimas; imágenes de alta calidad
20 - 50 ms Bueno Experiencia de juego sin problemas y con buena respuesta
50 - 100 ms Regular El rango más común para los jugadores; puede experimentar demoras de vez en cuando, según el juego y la configuración del dispositivo
100 - 300 ms Mediocre Es probable que experimente muchos retrasos y demoras durante el juego
300 ms o más Malo Demoras muy marcadas en la respuesta; un retraso muy evidente que dará lugar a una experiencia de juego de baja calidad

Causas de la latencia

There are several different reasons why you may have latency issues while gaming, including these:

  1. Geographical location: The physical distance between your internet router and the game server can affect latency. For example, if you're a Chicago resident, you may want to choose a server in the Chicago or surrounding area rather than, say, in New York. This will help reduce the time it takes for data to travel back and forth between you and the server.

  2. Internet connection type: Your internet connection speed and technology can play a role in experiencing low or high latency. Both DSL and fiber internet internet de banda ancha plans can provide fast enough speeds for virtually lag-fee online gaming.

  3. Equipment: You may have an outdated router that delivers a slower connection. This is also common if you have many people connected to your router at one time. Upgrading to a newer router may decrease latency in gaming. 

Cómo mejorar la latencia del juego

Don't let lags keep you from gaming. If you've been experiencing high latency that's affecting your gameplay, then try these methods to help lower latency (improve your ping) and stay in the game.

  1. Cierra todos los programas que no estés usando. If you're running large applications like music or video software, then they could eat into your internet bandwidth, which can affect your gaming speeds.

  2. Use a wired Ethernet connection. A direct connection from your router to your gaming device could provide a more reliable, faster signal for gaming. If multiple people in your home are using the WiFi, you could get a spotty connection. Una conexión por cable puede ayudar a aumentar la velocidad y disminuir el retraso.

  3. Don't stray too far from the router. If your router is on the other side of the house and you're using a wireless connection to get your game on, you may experience a slower connection. Consider moving closer to the router (or move the router closer to your gaming center) to improve the strength of the connection. Learn more ways to optimize your WiFi signal if a wired connection isn't an option.

  4. Elige un servidor de juego que esté cerca de ti. For faster communication between your computer and the server, consider picking a game server that is closer to you. 

 

Now you have some ideas for how to improve latency in order to get a better overall gaming experience. For more articles related to internet for gaming, check out the CenturyLink gaming internet hub or the list of links below. 

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