Let’s settle something: if you’re lagging in Call of Duty or can’t get a stable stream on GeForce NOW, is your internet to blame, or something else?
What matters most: speed vs latency
A lot of gamers think they need insane speeds, like 1 Gbps, to have a good online experience. Truth is, most online games only use a few Mbps at most. The real deal-breaker is latency (aka ping). That determines how fast your inputs reach the server and back.
Good ping: under 30ms
Okay ping: 30–70ms
Bad ping: 100ms+ = frustration and broken keyboards
Download speeds still matter
While speed doesn’t affect real-time gaming, it absolutely impacts:
Downloading massive games (hello, Flight Simulator)
Day-one patches and updates
Game streaming quality (think: 4K on GeForce NOW)
If you’re still rocking under 100 Mbps, you’ll feel the wait when pulling down 100+ GB installs.
Wired > wifi > wireless
Want the best experience? Use Ethernet. Wi-Fi is convenient but can be unpredictable, especially in crowded households or with interference. Mobile 5G and satellite gaming (Starlink!) are better than ever, but still inconsistent for twitchy shooters.
So, how fast is fast enough in 2025?
50–100 Mbps is fine for most gamers
Ping under 30ms is the real MVP
Wired connections are still the gold standard
If you're doing a lot of streaming or downloading, then yes, go for faster speeds. But don't let a low number trick you into upgrading your plan if you're just playing Fortnite or Apex.