Best Gaming Router 2020

Imagine you are in the middle of a CSGO session and about to give your opponent a headshot.

 

Suddenly the internet connection breaks and your plans go down the drain.

 

Annoying, isn’t it?

 

If this happens to you more often and you have an outdated router, this is most likely the problem point.

 

Gaming and the Internet are inevitably connected nowadays. Unequal connection quality and regularly decreasing data rates significantly reduce your own performance in competitive multiplayer games.

 

A gaming router is therefore essential for the best gaming experience. It ensures a stable connection, good data transfer rates and high security.

 

WLAN Router for Gamers – Checklist

 

What a router needs for gaming can actually be summarized quickly. The following points should always be fulfilled:

 

• Good data transfer rates for unlimited gaming.
• Dual or triband WiFi offer good connections for all members of the household.
• The latest WLAN standards (currently 802.11 ac) and fast 5 GHz frequency band are supported.
• Data streams can be controlled to supply different services over different frequency bands. In addition, different devices can be supplied with different bandwidths. This is known as Quality of Service (QoS for short).
• High-quality software makes operation easier and increases security.

 

Best Gaming Router 2020

 

Asus RT-AC5300 – High-end Router

 

 

With this monster, the daring design immediately catches the eye, the eight antennas and the sharp edges give this router a very special look.

 

The device is equipped with a 1.4 GHz dual-core processor, 512MB RAM and 128MB Flash. A total of four Gigabit LAN ports and two USB inputs (1xUSB 2.0, 1xUSB 3.0) are available.

 

The web GUI also offers many functions and is clearly laid out. You can also access the most important options with the AiCloud app.

 

This power router delivers so much power that it can even be used for small offices.

 

To complain about is the high power consumption of 18 watts, even in standby mode this is still 15 watts.

 

The price of around € 320 makes this router the most expensive in the best list.

 

NETGEAR Nighthawk R7000 AC1900 – Best Router Under 200

 

 

With the built-in 1 GHz processor, this router offers enough power to enable instant streaming and gaming.

 

In theory, this router could reach 1,300 Mbit / s, users report a practical performance of up to 330 Mbit / s.

 

This device also has two USB ports (1xUSB 2.0, 1xUSB 3.0) and a 128MB flash memory.

 

It should be noted that no modem is integrated, i.e. a DSL modem must be purchased separately.

 

Asus RT-AC88U – Recommended Gaming Router

 

 

Thanks to the four antennas, this router achieves a theoretical data transfer rate of 2,167 Mbit / s. In practice, however, this is between 200 and 400 Mbit / s depending on the application.

 

The router has eight Gigabit LAN ports and a Gigabit WAN interface.

 

Unfortunately, the power consumption is very high at 19 watts, and the device still needs around 15 watts in standby mode.

 

Note the well-designed web interface, as well as the possibility of access via smartphone or tablet using the Asus app.

 

NETGEAR R8000 NIGHTHAWK X6 – Good for Gaming and Streaming

 

 

The device immediately catches the eye with its six antennas, which make the “night falcon” look like a stealth jet.

 

A 1 GHz dual-core processor as well as 128MB flash and 256MB RAM memory are used.

 

Netgear calls the Nighthawk a triband router, actually, only two frequency bands are used – one with 2.4 GHz and one with 5 GHz. However, two networks are made available on the 5 GHz band. The maximum speed specified by the manufacturer is 3.2 Gbps (total value of all bands).

 

Four Gigabit LAN ports, two USB ports and a Gigabit WAN port are installed for connection to the modem.

 

Asus RT-N66U N900

 

 

The RT-N66U N900 from Asus is a dual-band router that runs at 5 GHz or 2.4 GHz.

 

In theory, speeds of up to 900Mb / s are possible.

 

The price/performance ratio is particularly good with this router.

 

TP-Link Archer C7 AC1750

 

 

In practice, this router manages around 190 Mbit / s in n operation.

 

This device is also a dual-band router, which uses a 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz band.

 

The low power consumption of 5 to 7 watts and the good price/performance ratio make the TP-Link Archer C7 AC1750 very attractive.

 

What needs to be considered when buying a gaming router?

 

The topic of routers inevitably leads to some technical aspects of the connection. Gaming routers are equipped for the exchange of large data packets. This is not the case with cheaper models, such as those often supplied by providers. These have mainly been developed for surfing, emailing and the like.

 

Dual or triband WiFi connections ensure a more stable WiFi connection in all respects. Different services are outsourced to different frequencies. Normally, a 2.4 GHz frequency band and one to two 5.0 GHz frequency bands are used. The slower 2.4 GHz band with a longer range takes over the tasks of daily surfing, while faster 5.0 GHz bands with a shorter range supply data-hungry applications such as games and streams. Very high-quality routers switch dynamically between the different frequencies in order to maintain a stable connection at all times.

 

High-quality gaming routers usually offer several transmission antennas. As a result, the reception area is better served and even expanded to a limited extent. In conjunction with the use of several frequency bands mentioned above, this ensures a better and more balanced supply of several devices in the same household. This not only benefits gamers but also other family members.

 

The hardware of the router is larger. For example, a decent processor ensures a faster and more precise processing of data packets. This lowers the ping, the probability of data loss and increases the connection quality when several devices are active in the network.

 

Gaming Router Benefits – usage and security

 

A decent router is worth the money. In addition to high-quality technology, it offers security-relevant features for everyday use. Both the WLAN network itself and the connection to the Internet are secured. As a result, high-quality models support anti-virus software and firewalls.

 

The user interfaces of cheap routers are usually a confusing ordeal. Good manufacturers value the best possible usability. In addition to the well-designed web interface, they offer practical smartphone apps. In addition, significantly more data is made available. Real-time monitoring and other tools offer the possibility to quickly find out what is causing problems.

 

USB ports are often integrated in cheaper modems. However, there are slower, outdated sockets. High-quality gamers routers come with fast USB 3.0 ports. They can be expanded to central data storage in connection with storage media.

 

Conclusion

 

One thing is and remains clear: The best connection is still achieved with an Ethernet cable. However, many reject this solution because of annoying cables or the like. In this case, a high-quality gaming WLAN router is inevitable.

 

It significantly increases the connection quality and thus reduces the frequency of failures and hangers. In addition, these models offer many features to better regulate the distribution of the connection. Finally, good software features simplify operation and increase security in daily use. The best gaming router depends on your needs. In large households with many simultaneous users, a triband device with many setting options is recommended. A dual-band model already provides sufficient services in a single-person household.