At some point in time you're going to want to take your gaming online. Whether it's an MMORPG like world of Warcraft or a tried and true classic FPS like Quake, online gaming is a staple of the PC gamer So, which Internet connection is the best?

Cable

Cable has quickly become the "standard" broadband connection in major metro areas, for several reasons:

• It's ubiquitous - Almost every house in a city is wired for cable reception, and so almost all of those houses can get cable modem service.
• It's not distance limited (generally) - If the cable signal can reach you, then the cable modem can be used. Cable companies have already built out an entire signal repeating network, so you don't have to worry about distance limitations.
• It's fast - Cable companies generally offer speeds in the 5Mb/s to 50Mb/s range, depending on your package. The more bandwidth you have, the more you can do with your Internet connection (like download a large file and play a game at the same time).

Cable does have its downsides, however:

• Oversubscription - Aince cable companies sell you bandwidth as a loss leader (they cut their prices so low that they're losing money if you use the bandwidth you paid for), they over subscribe the system, which means that during peak usage hours your bandwidth is going to feel very limited.
• Packet loss - Cable companies don't like to admit this, but a lot of their copper wiring is getting very old, and they're not replacing it. That leads to a lot of problems in the digital world, namely corrupted packets and packet loss. If you live in a big city, like New York, you're bound to see some problems like this.
• Bandwidth metering - It's coming. No matter how loudly we yell, cable companies want to squeeze out every last penny they can, and this was the plan from the beginning: take over the broadband market by selling bandwidth at a loss, then turn a profit from that loss by any means necessary, and bandwidth metering is that profit vector.

DSL

DSL has been around a long time, and with ADSL2+ out, speeds are faster than ever. DSL has some advantages over the competition:

• Bandwidth - On the local side, you're not going to be choked when your neighbor starts to use Bit Torrent. You may still find that your bandwidth isn't always at 100%, though.
• Dedicated line - Unlike cable, which is a shared pipe, your line is a dedicated copper loop between your house and the telco's central office.
• More options - Unlike cable, DSL generally comes with more options, and some companies even offer a service level agreement (SLA) - which is a great option for a business customer that needs bandwidth and guaranteed service.
• No metering - Since DSL companies are not "loss leaders" they're selling bandwidth at a profit. So, they generally don't need to meter your bandwidth. If you buy a 15Mb/s package, and use every last drop of that connection, they're not going to complain about it (or shouldn't).

DSL does have its drawbacks, however:

• Distance limited - Unlike cable companies, telephone companies did not need to build out a repeater system for sensitive signals (phone signals are simply not sensitive, and only needed a power boost occasionally), so unless you live relatively close to the central office, or there is a business in the area that had a T1 system built out (which the FCC requires that the telephone company build out a repeater system for), you may be out of luck.
• Bandwidth limited - A single pair of copper wires simply cannot hold as much bandwidth as the much larger RG-6 cable can. Even with ADSL2+ speeds, you're limited to about 15Mb/s max (25Mb/s if you live next door to the central office and your ISP offers the service).
• Cost - Unlike cable companies, DSL providers are not selling bandwidth at a loss - they're in the business of bandwidth to make a profit. Therefore, you're going to pay more up front, and per month, for your bandwidth.
• Technically challenging - DSL can be a bit of a technical challenge, especially when it comes to PPPoE connections, and setting up notch filters for your ADSL1 connections.

Wireless

Microwave wireless companies are here to stay. More and more people are moving away from central cities out into open land - far away from where cable and telephone companies can provide service to them. These companies have some advantages:

• Service almost anywhere - While it does require some infrastructure buildout for any given area, a wireless company can, technically, operate anywhere.
• Minor distance limit - The only major distance limitation is your proximity to a wireless tower. If you're too far away from a tower then the microwave antenna won't be able to send/receive a signal.
• Faster than satellite - Unlike satellite connections, it doesn't take 4-5 seconds for your data to reach the Internet (and vice-versa). In fact, it's just as fast as a DSL or cable connection, making gaming a real possibility.

Wireless has its disadvantages, too:

• Technically difficult - You generally need to install a microwave dish (kind of like a satellite dish) and point it at the microwave tower. It can take a few hours to set this kind of Internet connection up as a few inches can be the difference between a great signal quality and nothing at all.
• Line of Sight limited - If anything comes between you and the microwave tower, then you can forget it. Trees, bushes, houses, and hill are some of the most common signal killers.
• Interference - Wireless is great, but it's not perfect. There are a lot of things that can interfere with a wireless signal, like an old microwave that doesn't have the proper RF shielding.
• Bandwidth limited - The microwave spectrum is pretty narrow compared to the large spectrum offered by DSL and Cable. So your bandwidth is generally going to be limited to between 1Mb/s and 10Mb/s (although most companies will only offer 3Mb/s and 5Mb/s pacakges).
• Costly - This technology isn't cheap, and these companies exist to make a profit. While they do offer rebates and cash back incentives, most companies will have you cover the cost of installation (typically $200 to $300), plus the monthly cost is about as high as DSL.

Overall, which one would be the best connection for your gaming computer? I'm more apt to go with DSL, as I cannot personally put up with the large cable companies problems.

I didn't talk about FiOS or Satellite Internet. FiOS is amazing - if you can get it, and the majority of people in this country cannot. Satellite Internet is a waste of time for gamers - the packet latency is too great to reliably play any games, even MMO's.

Do you have a question you need answered? E-mail me! lordkat@gmail.com

Click here to check out How to Build a Gaming Computer for Under $1000.

Be safe,

Jason