If you want to play online with your PS3, you need to make sure that the router you choose is a good one. There are some critical differences between regular browsing and gaming, and the router needs to take care of the latter. With a brief explanation of what you need, let’s dive into the heart of the matter and pick up the best one for you.
Did You Know?
Some types of Wi-Fi routers are not compatible with each other. For example, 802.11n, 802.11b, and 802.11g are cross-compatible with each other, but 802.11a routers are not compatible with any of those.
The perfect router should give you the ultimate lag-free, spike-free, and consistent connectivity that you need. And online gaming needs all of those. In short, the kind of gaming router you seek should be able to provide low pings, negligible latency, and a thick and sturdy connection. The equation becomes even trickier when you’re looking for a wireless router. The distance between the console and the router comes into play, as well as the number of objects between them. Keeping all these things into mind, I’ve created a list of choices of the best routers out there.
The Perfect PS3 Wireless Router
The router should provide fast, stable performance, and also maintain high value factor. It may be tempting to go for the latest ones, but there are some criteria which you will have to consider. They include speed, range, user-friendliness, stability, etc. We will now see the wireless router reviews for PS3.
One important thing before we proceed to the routers:
PS3 was made for G (older) routers, not N (newer). But since N routers are backward-compatible, you can use them for PS3. And although you won’t get N speeds, you’ll get the more consolidated data streaming and the multiple I/O ports. That’s pretty much why I’ve mentioned all the N routers here, instead of only G routers.
NetGear R6300 ($199.95)
One of the finest offering by NetGear is the R6300. It is easy to install and use, thanks to the Genie software. The 5GHz 802.11n is quite speedy indeed. The USB ports give no problem whatsoever. The display screen is fast and very responsive as well. Buy it if you can afford it. The router is basically excellent for anything you want to use it for.
Apple AirPort Extreme ($199)
Apple’s router is probably the best choice for Mac users. It’s great even if you’re on a PC. With its 802.11n on dual-band (2.4GHz and 5GHz) and 3 Gigabit Ethernet LAN ports, the AirPort Extreme flawlessly transfers data to and from your PS3. With Time Capsule, you can get automatic wireless backup of up to 3TB of data.
Linksys E4200 v2 Maximum Performance Dual-Band N900 ($199.99)
When you are using a PS3, it’s natural that you’d want the least number of dead spots and that data should travel faster. With this router, you exactly get that. The best part about this router is that all ports support Gigabit speed and auto-crossover; hence, crossover cables are not required. Other than your PS3, it can also be used for streaming HD video and downloading and transferring large files. The advanced security features ensure that freeloaders and Internet threats are kept at bay.
ASUS Black Diamond Dual-Band Wireless-N 600 ($129.00)
The ASUS Black Diamond prides itself with posing zero dead spots or data lag. It has Giga Fiber Internet support, due to which a full HD movie can be downloaded in about 5 minutes (depending on your Internet service). Along with the great speed for downloads, it renders a great speed for voice-over IP calls, media streaming, file sharing, etc.
D-Link DGL-4500 GamerLounge Xtreme N Gaming Router ($239.99)
With this router from D-Link, you will be able to prioritize game traffic, so that when you are playing your game and someone else is also accessing the Internet, you are not left scouting for bandwidth. This router has been specially made for the ardent gaming fans and comes with Gigabit LAN and WAN ports, and gives a higher data transfer rate.
Netgear N900 Wireless Dual Band Gigabit Router ($200)
With the N900, you will be able to create a great network at home, due to which streaming HD video and playing multiplayer games will be an experience in itself. One can make the most of the wireless network. However, the n900 router has a rather weak USB storage port.
Netgear WNDR3700 RangeMax Dual Band Wireless-N Gigabit Router ($154.99)
It is one of the most preferred routers for gaming. It is an enterprise-grade router and is built for high performance. Since it has dual-band operation for maximum data throughput, it is perfect for gaming. With this router, one can also set up multiple networks for varied purposes. It also includes WPA2 encryption, ensuring a better security for your connection.
* Prices may vary according to locations and offers.
Frankly, having a bigger bandwidth matters as much as having a great router. The problem arises when you buy a really cheap router that won’t quit chopping the stream every time it gets a little extra load. The ones mentioned above will do none of that. A lot of people seem to have problems against Netgear routers, but I think they are just fine.