What Specs Should My Isp Have?

Router_BoxRouter_Box Join Date: 2004-09-07 Member: 31483Members, NS1 Playtester, Constellation
<div class="IPBDescription">in order for 5 people to play at once</div> ^^

I'm moving into a house with 5 gamers. What kind of upload/download speeds are we going to need? I need help in shopping out isp's.

Is it true that comcast universally sucks and I should stay away from them?

thanks for the help.

Comments

  • airyKairyK Join Date: 2002-12-19 Member: 11126Members
    You need to look for something with high enough upload, thats pretty much it. Also server list refreshing in steam will kill the connection for a second on lan and lag other lan players playing online.
  • wallerwaller Join Date: 2004-04-28 Member: 28281Members
    Airk, why is that i'ev always had a problem with that ;o
  • airyKairyK Join Date: 2002-12-19 Member: 11126Members
    Probably because it maxes out your connection for the duration of the server refresh, not really sure why.
  • DepotDepot The ModFather Join Date: 2002-11-09 Member: 7956Members
    My Comcast service is the best I've ever had, for as long as I've used the internet. I currently have 4mbit down and 375kbps up. Hope this helps.
  • meepmeep Join Date: 2004-02-04 Member: 26034Members
    <!--QuoteBegin-Router Box+Aug 7 2005, 06:27 PM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (Router Box @ Aug 7 2005, 06:27 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> ^^

    I'm moving into a house with 5 gamers. What kind of upload/download speeds are we going to need? I need help in shopping out isp's.

    Is it true that comcast universally sucks and I should stay away from them?

    thanks for the help. <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'> <!--QuoteEEnd-->
    Comcast doesn't universally suck. I lived in an apartment complex where most of the people had Qwest DSL (which, indeed, does universally suck) and never had any hiccups barring some infrequent outages. Exi just can't aim they're blaming it on their isp LOOOL. Cable in general isn't good if your neighborhood is packed with people that have the same service. So if you're near a university, for instance, cable might be a bad idea.

    Half-life (and most online games) takes about 10kbps up/down so 5 gamers on cable should be able to simultaneously play on most bandwidth connections? Theoretically. The problem always comes when someone is downloading a file. There's a program out there that you can install that will automatically pinch off any unnecessary programs if bandwidth is tight (unnecessary being anything not voice/game). I read about it, but didn't care enough to remember the name since it's not something I have any use for.
  • MrBananaManMrBananaMan Join Date: 2005-02-26 Member: 42562Members
    i have comcast and the only problems i have is that they go offline for a few seconds up to 5 times a week.

    you dont need a good isp for 5 gamers at your house. thats what LAN is for. LAN is faster than any server can reach.
  • i2avi2av Join Date: 2003-12-09 Member: 24190Members
    unless you have your own private oc256 (which is in GBPS.. not MB or KB <!--emo&:)--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/smile-fix.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='smile-fix.gif' /><!--endemo-->)
  • typical_skeletontypical_skeleton Join Date: 2003-02-24 Member: 13944Members
    edited August 2005
    Banana, you seem to have misunderstood. He means, what will he need if they wish to all play games online at once (not neccesarily together), NOT what will he need to network everyone together so they can play 5 player games over LAN.

    Any decent cable connection would probably suffice.
  • titaniumtitanium Join Date: 2003-10-31 Member: 22166Members
    <!--QuoteBegin-Router Box+Aug 7 2005, 06:27 PM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (Router Box @ Aug 7 2005, 06:27 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> I need help in shopping out isp's. <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'> <!--QuoteEEnd-->
    then list the providers available in your area or at the very least name the city or else this thread is worthless
  • MrBananaManMrBananaMan Join Date: 2005-02-26 Member: 42562Members
    ah ok. well from experience with 4 computers my friends 4mb cable connection was fine.
  • AlcapwnAlcapwn &quot;War is the science of destruction&quot; - John Abbot Join Date: 2003-06-21 Member: 17590Members
    Check to see if you have Verizon FIOS in your area, if you do, sign up for it.
  • typical_skeletontypical_skeleton Join Date: 2003-02-24 Member: 13944Members
    <!--QuoteBegin--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> </td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin-->then list the providers available in your area or at the very least name the city or else this thread is worthless <!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->

    That's wholly unneccesary. He's asking for SPECS, not particular brand names. Indeed, they vary by state, so it'd be ridiculous to do it in reverse, having him post brand names, then you looking it up for his area, to check the specs.

    Instead, tell him what specs he needs, and he'll find it himself. Makes sense, right?
  • Marik_SteeleMarik_Steele To rule in hell... Join Date: 2002-11-20 Member: 9466Members
    edited August 2005
    <!--QuoteBegin-typical skeleton+Aug 7 2005, 08:43 PM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (typical skeleton @ Aug 7 2005, 08:43 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> <!--QuoteBegin--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> </td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin-->then list the providers available in your area or at the very least name the city or else this thread is worthless <!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->

    That's wholly unneccesary. He's asking for SPECS, not particular brand names. Indeed, they vary by state, so it'd be ridiculous to do it in reverse, having him post brand names, then you looking it up for his area, to check the specs.

    Instead, tell him what specs he needs, and he'll find it himself. Makes sense, right? <!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->
    Makes sense to me.
    The second post in this thread, saying you need to be looking at upload speed, shook me up a bit; I could hardly believe I'd forgotten how important it is. Chances are either cable or DSL in your area offers download speeds that...well, okay, it may not be fast enough to make five gamers "very happy" if they're all downloading things constantly, but splitting the cost 5 ways will offer better download speed bang for the buck than asking for something special and faster like T1. If you can pass off the home as a business, you might convince the ISP to show you their faster options.

    But upload speed -- that's just as important when ingame and ISPs tend to limit it a whole lot more. This is where convincing them you run a business may be really helpful. If they assume you'll be hosting a website and such, you'll have a wider range of choices.

    Just be prepared to pay as if you're a business <!--emo&:(--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/sad-fix.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='sad-fix.gif' /><!--endemo-->
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