Upgrade your Wi-Fi adapter for better performance.
Upgrade your Wi-Fi adapter for better performance.
Hi! I'm a casual gamer using an AC1200 dual antenna USB Wi-Fi adapter. I'm experiencing noticeable lag in games like Call of Duty: Modern Warfare and Rainbow Six Siege. I think the issue isn't my internet speed—my PC tests at 61 Mbps—but I'm considering switching to a TP-Link Archer T6E adapter to see if it improves performance and reduces lag.
It varies. The previous issue wasn't due to the adapter but the Wi-Fi router.
I purchased a TP-Link T6E but was quite unsatisfied. It functioned, though the Windows 10 driver for that Broadcom chipset didn<|pad|>'s not support 802.11ac. I checked every available driver and none resolved the issue. From Windows' perspective, it was an 802.11n device and behaved accordingly. I replaced it with the Gigabyte model below. It acts as an adapter for a laptop-style M.2 card (like the Intel AX200 included). It works perfectly, connecting via 802.11ac without trouble. I also appreciate Bluetooth and the upcoming 802.11ax support when upgrading my router.
My main concern is that because the M.2 and PCIe differ, the card requires USB connectivity for Bluetooth to operate (it connects through an internal header on your motherboard). If you don’t connect USB Wi-Fi, it still works. The external antenna offers much higher gain than before, which should reduce ping times by a few milliseconds. However, in practice, the USB bus on a desktop setup is more than sufficient for WiFi, so the lag you notice is probably not the main issue.
Upgrading to a gigabyte plan might improve your internet speed, but it depends on the provider and network conditions.
I adjusted my post based on your feedback (apologies for the mix-up—I didn’t realize you had already replied). In short, it varies depending on several factors I’m not aware of. What I can share is: a PCIe Intel chipset definitely outperforms a USB Wi-Fi adapter. If your router supports 802.11ac (WiFi 5) or newer, upgrading your Wi-Fi card will bring you closer to the same performance as an Ethernet connection. A Wi-Fi card mainly enhances your computer’s link to the router; if your internet speed is still 62 Mbps, the upgrade won’t make much difference. The lag you notice in games is probably not due to USB Wi-Fi or your internet connection.
It's tough to judge without experiencing it firsthand. Could the issue be a reduced frame rate or complete freezing? You might try launching a command prompt and typing "ping google.com -t" while playing. After that, press CTRL+C and check the statistics. What was your maximum ping? (It should be under 150 ms). Did any packets get lost? If the connection is stable, networking isn't the problem. If packets are missing, repeat with your router's IP address. A perfect router ping—no drops, under 10ms—means WiFi is likely the cause. If no issues there, contact your ISP for further assistance.