If you’ve been battling lag spikes or dropped connections during your favorite online matches, you might be wondering whether a powerline adapter for gaming is the answer.
Let’s face it, running a long Ethernet cable through the house isn’t always realistic, and Wi-Fi can be unreliable when you’re a few walls away from the router.
That’s where powerline adapters come in, promising to deliver a wired-like connection using your home’s electrical wiring.
In this article, we’ll break down how powerline adapters work, the pros and cons for gamers, and how they stack up against Wi-Fi extenders.
What is a Powerline Adapter?
A powerline adapter is a device that allows you to transmit internet data through the electrical wiring in your home.
Instead of relying on Wi-Fi signals that can be unstable or hard to reach in certain rooms, you use your house’s existing power circuits to create a wired connection between your router and another device, like your gaming PC or console.
Here’s how it works:
- You plug one adapter into a power outlet near your router and connect it via Ethernet.
- Then, you plug the second adapter into an outlet near your gaming setup and connect your device via Ethernet.
The two adapters communicate through your electrical wiring, effectively extending your network without relying on Wi-Fi signals.
It’s not magic, but it can feel like it when you’re used to frustrating Wi-Fi drops and latency spikes.
What Are The Pros and Cons of Powerline Adapters?
Before diving in headfirst, it’s worth weighing the benefits and the potential downsides of using powerline adapters for gaming. They’re not a one-size-fits-all solution.
Pros
- More stable than Wi-Fi: One of the biggest advantages is that you’re essentially creating a wired connection, which tends to be more stable and less prone to interference than Wi-Fi.
- Easy setup: No need to drill holes or run Ethernet cables through walls. Most powerline adapters are plug-and-play.
- Better for distant rooms: If your gaming setup is far from the router, powerline adapters can offer better performance than weak Wi-Fi signals.
- Low latency (in ideal conditions): Many gamers report lower ping and fewer packet drops compared to Wi-Fi.
Cons
- Performance depends on electrical wiring: Old or complex wiring can lead to inconsistent performance. If you live in an older house or one with multiple electrical circuits, you may not get great results.
- Interference from appliances: Microwaves, hair dryers, or even LED lights can interfere with powerline signals.
- Not as fast as direct Ethernet: While it beats Wi-Fi in many cases, it still doesn’t match the raw speed and reliability of a direct Ethernet cable.
- Outlets matter: Some adapters don’t work well with surge protectors or power strips. For best results, you need to plug them directly into wall outlets.
Which Are Some of The Best Powerline Adapters?
Not all powerline adapters are created equal. Some are optimized for speed, others for stability, and some come with extra features like pass-through power sockets or multiple Ethernet ports.
Here are a few well-reviewed models worth considering:
- TP-Link AV2000 (TL-PA9020P): One of the top-performing options. It supports speeds up to 2000 Mbps (in theory), has two Ethernet ports per unit, and includes pass-through outlets.
- Netgear Powerline 1200: A solid mid-range option. It’s easy to set up and provides decent speeds for most gaming needs.
- Devolo Magic 2 WiFi Next: A hybrid model that combines powerline and Wi-Fi, offering flexibility if you want to connect both wired and wireless devices.
- TRENDnet Powerline 1300 AV2 Adapter Kit: A bit more affordable but still supports decent speeds and has a reliable reputation among budget-conscious users.
Just remember: your actual performance will depend heavily on your home’s electrical infrastructure. Even the best adapter can underperform in the wrong environment.
Which is Better for Gaming: Powerline Adapters or Wi-Fi Extenders?
This is a common question, and while there’s no universal answer, we can look at typical performance scenarios.
Powerline Adapters:
- Tend to offer more stable and consistent speeds.
- Usually lower latency, which is crucial for gaming.
- Work best when both adapters are on the same electrical circuit.
Wi-Fi Extenders:
- Easier to set up in some cases, especially if your electrical wiring is problematic.
- Can still suffer from signal degradation, interference, and congestion.
- Useful for mobile devices, but not ideal for latency-sensitive gaming.
If you’re gaming from a desktop or console that doesn’t move around much, a powerline adapter is generally the better option, as long as your home’s wiring cooperates. Wi-Fi extenders are more of a last resort if you can’t get anything else to work reliably.
How to Stabilize Your Connection Using Powerline Adapters for Gaming?
If you’ve decided to go with powerline adapters, there are a few key things you can do to ensure you’re getting the most stable and lag-free connection possible.
1. Use NoPing to Reduce Lag
Even with a good physical connection, you might experience high ping or jitter due to factors beyond your local network, like routing inefficiencies between your ISP and the game servers. That’s where tools like NoPing come in.
NoPing reroutes your connection through optimized paths, often cutting down ping times and smoothing out gameplay. It’s especially useful for games with global servers or when you’re connecting to regions outside your own.
Here’s how to use NoPing to stabilize the connection in online games:
- Sign-up through the website and download NoPing (you can test it for free).
- Open NoPing and search for your game inside the software
- Once you find it, click on it and, on the next screen, select “Choose automatic” or “Choose manual” and click “Continue”. We recommend choosing automatic, as NoPing’s technology analyzes all routes on a global scale and automatically selects the best option for you.
- On the next screen, click on “Optimize Game”.
- And that’s it, you can start playing with optimized ping!
Pairing a powerline adapter with NoPing can be a game-changer for online performance.
2. Avoid Surge Protectors
Plug your powerline adapter directly into a wall outlet. Power strips and surge protectors often block or degrade the signal.
3. Keep it on the Same Circuit
For best results, make sure both adapters are plugged into outlets on the same electrical circuit. Cross-circuit connections might still work, but with lower speeds or more packet loss.
4. Update Firmware
Many people forget this step, but some powerline adapters have firmware updates that can improve performance or compatibility. Check the manufacturer’s website occasionally.
5. Minimize Electrical Noise
Keep your adapters away from noisy appliances like refrigerators, washing machines, or vacuum cleaners. These can introduce electrical interference and degrade signal quality.
So, are powerline adapters good for gaming? In many cases, yes, especially if your alternative is a weak or unstable Wi-Fi connection.
While they can’t quite match a direct Ethernet connection, they’re a huge step up from flaky wireless setups. That said, their performance is highly dependent on your home’s wiring and how you set them up.
If you combine powerline adapters with smart practices, like avoiding surge protectors, staying on the same electrical circuit, and using tools like NoPing, you can enjoy a stable, responsive connection that’s more than good enough for competitive online gaming.
Download NoPing now and have the most stable connection to play more than 3000 games!
