Searching for a reliable gaming router.
Searching for a reliable gaming router.
Hello everyone, I own a budget TP-Link router (not a modem) in my room, and it’s not performing well. I now have five devices, and my gaming PC already has a wired internet connection. The problem is that this cheap router is old—about four years or more—and I’m considering the Nighthawk XR500. I’d like a device with a similar interface to the XR500, where I can adjust jitter settings and manage bandwidth per device. I wouldn’t want to spend much more than the XR500 if it offers significant improvements, otherwise I’m okay with staying within budget.
I recommend linking your remaining three devices via a wire. A router is what it is, there’s no gaming involved in getting the mouse out of your access point—it’s already built into your router. Make sure it’s mounted high and not hidden in a corner. It would be helpful to know the model of your TP-Link device, but at 15 dollars I’m only looking at a wireless N 300, which works well on a 10/100 Mbps network after seeing this. I’m converting an old desktop into a PF-Sense router; you’ll need two wired NICs (around $10–15 each) and a switch costing $10–25. Ideally, I’d use a unified AP like the one listed here: https://store.ui.com/products/unifi-ac-pro or https://store.ui.com/products/unifi-ac-lite. This model offers faster Wi-Fi and is safe for outdoor use compared to cheaper options. I can set up as many units as needed to cover most of your space, probably just two for now. Personally, I don’t mind Wi-Fi much—just a phone that mostly plays music and a few notifications. So I’ll likely stick with my old WTR54GL as an AP, even though it feels like a waste of money. When I say “converting,” all I really want is one more case mod for the side fan. That fan is from a system over 20 years old and still works fine; nothing’s worn out. Everything I’ve had so far came with me from my dad’s old build—PCIe 1.0 x4 dual gigabit card, an older PCI gigabit switch, and a 5-port gigabit switch. I’m also planning to use my 8-port switch along with a 16-port switch, since I only have one 8-port switch available.