Best Gaming Wireless Router?

Ravenlyn6996

Just bought this Asus Gaming Laptop Asus - Laptop with Intel® Centrino® Processor Technology - G1Sn-X1

Right now im running off of some shitty old d-link. And I play Wow and i keep getting disconnected even though i have a full signal. And i lag a shyte load. So i have been looking around and comparing prices. And this is what I found.

D-Link DIR-655 Extreme N Wireless Router
Amazon.com: D-Link DIR-655 Extreme N Wireless Router: Electronics

Linksys Dual-Band Wireless-N Gigabit Router with Storage Link WRT600N
Linksys Dual-Band Wireless-N Gigabit Router with S (WRT600N) - Bridges/Routers/Gateways at Colamco

D-Link(DGL-4300) Wireless Gaming Router
D-LINK (DGL-4300) Product Page -- NextWarehouse.com

So far the DGL-4300 is catching my eye and its really not that expensive especially if its worth it.

craig5320

I'm a big fan of Linksys routers, they have a great setup, and I am constantly amazed at the signal rates achieved through thick floors and brick walls.

So I'd definitely choose Linksys over a D-link option, if they're the only three you're considering. Netgear shouldn't be ignored either they make very reliable hardware.

Ravenlyn6996

Well Im in a 850 square foot apt so no need to worry about thick floors and walls. D-link sounds better than linksys? PLus i download alot of stuff and play wow and some others online.

Vikingod

I use Linksys and have never had a problem and I've been using my cheapy wireless g for two years non-stop. Plus (and the same might be true of D-Link), there is a third party firmware called DD-WRT which give a ton of options that don't come with the original firmware.

Tipstaff

Personally I'd stay away from D-Link these days. They just can't seem to get their act together this last year. They keep putting out one product after another that has issue after issue. They put out a wireless card, and one month later they pull it due to issues with Vista, then relaunch it as a new revision. They put out firmware one day, then pull it the next (the DGL-4300 in particular had a 1.8 firmware, and was then pulled specifically due to piss poor wireless performance and security issues).

BTW, either way you go, be sure to read each manufacturers forums for more information on their products. HERE is D-Links forum, but you will have to sign up to see most of the posts though. Once you do you will see different forums for each of their products. It's good to read them as you get a better overall picture of what kind of problems their customers are having with specific products.

BiGBrOwNPimpsta

I see more problems with D-Link. First if you are disconnecting, is it due to range? Move the laptop closer, if it stops then its probably environmental. Something like a Wireless N solution from Linksys MIGHT help. I actually use a Siemens Speedstream Modem from Bell Canada (Sympatico) and it works better than my old linksys. Built in wifi but then im in a condo. You could try a Wireless N product from Bestbuy and return it, but remind you your laptop must have a Wireless N card. Gaming routers are a gimmick to me, maybe its more compatable with some consoles and some port routing, but a plaing Linksys/D-Link 54g router does fine. I get 4.2mbps on both wired and wireless in my condo. My bro has a 16mbps connection which I will upgrade to next week and wifi does slow it down to 10mbps, where as hardwired its at a good 14mbps.

basically, buy a wireless N kit from bestbuy and return it if it sucks. or any big retailer that way you won't have to pay for restocking fees hehe

SFOSOK

None

Syndicate2083

I cant find any prices or anything for that 'gaming' laptop, no one offers it at the moment.. anyway. If your having connection drops, and your in an apartment or heavily settled area, switch your transmission channel from the standard to a higher band, 2-3 up from what it is now should work well. Most of the time the issues are caused by congested wireless traffic on certain channels which cause you to lose connection.

Also make sure you have the latest firmware et al.

As for a wireless router for gaming, I couldn't recommend one. I have owned a few linksys routers, and each and every one of them the wireless has died within a year. I dont do anything crazy with em, they just die. I have had 2 d-links do the same recently. I am very disappointed with both linksys and dlink really. I stick to wired gig unless i need to use a laptop.

In any event, try changing your bands in the meantime, itll most likely at least help the problem. The other thing is, if you 'download' frequently and use some form of torrent app, thats most likely going to drop you too. The torrent really doesnt scale at all so it's going to eat your whole bandwidth pie and choke out your other traffic. Most P2P 'clients' and whatnot operate with the same fundamental technologies, so you should use them when you arent gaming, period.

-Syn

SFOSOK

Use Belkin, but try to go hard line if possible. Wireless = crap for gaming, especially if you scrim or play games seriously.

Also, to who ever gave me negative rep

eF U.

Ravenlyn6996

well fine not out of the three which one would you recommend? Like which one do you use? I download games and music using a torrent, and i play some games online mainly wow. And the only comp i have is my laptop. And i really dont want to have to sit in the living room with it hooked directly to internet. Im not even 7 feet away from the router. It just randomly drop even though it says its connected. And its really annoying.

g35x

If you're not even 7 feet from the router, then buy a 20ft ethernet cable. Plenty of slack.
I love wifi and all, but for gaming, you really need a wired connection. even using a wired connection on cable I still lag in games sometimes. Isn't buying a cheap cable better than dropping $60+ on a router?

If your still intent on getting a new router, I would agree with Tipstaff, stay away from D-link. They really need to clean up their act. I have a linksys WRT-54G. I used to play games via wireless, it worked fine, I have never gotten totally disconnected. I play Guild Wars, and it was realitively playable on wireless. occessional spike of lag. but I play mainly shooters, and you really can't play on a big server in call of duty 4 with wireless.

tl;dr: go wired if you can, cheaper than getting a new router, but if you want a new router go linksys.

Tipstaff

One big reason to stay wired: 90-99% guaranteed no interference. With wireless there are way to many devices that can cause drops or interference that can cause a poor connection as there are tons of stuff that run on the same frequencies that wireless routers do. Bluetooth (such as on cellphones or game controllers), microwaves, and cordless phones being the top culprits as they all dip into the same range as most wireless g and n router signals: 2.4Ghz. It may not even be your devices, but a neighbours stuff doing the dirty.

BTW, before you go buying a new router, try to see what exactly is interfering with your current setup:

- Try changing the wireless channel to a lower, or higher one, such as 1, or 11. Most people use the default of 6, so it could be that everyone around you that has a wireless router is using 6.

- Try settling on one mode only. If none of your wireless devices, be it computer, laptop, or handheld, require one of the other speeds (802.11a/b/g/n), then settle on just one. So if all your stuff supports 802.11g, do 802.11g only.

- If you have any cordless phones in the house make sure that none of the bases are near your router OR your computer.

Judas

Recently i've been having a pain in the ass of a time with linksys/belkin routers.... SMC routers seem to be a royal screw up..... Airlink seems to be so so...

But none of them seem to do well with gaming... specially wirelessly.

However Out of all the routers, i've laid my hands on the DIR-655 Wireless N Router and well.... it's beaten the pants off the dlink gaming routers... it's blown the doors off the airlink routers i was recently selling, the security controlls are superb... the wireless range is mind boggling far, the wireless stability is top notch, and the gaming performance over it is astounding... AND even with a number of users using it at once, it doesn't come crashing to a halt unlike the other routers i've been using for the last 3 years from several manufacturers.



A wired connection always the best, no matter what anyone tells you.. it's the BEST if available.... A little bit of initial grief of runnning wires and trying to make it neat and tidy, even if they are a bit of an eye soar IS WAY WORTH the reliability/performance.... and just less having to rip your eyes and hair out......

Wireless = #3 cause of family break ups