In online gaming, the competition is brutal, a split-second delay can mean the difference between victory and defeat. That’s why understanding your ping test is so vital.
Although, what exactly is ping test, and how does it impact your gaming experience? Here, we’ll show you the world of ping measurement, exploring how to run a test, interpret the results, and improve your network performance.
Then grab your gaming gear and get ready to unlock the secrets of a smooth online gaming experience.
In addition, learn more about how to get a good connection in online gaming.
How to do a correct ping measurement test
Running a ping test is a simple process that can be done on any device with an internet connection. Here’s a quick guide:
- Open your device’s command prompt or terminal;
- Type ping followed by the website address or IP address you want to test (e.g., ping google.com or ping 8.8.8.8);
- Press Enter. The test will send data packets to the specified address and measure the time it takes for them to return;
- The results will display the ping time in milliseconds (ms), as well as other information like packet loss and jitter.
Ping test results and network performance
The ping results provide valuable insights into your network performance. Lower ping times indicate a faster, more responsive connection, while higher ping times can lead to lag and delays in online games.
What is a Good Ping Response Time?
Ideally, you want a ping time of under 50ms for a smooth online gaming experience.
However, anything under 100ms is generally considered acceptable. If your ping is consistently above 150ms, you may experience noticeable lag and other issues.
Troubleshoot to main connection test issues
Now, this measurement can help identify common connection problems, such as:
- High latency: can be caused by network congestion, distance from the server, or issues with your ISP;
- Packet loss: occurs when data packets fail to reach their destination, leading to interruptions and lag. Packet loss can be caused by network congestion, faulty hardware, or wireless interference;
- Jitter: this refers to inconsistencies in packet arrival times, causing choppy gameplay and audio/video issues.
In that regard, to fix these issues, you can try:
- Restarting your router and modem;
- Connecting to a wired Ethernet connection instead of Wi-Fi;
- Closing bandwidth-intensive applications running in the background;
- Contacting your ISP to troubleshoot any network problems;
- You can also learn more about ping spikes and how to solve them by reading this blog post.
Tips for a proper ping
Here are some tips for getting the most accurate test results:
- Close background applications: running bandwidth-intensive applications in the background can skew your test results;
- Test multiple servers: test your ping to different servers to get a better picture of your overall network performance;
- Use a reliable test tool: there are many online and built-in tools for running tests. Choose one that is reliable and provides detailed information.
Best tools for running ping in the main operational systems
- Windows: Command Prompt (built-in);
- macOS: Terminal (built-in);
- Linux: Terminal (built-in);
- Online tools: Speedtest.net, Ookla, Fast.com
ExitLag: improve your connection test results
While optimizing your network settings and troubleshooting issues can help improve your ping, sometimes you need a more comprehensive solution.
ExitLag comes in with a software designed to optimize your connection for gaming by reducing latency and packet loss.
In the meantime, by intelligently routing your traffic through a global network of dedicated servers, ExitLag ensures that your data packets reach their destination quickly and reliably, delivering a smoother, more responsive gaming experience.
After all, if you’re serious about improving your ping test results and taking your online gaming to the next level, give ExitLag a try. With ExitLag, you can say goodbye to lag and hello to victory.
