Ping is a network utility that refers to the signal sent out across the network to another computer, which then sends its own signal back. This signal, which is measured in milliseconds (ms), lets you know how long it takes for a packet of data to travel from your computer to a server on the internet and back. That measurement is referred to as the latency between the computer and its server.
The etymology of the word “ping” goes back to World War II, when it was used as the technical term for the sonar signal that submarines would send to measure their distance to another vessel in the ocean. An onomatopoeia, the derivation is quite literally the metallic, high-pitched “ping” sound that was heard.
In the world of online video gaming, ping speed test refers to the network latency between a player's computer (or the client), and either another client (peer) or the game’s server.
Ping is primarily affected by two things: the distance between you and the game server, and how much network traffic is going through your network. Sometimes there can be hardware issues like bad infrastructure that cause loss of signal, but that is mostly down to your ISP.
The numbers associated with both “low ping” and “high ping” are within a range. Ping amounts of 100 ms and below are average for most broadband connections. In gaming, any amounts below a ping of 20 ms are considered exceptional and “low ping,” amounts between 50 ms and 100 ms range from very good to average, while a ping of 150 ms or more is less desirable and deemed “high ping.”
While lag is often caused by high latency, it can also be caused by issues related to the computer that's running the game. These include insufficient power in the central processing unit (CPU) or graphics card (GPU), or lower system (RAM) or video (VRAM) memory.
1. Internet service provider quality
It’s not necessarily top of mind when it comes to gaming requirements, but sometimes choosing one internet service provider (ISP) over another can mean the difference between winning and losing a game. And if you’re playing in a league or for actual prize money then the stakes are even higher.
ISPs don’t necessarily offer the exact same services and features, and there are multiple factors to consider - including price, speed, latency, reliability, availability, data, and more.
2. Internet connection speed
In addition to the various factors that comprise the quality of your ISP, your internet connection speeds can affect your ping (or latency). A higher connection speed lets you send and receive data faster, thus lowering your ping. Conversely, a slower connection speed can result in high ping, which in turn makes lag more noticeable when playing games online.
Satellite, cable, and fiber connections offer high speeds, but only cable and fiber offer low latency. A dial-up connection with a 56k modem, for instance, will have a higher ping compared to a good broadband connection.
3. Inadequate bandwidth