by Online gaming can be such an enjoyable experience, but once your internet drops, your game gets laggy, or your computer suddenly gets wonky and affects your game, the entire experience can quickly turn bad.
What can the cause be? Unfortunately, it isn’t exclusive to JUST your internet connection, so pinpointing where the problem might be can be a hit or miss. The good news is, hundreds of people have experienced the same thing, so there are tried-and-tested solutions to common problems that prevent you from enjoying a smooth gaming experience at home.
Here are the top issues to check and tips on how to solve them:
Computer Issues
- Too many programs running – A computer can handle multiple programs and apps running simultaneously. But sometimes, the number is too much that it is affecting the speed of your games. Fortunately, this is very easy to solve. Just force-stop some of the programs that you’re not using and wait for your system to ease up.
- Background apps that stopped or continuously updated – Apps that run in the background and upgrades that are downloading on the side also eat up resources. If your system isn’t as powerful, this prevents you from enjoying a smooth gaming experience.
- Overheating PC – Computers would try to operate as long as they could even if they’re beginning to struggle. If you’ve been using the computer for days on end, it could be the reason why your games are getting laggy. Either try to restart the computer or let it rest for a few hours.
Router issues
- Walls or furniture causing disruptions – If your computer table or router is situated in different places, a wall, appliance, cabinet or other BIG items may be blocking them from “meeting” and causing internet disruptions. For issues like this, just move your router as nearest to your computer as possible to ensure signals could reach your PC.
- PC location is far from the router or dead Wi-Fi Zones: If you’re using a laptop and you want to play anywhere at home, invest in a branded Wi-Fi extender. This game-changing device solves multiple dead spots at home. Also called a Wi-Fi repeater, this device strengthens the signal of your router and as a result, improves the speed of your connection (even if you’re far from the router).
- Wireless is not an option: If Wi-Fi isn’t an option, maybe your computer room is on the third floor or in the basement, ethernet cables may solve your problem. There would be some installation required, but once you’ve set it up, your wired connection could provide better, more stable internet.
Connection Issues
Sometimes, if you’ve checked everything about the router and you’re still having issues with your game, it might be directly related to your internet connection.
Too many devices connected to the Wi-Fi: You may not be aware of this, but sometimes, there will be too many devices connected to your internet. This happens a lot to households with “smart appliances” or appliances that are Wi-Fi-powered.
Normally, this shouldn’t be an issue, but if it is affecting your gaming experience and eating up resources that would have been directed to your computer, then this can be problematic. To solve this, just disconnect unused gadgets (such as the smart oven or smart kettle) to make way for your gaming.
PC Hardware or Gaming Issues
- Outdated computer parts – Check your processor and RAM to see if the game is suitable for your system. Sometimes, they are no longer compatible, which causes instability when you play the game. This could also be related to the Operating System you’re using.
- Powerline networking kits – This is the next best thing after Wi-Fi extenders, but they cost much more and require more time to install. If you have extra funds, I recommend you take a look at these kits.
- Outdated router – Check your router’s model and see the date it was manufactured. Your router may just be too old to function properly. Note that if the router you’re using is provided by your ISP, there’s a huge chance that you’re using an outdated or generic model. If possible, replace your router with models from TP-link, ASUS, Netgear, Linksys, or other reputable brands you like.
It can also be possible that the game itself is the problem. Does it need to be upgraded? Check the game’s official site and look for the newest updates you could download.
You see, not everyone can enjoy smooth gaming at ALL times. Even if you have the best, most up-to-date PC, there can still be some issues with your router, cables, the game itself, and so on.
Of course, you can always request the help of your ISP’s tech support, but learning to troubleshoot these issues is important, especially if you want to get back to your games quickly.
