Gaming lag

Hell Raiser · 01-21-2007

Im currently paying for broadband given by my university, its only a 512kb/s connection but its fine for me. The download seems reasonable 40kb/s yea lower than normal 512 but i dont mind. All works fine, sites etc, anyway one monday i start on my comp and i get lag, strange lag, on some servers i go 999 ping straight away, some servers i can get a normal ping. I have tried diff things, i have found this out.

On certain servers (always the same ones it doesnt change) i get 999 ping straight away, on others i get normal ping it a bit of lag, on the ones i get a normal ping, if the number ofp layers on the server increases to 5 theres a chance that at any sec ill go 999 ping, 6+ and im screwed. However the lag does just come on usually, happens when say someone connects, or map restarts etc.

Could anyone help me with this please, the internet provider say they have looked into the problem and everything is fine, it is possible i have change some settings or installed something etc?

I have scanned many time for spyware and a few times for virus. Im fine apparently, its a cable connection so no modem.... thats all the info i have for you, the conection used to be totally fine.

madmonkey · 01-21-2007

Hello Hell,

Welcome to PCHF.

Low ping can be a result of the following (common):

- Software or Malware
A program running in the background using up some of your bandwidth. Look at any software you have installed recently. Security software, P2P, anything that may require internet access. Also, you can try going through PCHF Prework on my signature, for a member of security to analyse for malware.

- Hardware
Make sure your PC meets the minimum requirements for the game, if not recommended. If you find that you start having lag, when you see a lot of terrain, then try to lower your graphics quality settings to see if this makes any difference.

- ISP
Make sure your ISP is providing the speed they have promised, using something like: DSLConnect UK - Speedtest . 512kb/s is a bit low for gaming as it is IMHO.

- Server Location
The location of the server is a common result of high ping. Obviously, if you are based in the UK, connecting to a server in the US is going to give you a higher ping that connecting to a server in the UK, due to the long distance.

- Server Stress
Some Server providers host a number of games on the same server. The more players that connect to these servers, the more that have to share the same connection, and the more stress is put on the server.

Hell Raiser · 01-21-2007

512k is easily good enough for online gaming, the size of the connection is past a certain point irrelevant, its the speed not the size.....

my comp is easily able to play it.

my isp isnt giving me what i should get though.

Im going on english servers, even if i was on american or even austrailian servers i wouldnt get 999.

Server stress is obviousas everyone else would be getting the same prob too.

Ill check all my programs and ive contacted my isp and im getting them to have a look.

thanks for the help

madmonkey · 01-21-2007

size is just as important as speed. If you want to fill up a water tank, and you only have a small hole to pour the water in, then it would take you much longer than it would if the top was open. Your internet connection is the same. I know what your saying though. I used to play Elite Force on a 56k connection and this was OK for me. I've since tried playing BF2 on the same connection, and it's unplayable, but what your saying is that you have ruled out server problems, connection problems and PC problems. That pritty much rules everything out!?!?

Hell Raiser · 01-21-2007

I know it seems stupid, i guess ith as to be my ISP.

01-21-2007	#1
Hell Raiser Bronze Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 5	Gaming lag Im currently paying for broadband given by my university, its only a 512kb/s connection but its fine for me. The download seems reasonable 40kb/s yea lower than normal 512 but i dont mind. All works fine, sites etc, anyway one monday i start on my comp and i get lag, strange lag, on some servers i go 999 ping straight away, some servers i can get a normal ping. I have tried diff things, i have found this out. On certain servers (always the same ones it doesnt change) i get 999 ping straight away, on others i get normal ping it a bit of lag, on the ones i get a normal ping, if the number ofp layers on the server increases to 5 theres a chance that at any sec ill go 999 ping, 6+ and im screwed. However the lag does just come on usually, happens when say someone connects, or map restarts etc. Could anyone help me with this please, the internet provider say they have looked into the problem and everything is fine, it is possible i have change some settings or installed something etc? I have scanned many time for spyware and a few times for virus. Im fine apparently, its a cable connection so no modem.... thats all the info i have for you, the conection used to be totally fine.

01-21-2007	#2
madmonkey Site Manager Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: South Wales Posts: 9,986 PC Experience: ...	Hello Hell, Welcome to PCHF. Low ping can be a result of the following (common): - Software or Malware A program running in the background using up some of your bandwidth. Look at any software you have installed recently. Security software, P2P, anything that may require internet access. Also, you can try going through PCHF Prework on my signature, for a member of security to analyse for malware. - Hardware Make sure your PC meets the minimum requirements for the game, if not recommended. If you find that you start having lag, when you see a lot of terrain, then try to lower your graphics quality settings to see if this makes any difference. - ISP Make sure your ISP is providing the speed they have promised, using something like: DSLConnect UK - Speedtest . 512kb/s is a bit low for gaming as it is IMHO. - Server Location The location of the server is a common result of high ping. Obviously, if you are based in the UK, connecting to a server in the US is going to give you a higher ping that connecting to a server in the UK, due to the long distance. - Server Stress Some Server providers host a number of games on the same server. The more players that connect to these servers, the more that have to share the same connection, and the more stress is put on the server. __________________ <br />

01-21-2007	#3
Hell Raiser Bronze Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 5	512k is easily good enough for online gaming, the size of the connection is past a certain point irrelevant, its the speed not the size..... my comp is easily able to play it. my isp isnt giving me what i should get though. Im going on english servers, even if i was on american or even austrailian servers i wouldnt get 999. Server stress is obviousas everyone else would be getting the same prob too. Ill check all my programs and ive contacted my isp and im getting them to have a look. thanks for the help Last edited by Hell Raiser; 01-21-2007 at 09:40 PM.

01-21-2007	#4
madmonkey Site Manager Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: South Wales Posts: 9,986 PC Experience: ...	size is just as important as speed. If you want to fill up a water tank, and you only have a small hole to pour the water in, then it would take you much longer than it would if the top was open. Your internet connection is the same. I know what your saying though. I used to play Elite Force on a 56k connection and this was OK for me. I've since tried playing BF2 on the same connection, and it's unplayable, but what your saying is that you have ruled out server problems, connection problems and PC problems. That pritty much rules everything out!?!? __________________ <br />

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