Is TP-Link Archer C7 AC1750 a good Wi-Fi router for gaming?

Best respond: The TP-Link Archer C7 AC1750 is a adept accommodating router, but for superior gaming performance, cheque out something like the Linksys WRT32X.

Amend suited for gaming: Linksys WRT32X ($148 at Amazon)
Great all-around router: TP-Link Archer C7 ($80 at Amazon)

The Linksys WRT32X has impressive specs

The Linksys WRT32X is a serious router that can handle a lot of traffic, as is evidenced past its specs. It's a dual-band router classed at AC3200, meaning you become a ii.4 \GHz radio with theoretical throughput upwardly to 600Mbps and a 5GHz radio with theoretical throughput upward to 2,600Mbps. It'due south also enabled with MU-MIMO functionality, meaning upwards to three compatible devices tin can receive uninterrupted data menses.

There are iv antennas on the router that can, in our testing, effectively embrace about 2,000 square feet in a solid signal, and beamforming capabilities help with walls and obstacles for improve speed and range. It tin also support three spatial streams on a 160MHz channel (what Linksys calls Tri-Stream 160), which effectively doubles bandwidth and allows it to operate in airspace not already clogged with signals.

A dual-cadre one.8GHz processor (CPU) helps handle wired and wireless network traffic, and it also deals with data transfer through eSATA and USB-A physical interfaces that allow you to connect external storage. Finally, there are iv Gigabit Ethernet ports for when yous absolutely need a physical connectedness to your PC and other devices.

What makes the Linksys WRT32X so special?

The specs and features higher up might be closely matched by a lot of other premium routers, but at that place's one thing that sets the Linksys WRT32X apart when information technology comes to gaming. Rivet Network'southward Killer Prioritization Engine (KPE) is designed to work with gaming PCs using Killer wireless cards, like those from Razer, Acer, Dell, Alienware, Lenovo, and MSI, for example.

What'southward and so special about the KPE? Linksys has this to say:

When a user starts a game, the Killer hardware on the PC communicates with the router and tells the router how to treat the data and with high priority. If the network is bogged downwardly from other users on the Internet, the WRT32X is able to go along the gameplay fast and smooth considering information technology prioritizes the Killer game traffic higher up other traffic that is being used. Conversely, the PC also communicates to the router when a less of import activity is taking place (like a download) and then that the router won't permit the download affect the experience of other users while they are on the Internet in the home.

When gaming, specially in a competitive surroundings, any lag or latency tin can mean the difference between glory and defeat. If you're in a abode with plenty of internet traffic, this router should testify indispensable.

While a wired connexion should unremarkably be more reliable and overall faster than a wireless connection, in our own testing we saw a lower ping from a wirelessly prioritized connection than with a wired connection to the Linksys WRT32X. It's not just all talk, and this router does open up the option of having an excellent wireless connection for gaming.

Is the Linksys WRT32X easy to fix upwards and manage?

You might call up that a router similar this is a pain to fix, but in reality all information technology takes is a quick connection with your PC before y'all're greeted with a setup sorcerer to walk you through the steps. Once set up, the user interface (UI) is uncluttered and simple. Information technology has a modern layout, in that location's enough to tinker with, and information technology's hard to cause bug if yous're a networking novice.

Better gaming performance

If you're an avid gamer and want superior wireless functioning, stick with a router designed for gaming. The Archer C7 is undoubtedly a great all-around router, simply the Linksys WRT32X is the correct tool for the job.

Great gaming router

Linksys WRT32X

If you're serious about gaming, yous want a serious router to match

The Linksys WRT32X is a router designed with gaming in mind, thanks to the Killer Prioritization Engine that works with many gaming PCs to offer a low-latency connexion that's not affected by other traffic on the network.

Keen all-around router

TP-Link Archer C7

A favorite for many people

The Archer C7 is the budget router a lot of people depend on for reliable cyberspace in their dwelling or small office. It covers a big surface area and information technology's suitable for a variety of uses, and if you don't need extra gaming performance, information technology should fit in well and handle everything y'all throw at it.

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