What is the best form of connection for gaming?

[This username is unavailable11]

I am trying to make sure that I have the least amount of internet issues while playing games but don't know which form I should use. I know that a direct wired connection to the router would be best but I am too far away from the router and don't have Ethernet running through the walls. I was thinking of a wireless card (Gigabyte GC-WB867D-I PCI-Express x1 802.11a/b/g/n/ac Wi-Fi Adapter) that would go into a PCI-E slot.Or a network bridge (NETGEAR N300 Wall Plug Version Wi-Fi Range Extender (WN3000RP)) that i can use to connect my PC into via Ethernet. I am not sure which would be better or if network providers charge extra for a Internet bridge. (I do know that my network speeds also depend on what I am paying for from the providor). Thanks!

 

[azaran]

Your overall network speeds are dependent on what your ISP provides. Thats the number your going to (hopefully) get if your connected directly to your modem/router. After that, whatever you do inside your home is up to you, and providing any kind of extra equipment like bridges wont have anything to do with your ISP. The speeds of the options you use inside your house are all dependent on the technology you use and how effective it is, so it's going to vary a lot.

In general best to worst is going to go Ethernet, PoE / Moca, Wireless. All things being equal, wireless is in general always going to give you the worst performance and be more prone to interference. If you can, I'd recommend looking in to a Power over Ethernet kit. Put an adapter next to your router, put the other end next to your computer, and connect the thing via the supplied Ethernet cables (or your own Cat5e) and you're set.

 

[USAFRet]

As said above, performance, decreasing

Cat5e
Powerline or Moca
....
....
....
....
....
....
....
WiFi


WiFi is way down there on purpose.

 

[This username is unavailable11]

Your overall network speeds are dependent on what your ISP provides. Thats the number your going to (hopefully) get if your connected directly to your modem/router. After that, whatever you do inside your home is up to you, and providing any kind of extra equipment like bridges wont have anything to do with your ISP. The speeds of the options you use inside your house are all dependent on the technology you use and how effective it is, so it's going to vary a lot.

In general best to worst is going to go Ethernet, PoE / Moca, Wireless. All things being equal, wireless is in general always going to give you the worst performance and be more prone to interference. If you can, I'd recommend looking in to a Power over Ethernet kit. Put an adapter next to your router, put the other end next to your computer, and connect the thing via the supplied Ethernet cables (or your own Cat5e) and you're set.

So you are saying that Poe is something I can connect close to my pc and then connect it via ethernet without having cables run through my house? if so what is the difference between Poe and an internet bridge?

 

[USAFRet]

PoE is different than EoP (powerline).

PoE = Power over ethernet. Pushes 'electricity' over an ethernet cable. Generally used to power an IP camera.

Powerline, which is what he referred to, is a pair of devices. One near the router, one near your PC.
They pump the ethernet signal through the house wiring, and at the far end, out to your PC.
MOCA is the same, but pumps it through the house coax wiring if that exists.

 

[azaran]

Ethernet over Powerline (EoP) pushes your network signal through the wiring in your home. Because of this, the strength of the signal is largely dependant on how good the wiring is in your home. The very basics of it is, you plug one adapter in to an electrical socket near your router and connect it to a port on your router via an Ethernet cable. You then plug the second adapter in to an electrical socket near your computer and connect it to your computer via Ethernet cable.

It's not as fast as purely running an Ethernet cable between your computer and your router but its still generally very good. It'll have better latency and better speeds compared to wifi. One of the downsides to it is you can not use them on power strips or any other kind of surge suppressor, so sometimes finding an open electrical socket can be a problem.

I personally uses these ones, and love them. But they are on the high side of pricing.
ZyXEL AV1200 Powerline PLA5405KIT
*edit just looked this model up, its stupidly expensive online right now for some reason

These have gotten good reviews, and have a pass through port so you don't lose a electrical socket.
Netgear Powerline 1200 and Extra Outlet PLP1200-100PAS

This one uses a different technology than the other two, but have gotten good reviews as well.
Comtrend G.hn Powerline Adapter Kit PG-9172-KIT

 

[This username is unavailable11]

I have tried using an EoP with a set that I had laying around (NETGEAR Powerline AV 200) and received a 60Meg difference (from around 90 and 100 wired, to around 30 with the Eop) in down and basically the same for up. (both still had 10-11 ping). I am wondering if this is a normal decrease in speeds, or if it is bad wiring in my house, and/or that it is an outdated piece of hardware. Thanks a lot to both of you for helping!
*edit: by the way I found a good deal on newegg for the ZyXEL AV1200 Powerline PLA5405KIT for 60, compared to 190 on amazon (I am assuming that is where you looked)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16833181368&nm_mc=KNC-GoogleAdwords-PC&cm_mmc=KNC-GoogleAdwords-PC-_-pla-_-Network+-+Powerline-_-N82E16833181368&gclid=Cj0KEQjw6uO-BRDbzujwtuzAzfkBEiQAAnhJ0Mot8W3LlxUPbhlmHatc1GmHmkdYKhaTrI_oJ7BVv-YaAuK88P8HAQ&gclsrc=aw.ds


PS: sorry about the late response, for some reason I did not get an email telling me you all responded.

 

[azaran]

I have tried using an EoP with a set that I had laying around (NETGEAR Powerline AV 200) and received a 60Meg difference (from around 90 and 100 wired, to around 30 with the Eop) in down and basically the same for up. (both still had 10-11 ping). I am wondering if this is a normal decrease in speeds, or if it is bad wiring in my house, and/or that it is an outdated piece of hardware. Thanks a lot to both of you for helping!
*edit: by the way I found a good deal on newegg for the ZyXEL AV1200 Powerline PLA5405KIT for 60, compared to 190 on amazon (I am assuming that is where you looked)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16833181368&nm_mc=KNC-GoogleAdwords-PC&cm_mmc=KNC-GoogleAdwords-PC-_-pla-_-Network+-+Powerline-_-N82E16833181368&gclid=Cj0KEQjw6uO-BRDbzujwtuzAzfkBEiQAAnhJ0Mot8W3LlxUPbhlmHatc1GmHmkdYKhaTrI_oJ7BVv-YaAuK88P8HAQ&gclsrc=aw.ds


PS: sorry about the late response, for some reason I did not get an email telling me you all responded.

No worries, its a forum. People get on here when they can.

Chances are a big part of the speed you were getting from the Netgear powerline AV 200 kit was because it was
1. A first gen product ( I believe)
2. Never trust the speeds on powerline kits. They base them off ideal lab conditions not real life conditions. In general from what I've seen in most reviews, with today's kits if you get have half the rated speed of a powerline kit you're doing really well.

The Netgear you used was rated for 200 megabits and being first gen, 30Mb sounds about right. It also could be a wiring issue with your house complicating it, but the only way to know for sure is to use one. Find a place with a good return policy just in case. Look up some reviews of the PLA5405KIT and that'll give you an idea of what to expect speed wise in a normal environment.

These guys have some pretty good reviews on the part and also good information in general on the tech.
http://www.smallnetbuilder.com/lanwan/lanwan-reviews/32555-zyxel-pla5405-1200-mbps-powerline-gigabit-ethernet-adapter-reviewed
and
http://thewirecutter.com/reviews/best-powerline-networking-kit/