It doesn’t matter what your favorite platform is. Whether you like Xbox products, PlayStation, or PC gaming, there is one constant that never changes: you need top-shelf networking equipment or your gaming experience is going to suck. We all know how big of a problem lag and delay can be, and if your network equipment isn’t up to scratch then your teammates are going to get angry with you. As they berate you for your poor performance, you might try to explain that it wasn’t your fault because you had network performance problems. But few gamers ever accept that as an excuse, and instead they’ll try to call you out by claiming you’re simply making excuses for being incompetent.
The problem of network performance is magnified if you do any kind of ranked or professional gaming as well. When you game competitively in leagues, you can bet big money that your competition has the highest performing networking equipment to give them an edge over their enemies. As a gamer, you absolutely need a quality router or you run the risk of latency and bottleneck issues that will have everyone on your team treating you like a newbie before you can say “game over.”
But which router should you select to support your gaming? Finding the right router is especially hard right now due to the fact that a new wireless technology has emerged. The following are the top router picks to help you stay at the top of your game without distractions like bandwidth capacity issues that will turn you into a loser. Before you consult the list below, please note that for best performance, you always want to be hard wired with RJ45 Ethernet cables as opposed to using Wi-Fi. Wireless connectivity is completely dependent upon your environment and if WiFi is what you need, consult my list of best wireless network routers that focus on such performance.
BEST ROUTERS FOR HARDCORE GAMERS
ASUS ROG Rapture GT-AC5300
The ROG Rapture GT-AC5300 features a varied selection of features that are ideal for gamers, plus it provides consistently fast performance. It supports Alexa so you can manage it with voice commands. The interface is appealing and easy to use, with options like Network Ping and Ping Deviation over time. However, the router’s large size may be a problem if you have a small space. The ROG Rapture GT-AC5300 has a quad-core processor and 1GB of RAM. It also comes with 8 Gigabit Ethernet ports for wired capacity. It is incredibly fast and thanks to the gamer-friendly functions supported, it can help you to enjoy a smooth, enjoyable experience. Apart from being a great solution for gaming, the ROG Rapture GT-AC5300 by ASUS, is perfect for streaming. The main downside is that the price is high when compared to other devices in the list, but if you want powerful performance, this router is a great investment.
Features and Specifications:
- Speed: AC5300
- Processor: Quad-core 1.8GHz
- LAN Ports: 8
- Antennas: 8
Amazon: $367.99 |
FlashRouters: $499.95 |
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ASUS RT-AC66U
This router has frequently appeared in many of the top router lists all over the Internet for good reason. It offers fantastic hardware, speed, and performance, and it also has the right chipset to support Tomato and DD-WRT. Not only can you flash this router, but it provides tremendous wireless support and throughput as well. As the name suggests, it supports the latest and fastest Wi-Fi standard (802.11AC). If you choose to hardwire your gaming console or PC to your router, you won’t be disappointed with this model’s gigabit Ethernet ports, either. And for the value you get from this router, it is reasonably priced at about $185 on Amazon, but brick-and-mortar retailers will price it a little higher.
Features and Specifications:
- Speed: 600 Mhz CPU
- 256 MB RAM
- 128 MB flash memory
- Antennas: 3 external antennas
- 11 AC support
- 1750 Mbps total wireless throughput
Amazon: $184.88 |
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NETGEAR NIGHTHAWK R7000 AC1900
The Nighthawk AC1900 has also garnered a lot of attention because it is a high-performance router that delivers enhanced wired connectivity. This flagship router from Netgeear offers 802.11AC connectivity in both the 2.4 GHz and 5.0 GHz ranges to provide you with blazing fast wireless speeds. The combination of advanced wireless support and great wired connectivity make it a convenient choice for gamers all over the world. The router features 4 external antennas and powerful 1.7 GHz Dual Core Processor. In addition to its fast gigabit Ethernet ports, it also gives you QoS support to give your gaming traffic forwarding preference over other types of traffic on the network. Thanks to the top performance antennas and Beamforming+ technology, you will enjoy great coverage across your home and the router is ideal to support multiple devices. The Netgear Nighthawk R7000 AC1900 wil also allow you to enjoy 4K video streaming and a smooth gaming experience. It supports multi-user MIMO technology for added power. The router currently is available for a lower price, making it a good deal for gamers who want to get good performance without having to invest a lot of money. It is one of the best devices that Netgear has available in the market.
Features and Specifications:
- Processor: 1.7 GHz dual core CPU (wow!)
- Antennas: 3 external antennas
- 11AC support
- QoS capabilities on native firmware and the ability to use DD-WRT
1900 Mbps total wireless throughput (600 Mbps with 2.4 GHz and 1300 Mbps with 5.0 GHz)
Amazon: $109.99 |
FlashRouters: $249.99 |
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APPLE AIRPORT EXTREME BASE STATION
For those of you Apple evangelists out there, this list would be incomplete without a top-of-the-line Apple solution. This router made the list because it provides the latest and greatest speeds and supports 802.11 AC. Though it is pretty darn easy to setup, it does have a couple drawbacks. Firstly, it only provides 3 gigabit Ethernet ports whereas other models will provide 4 or 5. Also, it doesn’t offer as many features as other models in the same price range. It costs about $200 on Amazon, but you can find deals and used equipment for less.
Features and Specifications:
- 11 AC support
- 1300 Mbps wireless speed
- 6 antennas for increased wireless signal strength
- Beamforming feature to deliver the strongest wireless signal to your devices
Amazon: $269.99 |
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