Good Wired Router for gaming?

[McRhea]

Hello all.

I did a search for "gaming routers" and didn't really find anything that helped me... everything was wireless!

So what I'm looking for is a good wired (not wireless) router to use for my PC and Xbox 360... I do mostly gaming, (TF2, COD4, GTAIV, Unreal 3, etc, etc), so I'd like a router that can keep up and not drop me while playing online.

Also, I'd like to keep the price right around $50 if possible.

Here's what I've found so far, but I wanted opinions from experts (you people) instead of the reviews on Newegg.

Linksys BEFSR41: $50 Initially I was going to purchase this, but the comments scared me a little... Is this router decent for gaming?

Netgear RP614: $45
Hows this router for gaming?

Is my price range too low? Should I just bite the bullet and get this thing from DLink?

D-Link DGL-4100: $95

 

[ChAoTiCpInOy]

There's a list somewhere out there for routers that are Xbox Live certified. That really does not matter. Just make sure whatever router you get you set up port forwarding for the Xbox Live ports so you can get a NAT setting of Open that way you can pretty much join any game or host anything.

 

[ChAoTiCpInOy]

Posted twice. Sorry. Comp was lagging.

 

[NickOlsen8390]

I would go for the DGL-4100, I had the DGL-4300 (its wireless version) and it did great for a long time.
I have never been a fan of cheap routers, a certain someone on here might recommend a 9.99 trendnet like he normally does or a zxyel. mabey its because my usage is 200% more then the normal user. But like i said, Cheap routers have never done me justice.

 

[jaqie]

Don't forget wireless routers have a wired portion, and the wireless can be totally disabled.
Don't touch any linksys except the WRT54GL series.

 

[McRhea]

So this is another valid option?
Linksys WRT54GL: $60

I forgot that I can use a wireless router as a wired router... plus if I get anything that's wireless in the future I'd be able to use this router... tempting! Very tempting, hah. Thank you.

 

[jaqie]

Yes, that router with a third party firmware (such as DD-WRT) would perform very snappily, especially if you set up QoS properly for the games you run.

Tomato, IME, is dog-slow, some other firmwares are quite nice and fast, but none for me match the speed, ease of use, and configurability of DD-WRT.

~edit~
holy crapola, that router now has 10 customer choice awards at the egg... I knew it was popular, but...damn.

 

[NickOlsen8390]

Originally posted by: jaqie
Yes, that router with a third party firmware (such as DD-WRT) would perform very snappily, especially if you set up QoS properly for the games you run.

Tomato, IME, is dog-slow, some other firmwares are quite nice and fast, but none for me match the speed, ease of use, and configurability of DD-WRT.

~edit~
holy crapola, that router now has 10 customer choice awards at the egg... I knew it was popular, but...damn.

I agree, I don't use it for my core router (didn't do what i needed it to do) But i have one loaded up and it works great, I take it places with me and have used it many times for making Client Bridges. Works great every time. Would use as my main router, but i found Mikrotik to perform much better for my usage. But you have to know a lot of networking.
I recommend the GL with DD-WRT for any of my friends asking for what router to get.

 

[McRhea]

All right, just placed an order for the WRT54GL from Newegg (free 3 day shipping! Wooo!). Thanks for all the advice everyone, I appreciate it.

I'll have to research Tomato and DD-WRT to see which one would fit my needs as a gamer... Jaqie, do you do a lot of gaming? Why was Tomato too slow for you? Just curious.

 

[jlazzaro]

Originally posted by: McRhea
Jaqie, do you do a lot of gaming? Why was Tomato too slow for you? Just curious.

i believe she was referring to the GUI...

the only needs a gamer would have as it pertains to router firmware would be QoS, and even that is only needed if you have serious congestion on your line. both Tomato and DD-WRT support it, although i've heard Tomato's implementation is better (cant speak from personal experience). in the end, it comes down to personal preference...neither one is going to improve your shot

 

[spidey07]

Gaming traffic is very small low bandwidth, there is no need or any advantage to a "gaming" router other than marketing.

 

[JackMDS]

The gaming aspect of the name is a clear Placebo.

The only perks that so call Gaming Routers have is a Qos that at time helps to manage the connection.

It is Not making the Connection, or the Router, better. faster, more stable, it just helps to manage the connection (in the few cases that it is needed).

There are sub $70 Routers that as is, or with DD-WRT can manage with Qos too.

They are Not called gaming Routers but the title is meaningless to begin with.

One should always remember, on spec. Wireless does 300' indoor, and 1200' out door.

Draft-N devices are even better x5 better, i.e. 1500? indoor and 6000? outdoor. :shocked:-:evil:-:thumbsdown:-:roll:

It hard to decide whether one should laugh or Cry.-:disgust:

 

[gizbug]

Originally posted by: jaqie
Don't forget wireless routers have a wired portion, and the wireless can be totally disabled.
Don't touch any linksys except the WRT54GL series.

Whats wrong with Linksys?
Have a WGT624v3, only thing it doesn't like is SSBB on my wii.

 

[jaqie]

Originally posted by: gizbug
Whats wrong with Linksys?
Have a WGT624v3, only thing it doesn't like is SSBB on my wii.

I have dealt with a large number of their routers, but not the one you mention. The problems with them is all in their firmware, Calling it crap would be an understatement. There is nothing wrong with their hardware, just their software (drivers) and firmware has always been crap. Perhaps things have changed a little with Cisco acquiring them, but I doubt it.

Originally posted by: jlazzaro
i believe she was referring to the GUI...

No, I most definitely was not. From the moment I installed it on my WRT54GSv3 and set up QoS, it was easily as slow as or slower then dialup on a cable line. The second I reinstalled DDWRT things improved markedly, and improved even further when I set up QoS again.

 

[gizbug]

What do you mainly use QoS for? Not too familiar with that.

 

[JackMDS]

Originally posted by: gizbug
What do you mainly use QoS for? Not too familiar with that.

To control the distribution of the Internet connection Bandwidth among computers.

http://www.dd-wrt.com/wiki/index.php/Quality_of_Service

 

[jaqie]

Originally posted by: McRhea
Thanks for all the advice everyone, I appreciate it.

You're quite welcome! I like helping

I'll have to research Tomato and DD-WRT to see which one would fit my needs as a gamer... Jaqie, do you do a lot of gaming? Why was Tomato too slow for you? Just curious.

Tomato answered in my post just above. Yes, I do a lot of gaming, with a lot of games, and have done even more in the past that I no longer play (wow, eq2, rose online, TDU, NFSMW, UT2004, et cetra ad infinitum). Today I am mostly into the orange box series of games, Asheron's Call (old MMO), and a few other assorted goodies and a bunch of older stuffers like UT2k3, Q3A, UT, et al ad infinitum.

~edit~
My xfire profile (shows a good history of games I have played, though I do not run xfire most of the time) is at http://xfire.com/profile/demia/

 

[0roo0roo]

Originally posted by: gizbug
What do you mainly use QoS for? Not too familiar with that.

keep bit torrent from raping your ping!

 

[McRhea]

Originally posted by: jaqie

Originally posted by: McRhea
Thanks for all the advice everyone, I appreciate it.

You're quite welcome! I like helping

I'll have to research Tomato and DD-WRT to see which one would fit my needs as a gamer... Jaqie, do you do a lot of gaming? Why was Tomato too slow for you? Just curious.

Tomato answered in my post just above. Yes, I do a lot of gaming, with a lot of games, and have done even more in the past that I no longer play (wow, eq2, rose online, TDU, NFSMW, UT2004, et cetra ad infinitum). Today I am mostly into the orange box series of games, Asheron's Call (old MMO), and a few other assorted goodies and a bunch of older stuffers like UT2k3, Q3A, UT, et al ad infinitum.

~edit~
My xfire profile (shows a good history of games I have played, though I do not run xfire most of the time) is at http://xfire.com/profile/demia/

Thanks Jaqie, it looks like I'll be using DD-WRT then and not even try Tomato if you had problems with it. I too am playing mostly TF2 right now (Orange Box), but once GTAIV comes out I'll be playing that a lot (quite a few of my TF2 buddies are going to be playing GTAIV multi once it comes out as well). My router is nearly here! It's in Portland right now, and will probably get delivered to me tomorrow (I'm in Seattle).

As a side note, I also used to play AC on the Morningthaw from 2000 to 2002 or so, lol. Still one of my favorite MOG's, I loved the freedom to go anywhere in that game. We need more MOG's like that...