Can you recommend a fast gaming wifi router?

[TheV]

I was considering going wireless now and almost sprung for a D-Link GamerLounge DGL-4300 Wireless Router (DGL4300)...but I also saw the Belkin Wireless Pre-N (F5D8230-4) Router (F5D82304) and couldn't decide. None of the reviews seemed to address really what I want to know. What's the best wireless router out now for gamers? Both of the above routers are a bit pricey and I'm not sure there is any benefit.

What are you rest of you frags using?

[Devhux]

I have been using the Pre-N router since it was made available, and I rarely am tethered anymore -- even when gaming.

The only time I'll connect my Ethernet cable is when I'm copying large amounts of data to my brother's laptop.

[Dem0072]

D-Link is great, just make sure its 802.11G, and that you have a 10/100/1000 Ethernet wireless card in your box.

Outside of that, being D-Link, their interface is the most customizeable I've ever seen, I favor it by far over Linksys.

My old D-Link did very well, untill I accidentally plugged the wrong power cord into it & gave it a surge of incorrect current.

In any case, strong, reliable, cooler than usual routers they are. Remember though that with any Wireless router you will experience latency depending on your connection, and if you live in the city I'd reccomend encrypting it with 128 bit or better, and having a password on the network. This will fend off the warchalkers.

[zero2dash]

Myself (and a whoooole lot of other people who've also had problems with D-Link products) would recommend staying as far away from a D-Link router as you can. IME - D-Link is synonymous with garbage. :throw:

Why do you specifically want a router labeled for "gaming"...is there something I'm missing about these routers that I've never heard before? What do they offer over a regular WiFi router....? :confused:

I don't have any problems with my Linksys WRT54G with anything, including games. :shrug:

[Bires]

I get sub-50ms pings through my SMC Baracade-G and 5.0mbit cable. Seems pretty fast, but it doesn't like my NintendoDS.

[Dem0072]

Myself (and a whoooole lot of other people who've also had problems with D-Link products) would recommend staying as far away from a D-Link router as you can. IME - D-Link is synonymous with garbage. :throw:

Why do you specifically want a router labeled for "gaming"...is there something I'm missing about these routers that I've never heard before? What do they offer over a regular WiFi router....? :confused:

I don't have any problems with my Linksys WRT54G with anything, including games. :shrug:

What problems have you had?

I know of one D-Link router, the 604 I believe, that didn't do too hot, however they have a series of routers that I do like.

I love the 704 series routers, the interface is very nice. You can actually, with ease, hard-set an IP on your network without pulling your hair out, as with a Linksys. If your running a large-scale network, and trying to have a computer as a host on a D-link (5+computers) the DHCP server often resets your IP's too often to have round-the-clock hosting without spending half an hour a day resetting everything for the newly assigned LAN IP & forwarded ports (unless you want to be flimsy, and just spend 2 minutes reconfiguring the DMZ).

The only issue I ever had with my router (D-Link) was it is meant for advanced users, and years ago when I got it, I wasnt a network savvy guy, however it took some learning but I got the DHCP server to work...

All in all a D-link is only a headache for those who configure it improperly, or aren't familiar with how it is supposed to be configured for what they want.

Security wise & reliability wise, all routers are very similar, the only real differences are within the interface itself.... and D-link leads in interface & settings capabilities.

Sadly im on a Linksys now, it does its job just fine, but I can't hard-set IP's like I would like to. Thats it's only downfall, that, and it's chinese jigsaw puzzle of a configuration.

If your looking at one for gaming, and intend to invite the mates over for a LAN party or just some friendly in-house scrims, then I reccomend the D-link gaming router. The main edge the Gaming router has over others, it's designed for more "plug & play" type of configurations, as opposed to having to configure the computers individually. It's also higher speed than the old 802.11b, its 802.11g I believe, thus 108mbps, I would also imagine it has a special feature for hosting the games as well.

In any case thats my take, no problems with D-link, no anger against any other router, just wishful thinking about the linksys interface more or less.

[DarkFury]

I hope you NEVER have to deal with D-Link's (non)Tech Support...

Also, based on past experiences, flashing some D-Link routers leaves you with a DEAD D-Link router. YMMV, but personally, D-Link equipment will NEVER grace my home office ever again. :2far:

[yippiekiyeh]

I have the D-Link GamerLounge DGL-4300, and I really like the packet priority that the game packets get. So while you are DLing torrents and playing games your games get the priority. Works really well! Worthever penny! :thumbup:

[verve247]

My opinion on most belkin products is that they are complete crap and shold be avoided.

[zero2dash]

What problems have you had?



I had I belive the 524...paid $29 on sale at Target.
Worked ok for a few days and then it started rebooting/losing connection every few minutes...repeatedly. (Did some research and found a lot of complaints about D-Links "rebooting" like mine was.) I was running the latest firmware so that wasn't the problem - I tried everything else mentioned on D-Links site and had no success; returned it and bought a WRT54G and haven't had one problem since.

I'll never buy a D-Link again; after that one, D-Link was placed in the "never buy their products again" list of mine that also includes Netgear. (Coincidentally, the Netgear router I owned awhile back did the same thing...dropped the DSL connection every few minutes.)

I've owned 2 Linksys routers (BEFSR41 + WRT54G) over a 7 year period total - and I have never once had a problem with a Linksys router (wired or wireless); needless to say, Linksys has a customer for life. :)

[shocky123]

I'd never cough out the cash for more ping.. personally I'd say stay away from the wireless routers.. under some circumstances you're left with upwards of 50% packet loss..
If your idea is to sit it right on next to your desktop.... why use a router..

of course I guess I wouldnt ever understand since I like being stuck to my wall :)

~Kyle

[Devhux]

Just to show your mileage may vary when it comes to these things, I had two Linksys BEFSR41's and both of them would drop the connection much like the D-Link ones did for zero2dash. Also had a friend's wireless Linksys router do the same thing.

So for me, Linksys is in the "do not buy" category.

[DarkFury]

Just to show your mileage may vary when it comes to these things, I had two Linksys BEFSR41's and both of them would drop the connection much like the D-Link ones did for zero2dash. Also had a friend's wireless Linksys router do the same thing.

So for me, Linksys is in the "do not buy" category.
But consider this...

Linksys is the "residential / home user" version of the Cisco company. Cisco pretty much knows what they are doing with their products and is well respected in commercial networking.

You can call Linksys tech support and pretty much get a good/clear answer to your problem... or else you RMA it and they'll get you a new one. With D-link.. the tech support was a joke and even the RMA process was a PITA.

So yeah.. I guess your mileage may vary... :shrug: