My ping on PC games suddenly increased to over 200 ms a few days ago, even though it used to be normal. My Xbox still gets the usual 30–50 ms ping on the same internet connection. The Xbox uses Wi‑Fi, while my PC is connected by Ethernet. What could be causing the problem, and how can I fix it?
2 Answers
The connection type alone does not guarantee lower ping. Since the PC is on Ethernet, test the connection directly: run a speed and latency test, then ping your router and a reliable internet address. If the router ping is already high, the problem may be the Ethernet cable, network adapter, driver, or router port. If the router ping is normal but game ping is high, it is more likely the game server, route, or something running on the PC.
First check whether both devices are connecting to the same game region or server. Ping can vary a lot depending on the server, even when the internet connection itself is fine. On the PC, also check for downloads, cloud syncing, Windows updates, VPNs, or other programs using bandwidth. Restart the router and PC, then try another Ethernet cable or router port if the issue continues.
What would make the PC choose a different or worse server if the Xbox is fine?
The Xbox is on Wi‑Fi, while the computer is connected with Ethernet, so I’ll try another cable and port and compare the results.