Online games have been on the rise for the last few years, with millions of people playing titles like PUBG, Fortnite, and Overwatch every day.
These games are different from traditional single-player games in many aspects, but probably the biggest among all is their reliance on a solid internet connection.
No matter how powerful the CPU and graphics card you have in your PC, there will be lags if you have high ping and latency.
For those who don't know, lag is the time duration between a player's actions in a game and the reaction of the game server based on those actions.
The signal your computer sends to the game server for communication is called ping, and the time it takes for your PC to send a ping to the game server and receive it back is called latency. This round-trip is calculated in milliseconds.
Although ping and latency are different terms, most people use them interchangeably. And for the sake of simplicity, we'll do the same here.
Although ping requirements vary from one game to another, most of them are unplayable beyond the 200ms mark. The 100-200ms is what's considered poor ping. You'll be able to compete with this ping, but there will be frequent lagging.
The 50-100ms ping is acceptable, but only for RTS and MMO games. For fast-paced FPS titles, you should aim for the 20-50ms ping.
In case you're experiencing high ping, below are some of the ways you can improve it.
The first thing you should try is restarting your computer. You'll be surprised to know that many programs occupy tiny space in the RAM even after they've been closed. These small memory leaks can accumulate over time, causing your PC to slow down after continuous usage and subsequently increasing your latency.
To avoid this situation, you should restart your PC at least once a day as it will clear your system cache and flush the RAM.
There are a lot of background programs running on your PC at any time. You won't necessarily notice, but many of them eat your internet bandwidth in small chunks continuously.
Therefore, you should force-close apps like Skype and Google Chrome using Task Manager (Ctrl+Alt+Del) before playing any online game.
Enabling Auto-Updates for Windows OS is a good step in improving your PC's security as you get updates and patches as soon as possible. But these updates can also consume a lot of your internet bandwidth, causing your game to lag.
That's why you should temporarily disable Windows and other software updates when starting a gaming session.
WiFi is the preferred internet connection type these days because of its convenience. But it also comes with many downsides such as signal interference, dependency on router's range, and security risks.
The WiFi router's range is crucial because the farther you move away from it, the lesser internet speed (and subsequently high ping) you get. To avoid this, you should place the router in a central location of your house.
In case you're using a single-band 2.4GHz router, make sure to change your WiFi channel as your WiFi signals can get interference from other routers in your area. Ideally, you should select any one among channels 1, 6, and 11, as these are only non-overlapping WiFi channels on the 2.4GHz band.
If you use a dual-band or tri-band router, you can switch to 5GHz, which is much less cluttered and provides faster data transfer.
Some other things you can try are removing less important devices from your WiFi network, restarting your router, and using QoS to prioritize gaming traffic in your network (only available in high-end routers).
If you've tried the above settings to your router and are still experiencing high latency, you can try using an ethernet connection. These connections provide faster data transfer than WiFi internet, have no risk of signal interference, and are also more reliable.
You can also try a hybrid solution where your PC/console is connected directly to the router through an ethernet cable. And your other devices, such as smartphones/tablets, are using the WiFi connection.
The physical distance between your computer/console and the game server also plays a huge role in deciding how high/low latency you'll get. For example, if a game server is in the US, then a US-based player will have lower latency than a SEA-based player.
Therefore, you should switch over to a server that's closer to your location physically to improve the ping.
Many times your frame-rate can drop due to non-optimized in-game settings. Features like Ray-Tracing, Motion Blur, and Anti-Aliasing can make the in-game graphics even more stunning but will also put a heavy load on your graphics card and processor.
That's why you should tone down these settings a little and then retry playing your game.
If you have tried all the above tweaks and still experience unusually high ping, then it's your ISP's fault. Try contacting your ISP regarding this issue and ask them whether it can be solved by upgrading your internet speed.
This guest article was written by PCBuilderz.com.
Disclaimer: All thoughts and opinions expressed herein are the author’s own and not influenced by Razer, Logitech, and/or their affiliates, in any way.
One of the worst possible news a console gamer could have is when their gaming TV/monitor breaks down in the midst of the MCO (Malaysia's movement control order), which happened to me sometime last month. Fortunately, I could still flock to my gaming laptop for my regular Apex Legends gaming session, but here's the thing - I sucked more than usual!
Aside from being fully aware of my inexperience with mouse and keyboard (I grew up with Playstations and one Gameboy), I also wondered: what if my trusty three-year-old Logitech M330 Silent mouse - which clicks with zero noise and minimal finger movement - was hindering me from a truly authentic gaming experience? Thus, I set out (digitally) to explore an MCO-themed online sale and acquired a Razer Deathadder Essential as my first ever gaming mouse, to see if it makes any difference.
Now, the most important question is, was it worth it to fork up a little extra cash to buy a proper gaming mouse? Here are my thoughts as a casual gamer:
Beyond its matte black surface and acid green lighting (a Razer product signature), the first thing I noticed in my standard-sized gaming mouse is that it's considerably bigger than my small-sized office mouse, although that's to be expected.
To compare:
| Length (cm) | Grip Width (cm) | Height (cm) | |
| Gaming mouse | 12.7 | 6.2 | 4.3 |
| Office mouse | 10.5 | 6.8 | 3.8 |
My gaming mouse may be merely 2.2cm longer, but it's long enough to coerce me to adapt my God-knows-how-many-years-old grip style, which is a little off-putting. I use a claw grip for my office mouse, but I feel that wielding my gaming mouse palm style is more stable, and it makes clicking faster. Even so, I can't help but curl my hand up into claw mode, causing my clicks to have a little more resistance, albeit with faster movement.
In any case, it's noticeably more snuggly resting my hand on a gaming mouse, which is a plus.
Even with a budget gaming mouse, I can feel its movement is a big improvement over an office mouse, making it a major upside to having a proper gaming mouse. Moving my Razer felt solid yet effortless - like I'm gliding it over the smoothest surface on Earth. No matter how much I love my office mouse, noticing the roughness of its movement makes it feel like a downgrade as if scraping a nail on a wooden surface.
Plus, having two more mouse buttons give me easier access to certain gaming controls, and I can surf the Net faster by going back and forth pages just by clicking them.
The Razer Synapse 3 configuration software that came with my gaming mouse gave plenty of options to personalise its technical capabilities, though I feel that most of it aren't necessary for casual gamers like me.
I've only used it once to adjust my lighting (sadly, no RGB features for my Deathadder Essential) and mouse sensitivity. But, I found it neat that you can set different mouse settings for multiple games - which gaming fanatics would appreciate - and rebind all five mouse buttons to suit your preference. It's not a huge selling point for me, but it's nice to know I have the option to explore these if I'm eager in the future.
Three words: it was great! After getting zero kills and bad placements in Apex Legends for the past five pre-gaming mouse matches, I got two kills and second place in my first post-gaming mouse match. I could aim steadily, feel my shots with each solid mouse click, and flick smoother during gunfights.
However, I can't stress how much a gaming mouse won't automatically make you a good player. At the end of the day, it's all about the swordsman, not the sword entirely. No matter what gaming mouse you get, it is your skills that matter the most.
As a first-time gaming mouse user, I would say ... if you're going to be mouse and keyboard gamer in the long run, then yes. It's worth investing in a proper mouse that will improve your movement and have more options to personalise your settings, as well as reduce wrist strain. But, if you're only using it casually for everyday use, I would say that a gaming mouse is a luxury you can forego.
It's important to do your research before buying one, which I made the mistake of not doing. No gaming mouse is exactly the same; it depends on your hand size, whether you prefer asymmetrical or symmetrical designs, if you're left- or right-handed, and other preferences. Don't be tempted by popular brands either (also another mistake I made), there are plenty of trusty brands that don't shout themselves as loudly, you'd just need to specifically look for them, and they'll eventually pop up.
There's no such thing as good enough when it comes to technology for gaming! When we heard that ASUS was announcing a slew of new devices to satisfy our gaming needs this week, we got excited. Here's a quick rundown of what to expect from the Taiwanese company in 2021!
It looks like ASUS has upgraded its TUF (The Ultimate Force) lineup of laptops with a new entry - the TUF Dash F15. Packed with the latest generation of Intel Core processors (i7-11375H) and a GeForce 3070, this device is no slouch when it comes to gaming. With a 15" chassis, 19.9m profile, 2kg weight, and Type-C charging with up to 16.6 hours of battery life, you'll be able to game on the go. It also features MIL-STD-810H military standards durability, so you know it'll be safe despite any accidental bumps you might have on the road. No pricing and availability date yet.
Another gaming laptop, this time for the Republic of Gamers (ROG) series, the ROG Flow X13 features a 13" display and a 360 degree hinge which gives it 3 different modes - laptop, tent or tablet. It is 15.8mm thin and only weighs 1.3kg. Specs include an AMD Ryzen 9 5980HS CPU, GeForce GTX 1650 GPU, and either 4K Ultra HD or 120Hz Full HD Displays.
If you need a bigger punch when it comes to the graphics department, you can hook it up to the XG Mobile external GPU through a custom PCIe 3.0 x8 interface. This gives the laptop a GeForce RTX 3080 to play with - perfect for running more graphics-intensive games. However, if you need the portability, you can simply disconnect the external GPU for extra mobility.
No word on pricing or availability either, but we suspect it's not going to be cheap!
If you want to stand out at your next LAN party or you want a laptop with even more functionality than a regular one, you might want to check out the ROG Zephyrus Duo 15 SE. An updated version of the Zephyrus Duo 15 GX550 (the world's first 300Hz gaming laptop with a dual-screen and liquid metal cooling), this model is powered by an AMD Ryzen 9 5900HX CPU and a GeForce RTX 3080 GPU.
Not much to say other than the jaw-dropping price tag of its predecessor (RM19k) which will probably be the case here, but if you're looking for the ultimate flex, this is probably it!
If you think that the 300Hz display in the Zephyrus Duo isn't enough for you, the ROG Strix SCAR 17 might be right up your alley. Powered by an AMD Ryzen 9 9500HX CPU and a GeForce RTX 3080, it packs a 360Hz Full HD display with 3ms response time. Talk about fluid gaming! With a 90Wh battery for up to 12 hours of video playback on a single charge and fast charging over USB Type C, you can game non-stop on this device. No word on pricing, but it should be cheaper than the previously mentioned dual-screen behemoth!
Onto accessories and displays, the ROG Swift PG32UQ is touted as the world's first 32" HDMI 2.1 gaming monitor with a 144Hz IPS panel and 1ms moving picture response time. With support for 4K at 120Hz over HDMI 2.1 or 4K at 144Hz over DisplayPort, this gaming monitor will be one to lookout for if you're looking to upgrade from Full HD gaming. No word on pricing but it's slated to arrive end of Q1 2021.
A new mechanical keyboard from ASUS which features their new ROG RX Blue or Red Optical Mechanical Switches. These optical switches feature a hollow-square stem design and embedded RGD LEDs for all-around per-key lighting and less light bleed - for those of you who need that RGB bling. What's interesting about the ASUS ROG Claymore II is its detachable numpad - place it on the left or right of the main cluster, or remove it altogether if you need the tablespace. It also features USB Type C or wireless connectivity (up to 40 hours on a single charge). No word on pricing or availability either.
Lastly, we have the ROG Gladius III Wireless gaming mouse - 19,000 dpi and wireless 2.4GHz RF and Bluetooth modes (as well as wired) connectivity. What's interesting about the mouse is its Push-Fit Socket II feature which will allow you to replace the Omron optical micro switches on it. If your clicks are malfunctioning, just swap out the switch with something new and you're good to go. You can also change switches around if you're in the mood for a different feel. Nice to see mice manufacturers head in this direction - hopefully it becomes more common across the board in the future. Stay tuned for pricing and availability.
There's going to be plenty of tech announcements this week for gamers - what devices or laptops are you looking forward to? Head to ASUS' website for official product specs. Stay tuned to eGG Network for more details!
Thinking of getting into the professional mobile esports scene? Or maybe you're a hardcore mobile gamer who plays with nothing but the best? Regardless of the type of player you are, the ROG Phone 3 is the premium gaming phone you just might be looking for, with top of the line specs that give you bangs for your bucks.
The Asus Republic of Gamers (ROG) - a well-renowned name in the PC market - recently pulled back the velvet curtains to unveil its latest third-gen gaming smartphone series. It goes without saying that the ROG Phone 3 packs a bigger punch than its predecessor, with the latest Qualcomm® Snapdragon™ 865 Plus giving more heft to the gaming phone to let you game in the highest quality possible while remaining stable. The GameCool 3 cooling system also keeps your phone, well, extra cool during intense, high graphic gaming sessions that strain most other smartphones.
You don't have to worry about battery life either, as the ROG Phone 3 comes with a giant 6000 mAh battery that comes equipped with in-phone power saving features, such as a hibernate function that limits background data and power consumption to prolong battery life. And finally, revel in its glorious 144 Hz / 1 ms AMOLED 10-bit display, with ultra-responsive touch latency so that the ROG Phone 3 reacts as quickly as your gameplay.
If you're looking to level up your gaming experience even further, the slew of ROG Phone 3 accessories introduces more ways to enjoy your games, including the ROG Kunai 3 Gamepad - which grants console-like gamepad controls - and TwinView Dock 3, with 144 Hz dual-screen capabilities for easier viewing.
Even if you aren't picking it up for gaming, the ROG Phone 3 is more than capable to handle everyday use. So, if you're looking to consider another powerful premium smartphone that isn't Samsung or Apple, this Asus device is worth checking out.
We could go on singing praises for the the ROG Phone 3, but that would turn into a 1000-word essay. Why not check out the ROG website for more info?
The Malaysian price of the ROG Phone 3 has yet to be finalised, but Asus assures that the price range of the third-gen series will be close to the ROG Phone 2 series, which cost RM4499 for the 12GB Ram 1TB version, RM3499 for the 12 GB Ram 512GB model, and RM2499 for the Strix 8GB Ram 128GB variant.
The Asus ROG Phone 3 launches September this year.
Gamers that tend to have intense sessions may see their war stations tank some damage in the process (looking at you orange juice spillers). Fret not as ASUS have their fans covered, with the introduction of their new Perfect Warranty service. From 2020 onwards, ASUS will be providing the Perfect warranty service on top of their official manufacturer warranty for customers. The additional protection service covers damages that do not fall under the scope of the manufacturer’s default 2-year global warranty, including customer induced damages.
ASUS Perfect Warranty is an exclusive warranty service from ASUS for one time only during the first year of the laptop’s manufacturer warranty. This premium service will see ASUS bearing 80% of the total repair cost for spill damages, electrical surge damages or drop and accidental breakages. Customers shall only bear the remaining 20% of the total cost and full labour fee.
In order to claim the ASUS Perfect Warranty, customers can drop by any authorized ASUS Service Centers in Malaysia or Brunei with their damaged unit and purchase receipt / invoice. It is worth noting that it is only eligible for ASUS consumer and gaming laptops launched from 1 Jan 2019 and 2020 onwards, including its charging adapter and battery (but not inclusive of its accessories) purchased from 1 Jan onwards (or laptops launched officially in Malaysia from Jan 2019 onwards).
Customers who purchased and activated their ASUS laptop, which launched in Malaysia in the year 2019 and 2020, from 1 Jan 2020 onwards, are automatically eligible for ASUS Perfect Warranty without additional charges.
Customers may refer below to the list of eligible laptops:
ASUS customers can read on more about the all-new service’s terms and conditions here.
For the many gamers that are currently playing their part and staying indoors, we have something special in store today. Black Shark introduces the FunCooler Pro; a cutting-edge cooling accessory for your mobile gaming needs. The FunCooler Pro achieves this through its advanced Thermoelectric Cooling (TEC) technology. Said accessory also offers multi-device compatibility, with all its offerings packaged alongside it's user-friendly smartphone app.
Placing emphasis on thermal management, the Black Shark FunCooler Pro aims to provide the coolest gaming experience through some top-of-the-line specs and engineering:
The Black Shark FunCooler Pro fits unto smartphones that measure between 67mm to 88mm in width, making it quite an accessible piece of hardware. Black Shark has also highlighted that the device itself is pretty simple and straightforward to use, with users only requiring to clip the accessory on their phone’s back panel, hook up its USB charger and hit the power button.
As earlier mentioned, its user-friendly smartphone app offers two modes to cool devices, a Freeze Mode and a Blizzard mode. Other app features include customizable RGB luminous lighting effects and real-time temperature display.
The Black Shark FunCooler Pro cooling system ensures gamers get the most out of their smartphones by helping to keep temperatures down during longer or more taxing gaming sessions.
“We manifest our commitment to create the perfect gaming ecosystem,” said Black Shark CEO, Harrison Luo (Yuzhou Luo). Harrison added that Black Shark listens to all mobile gamers' demands for wanting sustained gameplay sessions. In line with this, the FunCooler Pro was made to assist smartphones in maintaining peak performance, keeping cool any heated components.
The FunCooler Pro will be available exclusively on Shopee from 24 Mar onwards, retailing at RM199. As a participating brand of the 4.4 Shopee Brands Festival, Black Shark is offering deals with savings up to RM155 alongside attractive vouchers on 27 Mar and 4 April. Fans can safely shop for Black Shark products from the comfort of their own homes through Shopee’s free shipping service.
Visit Black Shark’s Official Store on Shopee for more info and deals.
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