
It’s compatible with all major service providers, features four Gigabit Ethernet ports as well two-port aggregation for multi-gig 2.5G wired connections, a Wi-Fi range of 3,00 square feet, and a selection of gaming-friendly features such as Smart Connect optimal band selection. The Netgear Nighthawk CAX80’s appeal also extends to the details.
Modem vs router for gaming free#
In practical terms, you are looking at online gaming and streaming in 4K on a host of devices simultaneously, free of lag or latency. The device can dish out sustained and efficient internet service to up to eight devices simultaneously at blisteringly fast speeds. Jargon aside, this combination allows the Netgear Nighthawk CAX80 to deliver the fastest cable internet speeds available, both wired and wireless, subject to an ISP plan to match, without the need to rent an ISP-vetted modem and own a standalone router. So what makes the Netgear Nighthawk CAX80 such a fantastic solution for gamers? To start, the unit is a router-modem combo, meaning it marries a Wi-Fi 6-ready router pushing Wi-Fi speeds up to 6,000 Mbps with a built-in eight-stream (32×8 channel bonding) and DOCSIS 3.1 cable modem cable of theoretical internet speeds up to 10,000 Mbps.

It comes at a price – over $400 – and a footprint to match but is at the cutting edge of home internet. In this guide, we’ve hand-picked some of the best modems for gaming that will make you regret not switching up your current setup sooner.Īs far as consumer-level home networking devices go, there’s little out there that rivals the power and feature set of the Netgear Nighthawk CAX80. On the contrary, shopping around for a third-party modem from networking mainstays such as Netgear and co can land you a device that often costs less in the long run than monthly rentals and boasts better gaming-geared features designed to deliver the reliability chops required for competitive gaming. While ISPs revel in pushing their own boxes (and pocketing the monthly rental fee in the process) as a magic bridge granting you access to the delights of the internet and hours of unbridled gaming fun, you don’t need to settle for a bare-bones, feature-lacking modem that only just about does what it’s supposed to.

Time to wave goodbye to that ISP modem that’s been the culprit for innumerable disconnections, frustrating lag, and triple-digit ping? We can’t blame you, especially if you dabble in competitive online games where a solid and reliable internet connection is crucial when vying for that coveted win or tackling an MMORPG dungeon with your online crew.
