We’ve been talking a lot here about gaming gadgets, but the topics we’ve covered were mainly for the popular niches like gaming mices and keyboards for gaming. That’s why I’ve decided it’s time to talk also about less popular gaming gadgets. Today’s talk is about wireless gaming routers, an often neglected category of specialized networking products for amateur or professional wannabe gamers.
Read on the entire post to understand what a gaming router is and what you should be looking for in the best gaming router (there’s a sizeable intro chapter covering this). At the end there’s a section with our current favourites routers for gaming. We’ll be updating this list constantly so you might want to check back to this page from time to time (if you haven’t found your model yet).
The easy answer to this question is: a normal wireless router with a few tweaks that targets gamers. The complete answer is a little bit more complex, and involves a faster CPU and memory (yeap, a router is pretty much a computer running Linux) that reduces lag/latency since games transmit massive packets (small amounts of data) that needs to reach the destination fast and constantly, and bigger antennas that keep signal strength for longer distances, so you don’t experience sluggishness. Dual band compatibility (2.4 and 5 GHz) is also something you’ll want in a noisy environment where multiple wireless networks fight for the same frequency space.
With gaming routers actual bandwidth is not that important, but low package overhead and most important, a function for QoS (Quality of Service) which is basically prioritization for specific tasks, so that realtime communications are given priority over non critical apps.
All these additions make a gaming router more expensive than a normal one, and if you pick a model that features things like LCD display to show up what’s happening at any given time you’re getting dangerously close to the cost of a computer (netbook actually, so don’t be alarmed). But if you want a top wireless router, a gaming model will surely cover your networking needs, no matter what they are.
Now let’s see what the GadgetRoad favourite wireless routers for games. We’ve been picking these by reading user reviews and speciality tests, but in case we’ve missed a model you think it’s worth mentioning don’t hesitate to leave a comment below and let us know. We’ll be monitoring your suggestions and update this post accordingly.
The Netgear N600 Gaming Router hooks you up with one WAN port, four LAN ones and dual band wireless internet. Or to put it in a more simple and easy to understand way: where there are ports (except for the USB one), there is Gigabit internet, where as the dual band wireless connection is available on the frequencies of 2.4 GHz and 5.0 GHz and both these frequencies can be used simultaneously.
The Netgear N600 Gaming Router does include a USB hub as well (which I have already mentioned) and it comes very useful when you connecting a printer or a storage device to the router transforming it basically into a NAS – Network Attached Storage (maybe there is some information you would want to release into the network or print some of the data that just came in).
Netgear N600 WNDR3700In terms of performance, the Netgear N600 Gaming Router is a fast router (the speed for wireless varies between 300 Mbps and 600 Mbps, if the bands are combined), as for the Ethernet, that is a very reliable streamer of HD gaming, but if you like freedom you can rely on the wireless connection without a problem.
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The price of the Netgear N600 Gaming Router is listed on at almost 100 US dollars. Is it a good deal? It is one of the best gaming router deals so worth checking in our opinion.
The Belkin N600 Gaming Router is a very interesting device. Let’s start with the design: incased in a polished black plastic, but a little bit tall and slim. That is what gives one the idea of seriousness and quality, on one hand, and what makes it suitable for home or office use.
The Belkin N600 Gaming Router provides dual band wireless internet (works on 2.4 GHz and 5.0 GHz frequencies and the download speed is 300 megabits per second for both frequencies). Nevertheless, these two wireless frequencies can spread ‘’internet waves’’ at the same time.
Belkin N600This gaming router can also hook you up with four Ethernet ports and one USB hub, so that you could connect another device, such as a stick or a printer.
In terms of performance, the Belkin N600 Gaming Router is one of the best long range gaming routers. It assures a constant data flow and it should not cause you any trouble when gaming. The innovation of Belkin N600 Gaming Router consists in a Self-Healing function that detects the problem and fixes it, but I would not give my highest appreciation to that until I see this function managing all situations by itself.
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The price of the Belkin N600 Gaming Router is listed on at almost 70 US dollars and that is a good value for the money!
The Cisco-Linksys E4200 Gaming Router is one of the gaming routers that work on two wireless frequencies (the famous 2.4 GHz and the less congested 5.0 GHz) at the same time. The data transfer rate starts with 300 megabits per second (and that is the worst case scenario), but it can reach 450 Mbps in laboratory conditions.
Other than that, one gets four Ethernet ports and a USB hub (it comes useful when you want to connect your printer or stick to the gaming router).
Cisco Linksys E4200In terms of performances, the Cisco-Linksys E4200 Gaming Router is, actually, a more than decent router for games. The internet coverage is very good (because of quality antenna it has inside), the Gigabit internet is a monster (in a profoundly positive way, but if you don’t like this term, will change it with Speedy Gonzales). Important as well is how much time you spend with the setup and the Cisco-Linksys E4200 Gaming Router is very user friendly, its setup being no more than a two or three minutes issue.
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The price of the Cisco-Linksys E4200 Gaming Router is listed at almost 180 US dollars. Although I like this router, its price doesn’t seem very customer friendly, does it?
The looks of the ASUS Black Diamond Dual Band Wireless Gaming Router are quite extravagant (it does resemble a diamond, except for the thing that it is black) and that is certainly a magnet for consumers. But, not just the looks tend to draw attention. This router provides wireless internet, as well as LAN and WAN. The wireless connection works on the frequencies of 2.4 GHz and 5.0 GHz simultaneously with the top speed of 300 megabits per second.
ASUS Black Diamond RT-N56UThe Ethernet, on the other hand, seems to be worth considering. You get one WAN port and four LAN ports. The speed reaches 900 Mbps, in the case of WAN to LAN and 1GB per second, for LAN to LAN, which is not bad at all.
In terms of performances, the ASUS Black Diamond Dual Band Wireless Gaming Router is most certainly fast and irreproachable form the technical point of view. The looks are discussable, but they seem fine to me.
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The price of the ASUS Black Diamond Dual Band Wireless Gaming Router almost 130 US dollars. That is, in my opinion, a very good price or money value. I think this gaming router is something that’s worth spending money on.
The D-Link DGL-4500 Xtreme Gaming Router draws one’s attention with its three antennas and its small LCD panel. The three antennas are detachable and the Network Activity Display allows you to check on the received and sent packages, as well as the time you have spent playing or surfing.
D-Link DGL-4500 Xtreme NThe D-Link DGL-4500 Xtreme Gaming Router is one of the routers that provide dual band wireless and Gigabit internet. In the first case, you can use either 2.4 GHz frequency or the less congested one (which is 5.0 GHz) to connect to the internet. In the second case, you have four Gigabit internet ports, which is good, because the speed is here much better than the above discussed wireless connection (where the top speed is 300 megabits per second).
In terms of performances, the D-Link DGL-4500 Xtreme Gaming Router has one of the most interesting gaming features (the one I love the most): it allows you to prioritize a certain network traffic, such as gaming, mail, VOIP or media. And the function gets its own name: Gamefuel. Nice touch!
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The price of the D-Link DGL-4500 Xtreme Gaming Router is around 96 US dollars. From my point of view, this is the best wireless gaming router deal one can get right now.