Is 8 Ping ms Good for Gaming and General Use? A Deep Dive into Excellent Ping Speeds - 33rd Square (2024)

A blazing fast ping of just 8 milliseconds – is that good? For the average internet user streaming video or browsing the web, a ping of 8ms may seem indistinguishable from speeds like 30ms or 50ms. But for online gaming and other real-time applications, there‘s a massive difference. An 8ms ping offers incredibly responsive, lag-free performance that‘s a competitive gamer‘s dream.

In this guide, we‘ll dive deep into ping, explore why low pings are vital for gaming, see how 8ms compares to real-world speeds, and provide tips for improving ping on your own connection. After reading, you‘ll understand exactly why a ping of 8ms is so exceptional and how to aim for similar speeds yourself.

Defining Ping, Latency, and Why It Matters

Ping measures the latency of a network connection – that is, the time required for small packets of data to transmit between two points. It‘s measured in milliseconds (ms), which are 1000ths of a second.

When you ping a server, your device sends a small 32 or 64 byte data packet to that server and records how long it takes to receive a response. This duration represents the full round-trip latency, or "ping", of that connection.

Lower ping means data transfers faster back and forth, with less lag between sending a request and receiving the response. Higher ping causes delays, interruptions in streaming video, and sluggish response in online games.

Why does ping matter so much? Because it directly impacts the responsiveness and performance of all network applications. When checking email or browsing simple web pages, you may not notice small variations in ping. But for time-sensitive uses like video streaming, voice calls, and online gaming, ping is absolutely critical.

According to recent data from network monitoring company Cloudping, the majority of home internet connections now average between 20ms to 60ms ping for local servers. While fast enough for most basic web browsing, pings in this range begin to show performance issues for gaming and video.

The Need for Speed: Low Ping for Online Gaming

For traditional single-player games, the responsiveness of the game itself is limited only by the speed of your local hardware. But online multiplayer games add the dimension of latency between you and the other players on the network. Fast reaction speed and precision timing are critical for competitive play.

This is why professional gamers demand the very lowest pings possible when competing, often aiming for speeds under 10ms to central game servers. At these near-instantaneous speeds, there is zero perceptible lag or delay between your input and the game response.

Consider popularity competitive games like Fortnite, Call of Duty, and Overwatch. Their gameplay unfolds through a constant stream of critical data between your device and the game server:

• Your physical movements and inputs
• Locations of other players
• Projectile trajectories
• Environment changes

At 30ms ping, this data round trip feels reasonably crisp, though skilled players may sense slight sluggishness. But increase latency to 80ms+, and the delays become very apparent – you‘ll experience annoying lag, graphical stuttering, and rubber banding issues. At 150ms+ ping, gameplay feels jarringly inconsistent.

For the smoothest online gaming, target having pings reliably under 20ms whenever possible. Here are the ideal ping speeds to provide lag-free performance in competitive games:

• < 10ms – Extremely low, optimal for pro gaming
• 10-20ms – Excellent, super responsive
• 20-30ms – Great for casual gaming
• 30-60ms – Fair, starting to notice slight delays
• 60-100ms – Borderline playable, lag issues appear
• 100ms+ – Poor, severe lag and interruptions

Real-World Ping Speeds: How 8ms Compares

So where does an 8ms ping fall based on typical real-world internet speeds? It‘s an extremely low ping that would widely be considered blazing fast.

Across all types of internet connections globally, the average ping is currently around 40ms to 70ms for nearby servers in your region and 80ms to 150ms for distant servers in other countries. However, access technology and geography both impact ping significantly.

For home consumers on standard cable or DSL connections, average pings to local game servers are:

• Cable internet – 18ms to 35ms
• DSL internet – 45ms to 75ms

Fiber optic networks offer lower latency given their greater bandwidth potential:

• Fiber internet – 9ms to 25ms

Here are average reported pings from gamers connecting to local servers on popular US gaming networks:

An 8ms ping performs right at the very low end of the spectrum, even on fast fiber networks. It‘s an extremely responsive connection, almost certainly through a local fiber line, enabling you to achieve the <10ms pings desired for pro-level gaming.

At just 8 ping, you can expect:

• Instant visual feedback in games
• No perceptible input lag
• Smooth, uninterrupted streaming
• Rapid loading and downloading

For uses like HD video streaming that require unbroken throughput, a consistent 8ms ping would provide an exceptional viewing experience.

Diminishing Returns: Is There a "Too Fast" Ping Speed?

As ping drops into the single digit 1-10ms range, is there any downside or limits to "too fast" of a connection? Not really, because the underlying network protocols are designed to handle rapid data transmission reliably.

In testing by Cloudping, even ping speeds below 1ms showed no negative impact on game performance. The network traffic continues flowing smoothly and predictably. Other factors like your local PC hardware speed are likely to become the limiting factor before an extremely low ping causes any issues.

In fact, achieving a 0ms ping is theoretically possible in special cases. If you are gaming on a server located in the very same building and connected via LAN, the physical distance between you and the server is zero – so latency can drop to nothing!

Of course, home internet users are unlikely to ever see quite this fast of a ping. But it demonstrates that incredibly low pings don‘t necessarily cause problems or become "too fast" on modern networks. For gaming and real-time apps, lower ping is almost always better.

Tips for Lowering Your Ping

While attaining a blazing 8ms ping may not be realistic for many home setups, there are steps you can take to diagnose ping issues and optimize your connection:

• Use a wired ethernet connection – Gaming over WiFi often adds 10-30ms extra latency. Wired ethernet provides more consistent throughput and fewer ping spikes. Consider wiring your main gaming device directly to your router if possible.

• Upgrade your network equipment – Older routers and modems can lack the processing power and network capacity to enable low ping connections, especially with multiple users online. Investing in newer WiFi 6 or DOCSIS 3.1 gear helps.

• Limit bandwidth usage – Streaming video on a separate device while gaming can congest your network and increase ping. Setting gaming traffic as high priority helps, as does pausing other network activities during gameplay sessions.

• Change server regions – Connecting to distant game servers inevitably brings higher ping. But switching to local region with servers nearby may provide a lower ping connection.

• Contact your ISP – Frequent ping spikes often indicate an issue with your internet connection itself. Most ISPs can help troubleshoot and identify any factors degrading your speeds.

• Use a gaming VPN – A virtual private network can provide a more direct network path to bypass ISP routing inefficiencies and network congestion that add latency. Top services like ExitLag and WTFast can lower pings by up to 40%.

With some work optimizing your home network and connectivity, you can achieve excellent pings for gaming. While 8ms may be out of reach, getting reliably under 20ms makes a huge difference versus a fluctuation 50-100ms connection.

Prioritizing lower latency leads directly to more precise controls, faster reactions, and better multiplayer experiences. For serious gamers, every millisecond counts!

The Ideal Ping for Different Online Activities

Not all internet uses require the absolute lowest ping possible. Here are the ideal ping ranges for various common internet activities:

For real-time applications like gaming, streaming, and voice chat, you want reliably low pings for smooth performance. But normal web browsing and downloading content is much more latency-tolerant, making anything under 100ms or so feel plenty responsive.

Match your network priorities and connection setup to your primary needs. Casual gamers on a budget may find 50ms totally playable, while aspiring pro streamers willing to pay for the fastest fiber connection can pursue record <10ms pings.

Final Thoughts on Extremely Low Ping

In the world of internet connections, achieving a remarkably low 8ms ping is an impressive feat. This represents an exceptionally responsive connection optimized for real-time interactivity. While not critical for everyday web use, such a fast ping speed can provide competitive gamers with that extra split-second advantage that counts during intense multiplayer matches.

For the vast majority of residential connections, expect average local pings in the 20ms to 60ms range. With wired networking gear, low-latency ISPs, dedicated bandwidth, and gaming-centric VPN services, more users can attain pings under 30ms – minimal enough for fast-paced online gameplay. While we can‘t all enjoy instant 8ms speeds, optimizing your home setup for lower latency provides a superior gaming experience.

Related