Yes, a long LAN cable can lead to input lag during gaming.
Yes, a long LAN cable can lead to input lag during gaming.
I placed an order for 40 meters of Ethernet cable online since our router is in the living room and I want to stream from there. Is a 40-meter cable sufficient? Could using it cause delays such as higher ping or dropped connections while gaming?
Yes, cable length directly affects signal travel time and thus latency. Answer 2 explains how electromagnetic waves move at a fraction of light speed through cables, with calculations showing significant latency changes over distance. The explanation highlights the dramatic impact of even small increases in cable length on performance.
Check your network settings in Device Manager and turn off power-saving options like Energy Efficient Ethernet or Green Ethernet. This will increase the amount of power used by your Ethernet card, possibly raising it slightly. The reason is that cables are designed for short distances—typically up to 100 meters—and they adjust transmission power based on cable length. Cheaper cables with Copper Clad Aluminum cores have higher resistance, which can weaken signals over longer runs. If the signal gets too weak, data errors may occur and packets might need retransmission, causing lag or jitter in games. CCA cables work well for short patch cables (10-15 meters), but avoid them for longer distances like 30-40 meters. Standard full copper cables are fine if you're within the recommended limits.