What is Latency in Gaming? | How to Improve Network Latency

What Is Latency in Gaming, and Why Does It Matter?

In the fast-paced world of online gaming, milliseconds matter. Whether you're in a tight gunfight or reacting to an enemy’s ultimate ability, latency—the delay between your input and the game's response—can mean the difference between a win and a loss. While many gamers only focus on internet speed, your gaming hardware plays an equally crucial role in determining total latency.

At UrbanX, we understand that network latency is just one piece of the puzzle. That’s why we aim to reduce latency to an absolute minimum, giving serious gamers the ability to fine-tune their system latency with the right equipment. The result? A smoother, more responsive, and competitive gaming experience.

Hardware vs Network Latency: Know the Difference

Before we dive into gear, let’s break down the two key contributors to lag:

1. Network Latency (Ping)

This refers to the time it takes for your data to travel from your device to the game server and back. It’s measured in milliseconds (ms) and is influenced by:

Your ISP’s routing and peering
Distance to the game server
Type of connection (Fibre vs LTE or Wi-Fi)
Congestion and packet loss

UrbanX helps eliminate these issues by peering directly with major game publishers, optimising traffic routes, and offering low-latency fibre connections built specifically for gamers.

2. Hardware Latency (System Latency)

This is the delay between your physical input (like clicking a mouse) and the game reacting on screen. It includes:

Input delay from peripherals
CPU and GPU processing time
Monitor response rate
Signal transmission (USB, HDMI, etc.)

When combined with network latency, hardware latency compounds your total delay—impacting how quickly your character reacts in-game.

The Role of Gaming Hardware in System Latency

Let’s break down the equipment that directly affects your system latency:

Gaming Mouse

Polling Rate & DPI: A higher polling rate (e.g. 1000Hz) ensures your clicks are registered more frequently.
Wired vs Wireless: While modern wireless mice are catching up, wired options still offer lower latency.

Keyboard

Mechanical vs Membrane: Mechanical switches register faster than membrane alternatives.
Actuation Point: Lower actuation switches (like speed switches) trigger quicker, reducing response time.

Monitor

Refresh Rate: 144Hz or higher is now standard for competitive play. Higher refresh rates reduce motion blur and gaming latency.
Response Time: Look for monitors with 1ms or lower grey-to-grey (GtG) response times to reduce display lag.

Headphones

Audio Latency: Wired headphones typically have zero audio delay compared to Bluetooth counterparts—crucial in games where directional sound matters.

Graphics Card and CPU

Lower-end hardware can introduce rendering lag. Your GPU must be fast enough to produce frames at a rate that matches your monitor’s refresh rate. Likewise, a sluggish CPU can delay in-game reactions.

Cables

USB vs Bluetooth: Wired USB connections for controllers, keyboards, and mice reduce latency significantly.
Display Cables: HDMI 2.1 and DisplayPort cables support higher refresh rates and lower input lag—make sure your setup is compatible.

UrbanX: Eliminating Network Lag for Competitive Gamers

No matter how good your gaming computer hardware is, if your network is laggy, you’re playing with a handicap. That’s where UrbanX comes in.

Here’s how we help reduce network latency:

Direct Peering with Game Servers:
We peer with titles like Valorant, League of Legends, Escape from Tarkov and more, shortening the distance between you and the action.
Gaming-Optimised Routing:
Our network is built to prioritise gaming traffic, ensuring faster data delivery and fewer spikes.
WiFi 6-Ready Routers:
Even if you're not wired in, our routers deliver faster wireless speeds and lower latency for modern gaming devices like handheld consoles, laptops, and desktops.

With your network latency minimised, your gaming hardware can finally perform at its peak.

A Fully Optimised Gaming Setup: The Winning Gaming Formula

To truly gain an edge in competitive gaming, it’s about stacking the odds in your favour. That means:

Low-Latency Internet:
UrbanX provides the fastest possible routing to reduce ping and improve network latency.
High-Performance Hardware:
Use a fast monitor, responsive mouse, and high-refresh-rate cables.
Stable WiFi or Wired Setup:
Eliminate jitter and packet loss by ensuring clean signal transmission.
Game-Ready Environment:
Minimal background processes, proper driver updates, and using gaming modes can also shave off valuable milliseconds.

Precision Starts with Your Setup

Latency in gaming is a sum of many parts. While most gamers obsess over ping, hardware latency can silently sabotage performance if not addressed. From your monitor to your mouse—and even the cables you use—every component plays a role in how quickly your inputs reach the game.

UrbanX takes care of the network side of latency, giving you the breathing room to focus on building a hardware setup that puts you ahead of the competition. Because when every millisecond matters, you need every advantage you can get.