Gaming Router

You can turn your VR computer into a dedicated Wi-Fi broadcaster to connect to your VR headset. In other words, the computer itself will control the VR headset via an exclusive Wi-Fi network.

Gaming routers 2023 – fast Wi-Fi that will give you the edge

If you're looking for a Wi-Fi router that's great for general needs and has settings for specific games, you've come to the right place. This post compiles the best gaming routers chosen from the ones I reviewed.

All of those listed here meet at least one of my criteria that qualifies them as gaming routers. While you can usually play online games with any router presented will give you an advantage, it is not a "magic pill". Among other things, you will realize that you are well equipped, perhaps even better than your opponent.

Best Gaming Routers – List

All of the routers on this list are great for general use. On top of that, they check all the boxes so that they qualify as gaming equipment.

They are listed here in order of verification, with the latest being at the top – the number in front of their name is not for ranking, just numbering.

Asus ROG Rapture GT6 is a fixed grid gaming system

The ROG Rapture GT6 is the only purpose-built mesh gaming system on this list – Practically the only one on the market.

• Great performance and Wi-Fi coverage
• Lots of useful features and customization, including built-in gaming features
• Full support for AiMesh 2.0, useful mobile app, no account required
• Compact and beautiful, USB port

Asus ROG Rapture GT6 Is not a must-have Wi-Fi system. You can buy a standalone Asus gaming router and turn it into a mesh by adding additional hardware.

However, compared to its ZenWifi cousin, including the XT12, this new hardware is a convenient way to get performance Wi-Fi and essential gaming features in one package. And the lower price will be an added bonus.

Either way, make sure you're aware of the issues with the original firmware, and I recommend waiting for a new firmware version to be released before you buy it.

Asus ROG Rapture GT-AXE16000 is the perfect gaming router

The Asus GT-AXE16000 is the pinnacle of home networking, and gaming is just the cherry on the cake. It's the best router you can buy without looking back – if you can afford it.

Understanding virtual reality bandwidth requirements

When it comes to VR and bandwidth, the more the better.. VR is probably the most bandwidth-demanding application – there is a lot of information being transferred between the headset and your computer.

The bandwidth requirements depend on what is happening in real time and how high resolution you want to see in front of your eyes.

Based on my own experience and some vendor information, here are my assumptions about the bandwidth required for any immersive 360 degree live graphics rendering:

• Low (subHD) resolution.: 25 Mbps (by the way, this is the bandwidth needed to stream 4K video)
• Full HD (1080P).80 Mbps to 120 Mbps
• 4K: 800 Mbps or even more

Again, these are approximate numbers, but the idea is that you need more bandwidth. However, do not immediately assume that this is what you need from your Wi-Fi.

Wi-Fi requirements for virtual reality

While bandwidth requirements are high, the Wi-Fi requirements of VR applications depend on how you use the headset.

Using wired VR

Traditionally, when a headset (and by extension, you) connects via cable to your computer, it's the USB connection that handles that bandwidth.

And in this case, you'll probably be using USB 3.0 or higher – so you'll have about 5 Gbps (5,000 Mbps) or more at your disposal – that's enough. But, you have to stay close to your computer and risk tripping over the wire.

And with some headsets, you have no other choice.

In this case, the VR app doesn't need more Wi-Fi than any other app. So in terms of your home network, all you need is a great router or a good gaming router if you play VR games.

The best Wi-Fi 6 routers for a wireless VR headset

This list uses the order of the check, with the last one at the top. The numbers in front of their names are simply numbering and do not indicate a rating. You'll notice that these are all Traditional tri-band routers..

TP-Link Archer AXE300 – quad-band router with maximum flexibility and port support

The best Wi-Fi router for virtual reality: one of the TP-Link Archer AXE300's multi-gigabit ports is a combined RJ45/SFP+ port.

• Top-level hardware with excellent performance; three flexible Multi-Gig ports and LAN link aggregation support
• Robust web-based user interface; multiple network and Wi-Fi settings and several useful features for home users
• Comparatively less expensive than competitors
• Wall-mounted; useful optional mobile app; OneMesh-ready

• No options for Gigabit WAN, Dual-WAN or fast network with wired service network
• HomeShield Pro requires a subscription, mobile app and login account
• Bulky design, USB port performance could be better

TP-Link Archer AXE300. – The second quad-band router with three Multi-Gig ports – two 10GbE and one 2.5GbE. You can use any as a WAN port, and one of the 10GbE ports is a combined RJ45/SFP+ port.

It also offers a robust web-based user interface and excellent performance. It can simultaneously provide all the bandwidth needed for any virtual reality applications and other networking tasks.

Asus GT-AXE16000 is the perfect gaming router

TP-LINK Archer A5

The TP-LINK Archer A5 is a stylish and functional 2-way router that features four external antennas and provides ample coverage and a stable Internet connection. The model is made in the style typical of its brand and looks very nice. The case is an oval "saucer" in white with glossy elements and an interesting texture of stripes on top. On the information panel there is a number of LED indicators showing the network status, power and current range. There is also an indication of LAN and network blocking.

The router initial setup won't take much time, as it is very simple. A detailed user manual in Russian contributes to this. After connecting all the cables and pushing the power button, the device will automatically choose the necessary parameters. You will know it by the corresponding indication on the front panel. When selecting the settings, you can specify unique login information. TP-LINK Archer A5 is a dual-frequency router, so it's great for online gambling. The 2.4 GHz standard transmits data at up to 300 megabits per second, while the 5 GHz standard delivers up to 867 Mbps. The second channel is considered faster and more efficient under increased network loads. The device can play streaming videos in Full HD resolution, as well as work with applications that require stable and fast access to the Internet. Given the budget cost of the model, it can be called quite a decent solution for the gaming industry. Pleasantly intuitive and simplified management through the admin panel or the application Tether. Useful options include IGMP Proxy support and a bridge for IPTV.

If you are fond of online games or if your home has a large number of modern gadgets (laptops, tablets, desktops, smart home system, etc.), the router TP-LINK Archer A5 will be very useful, and perhaps even indispensable for the correct operation of all equipment.

ASUS RT-AX55

Despite the rapid development of digital technologies and the introduction of a new generation of Wi-Fi 6, the catalog of routers supporting this standard remains quite scarce. This is due to some delays in the certification of such equipment in the domestic space. However, the well-known ASUS brand does not stand aside and actively expands its model lineup with powerful and functional routers. Among the most interesting releases is the ASUS RT-AX55. This gaming router combines a perfect balance between price and features. It is designed based on a dual-channel 802.11ax circuit with a wide 80 MHz 5 GHz and 40 MHz (2.4 GHz) channel, which allows for 1201 and 574 Mbps, respectively.

As the hardware platform used chipset Broadcom BCM6755, which is a high-tech module for a wide range of tasks of any complexity. The ARM-Cortex cores are complemented by 128 MB of flash memory and 256 MB of RAM. The same processor is used on the flagship models ZenWiFi AX Mini (ASUS) and RT-AX56U. In addition to the basic functions, the router's control panel offers a number of add-ons, including advanced security protocols based on Trend Micro technologies. This algorithm evaluates security settings and takes into account system recommendations to correct errors or block infected devices within the local network. It also limits access to malicious content and activates the parental control option. The parental control option allows restricting time on the network by MAC address. It is also possible to register a DNS server with filtering. The QoS protocol is a primitive but functional shaper. There is compatibility with Amazon Alexa voice assistant to control basic options and tools by voice. In order to protect connected iOS and Android devices, you can use the Instant Guard technology. It creates a direct encrypted connection with the ASUS router. The initial setup can be done through the ASUS Router client.

Network Latency

This is the time it takes for a data packet to get from your computer to the game server. Obviously, on the gaming router you are considering, this value should be as low as possible.

The optimal network latency is 20 to 30 milliseconds. It is noteworthy that a value exceeding 150 milliseconds has a negative impact on the gaming process. This is noticeable in the form of FPS sagging or slower response (even if the connection speed remains good).

Gigabit Ethernet

Indicates how many Ethernet ports are installed on the gaming router. Before buying a router, you should find out how many home devices are connected to the Internet via a wired connection, and then purchase the right model.

Let's assume that you have already considered all of the above factors and chosen a gaming router. What should you do next? The next step is to prioritize your device's traffic. This can be done in four ways:

• Prioritize by service: You can configure each network device so that it has priority for a particular game or video streaming service.
• Priority by network: Game routers allow you to prioritize your network. This way, you can prioritize wireless connections over wired ones, which will definitely have a positive impact on your gaming experience.
• Priority by address: There are two subspecies here:
  • IP address: You can assign the router a static IP address of the gaming device, in order to set the priority.
  • MAC address: you can prioritize network traffic for devices based on the MAC address (unique identifier).

  It is important to remember that no matter how new and cool your gaming router is, its effectiveness can be reduced due to low internet speeds.

  Thus, it is very important to keep an eye on your Internet connection speed in order to fully enjoy your gaming experience. If you've already figured out how to choose a Wi-Fi router for your apartment and want to know which router to choose, then check out our list of the best gaming models available on the market right now.

  Another thing not to forget is that a gaming router is just as susceptible to attacks as a regular router. If you don't want to become a victim of a DDoS attack and have your IP address blocked, you should always update your router and adjust the security settings just like you would with a regular Wi-Fi router.

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