What specs (cpu, ram, etc) should I be looking for on a new router to solve disconnect issues?

Cromwell__

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May 31, 2017
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I currently have an Asus RT-AC66u (https://www.asus.com/us/Networking/RTAC66U/). For the first year or two of its life it was my favorite router I've ever had because it never lost connection and never required resetting. Previously I had a series of Linksys and Netgear routers that needed resetting every few days.

However, over the past 6 months or so we've been adding multitudes of new smart devices to our network... Alexa devices, Philips hue hub, smartplugs, thermostat, garage door opener, etc. As we've added these devices the AC66u has started needing resetting every day or two. I set it up on a schedule to automatically reboot at 4AM every day, but it still needs a manual reboot every once in a while.

Looking at buying a better router that can hopefully handle the increased demand (as I'm ASSUMING the increased demand on the router from all the new devices is what is causing it to suddenly need resetting when it never did before). However I'm not sure what I should be looking for in a router. As far as wireless signal goes, we are in a ranch and the AC66U's signal strength is very much adequate to reach all corners of the house. The only place with a low signal is the garage, but the garage door opener still gets 2 bars and has always functioned. So I know I need something with AS good a signal, but don't need to get any better.

So what specs exactly effect a router's ability to stay connected and not need resetting, while handling lots of different devices with lots of data going in and out? Is it the CPU? If so should I be looking at a fast dual core or a quad core? Is it the RAM? Something else? Does a mesh wifi system handle large loads better? Basically I don't know what to shop for to solve my particular problem.

Alternatively, are there any settings on my router I can/should tweak to handle the increased load better? I guess I should mention that on top of the load of the smart devices, the house also has multiple devices streaming video, gaming, and/or torrenting simultaneously. It's just a very busy internet house for a good chunk of the day.

Thank you.
 
Solution
Smart devices usually do not consume that much traffic and don't create too much of a load on a router.
things you can do:
1. Flash the merlyn FW. it's improvement over the original FW. https://asuswrt.lostrealm.ca/
2. overclock it a bit - especially if you have some hard drive connected to USB.
If you are really looking to buy new one, the CPU is important. 2 cores @1.2GHz would be the very minimum.
If you don't use the router as File server, Torrent server, VPN server etc, you don't really need it to be very powerful.
Smart devices usually do not consume that much traffic and don't create too much of a load on a router.
things you can do:
1. Flash the merlyn FW. it's improvement over the original FW. https://asuswrt.lostrealm.ca/
2. overclock it a bit - especially if you have some hard drive connected to USB.
If you are really looking to buy new one, the CPU is important. 2 cores @1.2GHz would be the very minimum.
If you don't use the router as File server, Torrent server, VPN server etc, you don't really need it to be very powerful.
 
Solution
Before you change your Router, have you done a firmware update on the router. It may fix your problem without having to change it. If I was you I would look at the routers Draytek make. They tend to be used by business and have a lot of features that you may find useful.

You pay a lot for them but in my experience they are worth it.
 

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