The Best Cable Modem Router For Gaming In 2024

Nicolas Ward By, Nicolas Ward
Updated
Best Cable Modem Router For Gaming
Best Cable Modem Router For Gaming

The Rundown

1. Best Overall: NETGEAR Cable Modem Wi-Fi Router

The NETGEAR Cable Modem Wi-Fi Router is the perfect combination of reliable performance and a stylish design. It offers up to 1500 square feet of wireless coverage and can support up to 25 devices simultaneously. Read Review

2. Runner Up: NETGEAR Nighthawk Modem Router Combo

The NETGEAR Nighthawk Modem Router Combo is the perfect combination of speed and coverage for your home. With dual-band WiFi 6 (AX2700) speeds of up to 2.7Gbps, this modem router combo can cover up to 2,500 square feet and support 25 concurrent devices. Read Review

3. Best Efficient: Motorola MG8702 Cable Modem Router

The Motorola MG8702 Cable Modem Router is the perfect solution for your home networking needs. It features MU-MIMO Technology which lets your router communicate seamlessly with multiple devices at once, allowing for simultaneous streaming throughout your home. Read Review

4. Best Technology: ARRIS Surfboard G34 Cable Modem Router

The ARRIS Surfboard G34 Cable Modem Router is a high performance DOCSIS 3.1 modem and Wi-Fi router in one! This cable modem router provides the ultimate in speed and performance for your home network. Read Review

5. Best Quality: NETGEAR Nighthawk Cable Modem WiFi Router

The NETGEAR Nighthawk Cable Modem WiFi Router is the perfect solution for your high-speed internet needs. Featuring fast Wi-Fi performance, this router provides up to 1800 square feet of wireless coverage and can connect up to 30 devices at once. Read Review

Do you play online games? Do you like to stream videos and movies? If you do, you need a gaming router. You need one so your connection is stable and lag-free during peak hours or when playing online games. A gaming router helps eliminate lag by limiting the amount of data that passes through it at any time. This means that your device can only send data to the websites, apps, or video streams on the approved services list. This lets you enjoy an uninterrupted gaming session without worrying about lags or other connectivity issues.

If playing games is one of your hobbies, then a gaming router is one of the best ways to maximize your experience. Even if you don't play games much, it's something that most people should use with a gaming router. With today's advancements in digital entertainment, gaming has become something that just about everybody enjoys. So with so many gamers out there now, there's no better time to get a good gaming router and enjoy game after game!

After nearly 15 hours of research, we were able to come up with many top products from prominent brands. Among them, we think the best cable modem router for gaming is NETGEAR Cable Modem Wi-Fi Router. It offers up to 1500 square feet of wireless coverage and can support up to 25 devices simultaneously. Alternatively, if you're simply looking for another option, you may go with NETGEAR Nighthawk Modem Router Combo. Explore with us right here.

Our Top Picks

TOP Choice #1 NETGEAR Cable Modem Wi-Fi Router
Our Score:
9.8
NETGEAR

Look no further if you're a cable internet user searching for the perfect modem router that offers exceptional speed, compatibility, and user-friendliness. With impressive rates of up to 300Mbps with Spectrum, up to 200Mbps with Xfinity, and up to 150Mbps with Cox, this modem router is a powerful device capable of handling various online activities like streaming, gaming, browsing, and video conferencing. Its reliable and lightning-fast wireless coverage extends to 1500 sq ft, ensuring a lag-free online experience for the entire family.

In addition to its remarkable speed, the modem router's versatility stands out as another defining feature. Featuring two Gigabit Ethernet and one USB port, it enables speedy wired connections to various devices, including computers, printers, game consoles, and storage drives. With DOCSIS 3.0 technology and 16x4 channel bonding, it delivers stable and uninterrupted connectivity, free from buffering and interruptions. Moreover, this modem router prioritizes security, offering robust features like parental controls and support for WEP and WPA/WPA2 wireless security protocols to safeguard your online activities. However, weak signals may occasionally be experienced.

TOP Choice #2 NETGEAR Nighthawk Modem Router Combo
Our Score:
9.6
NETGEAR

This powerful device offers a coverage area of up to 2,500 sq. ft. and can support up to 25 concurrent devices, making it an excellent choice for households with multiple connected gadgets. Its dual-band WiFi 6 (AX2700) speed reaches up to 2.7Gbps, ensuring lightning-fast and seamless internet connectivity. With DOCSIS 3.1 and 32x8 channel bonding, this device delivers robust and stable connectivity, making it an ideal replacement for your cable modem and WiFi router.

Equipped with 4 x 1 Gig Ethernet ports, including support for port aggregation, and 1 USB 3.0 port, this device allows easy connections to computers, game consoles, streaming players, storage drives, and other wired devices, providing maximum versatility. Setting up the system is a breeze with the Nighthawk app, allowing users to manage WiFi settings at both the device and network levels, test internet speed, and monitor data usage efficiently. Nonetheless, its setup may be a bit confusing. 

TOP Choice #3 Motorola MG8702 Cable Modem Router
Our Score:
9.5
Motorola

The cutting-edge technology included in this cable modem router immediately improves your WiFi speed and reliability. The DOCSIS 3.1 cable modem's performance is reliable well into the future, allowing you to take advantage of the fastest internet speeds available. In addition to being compatible with 32x8 DOCSIS 3.0, 2.0, and 1.1 services, DOCSIS 3.1 boasts improved speeds and broader availability.

This router's Multi-User several-Input Multiple-Output (MU-MIMO) technology enables simultaneous streaming to several devices in a home. In addition, 4 Gigabit Ethernet (GigE) LAN ports support connected connections to Ethernet-enabled computers, smart TVs, game consoles, and other devices. Moreover, this modem router has a useful WiFi app that can be used for simple configuration, monitoring of data usage, testing of transfer rates, protection of young users, and notification of potential security threats to the network. Unfortunately, the only downside of this device is that it may be a bit noisy. 

This high-end device combines an advanced modem and router to provide lightning-fast speeds, low latency, and a seamless network experience for all your devices. Its DOCSIS 3.1 technology surpasses the previous DOCSIS 3.0 with speeds ten times faster, enabling smoother streaming, faster downloads, and reduced gaming lag while ensuring enhanced security against online threats.

Moreover, setting up this device is also a breeze thanks to the SURFboard Central App. Plug in the modem, download the app, and follow the step-by-step instructions to activate and customize your network. The app also offers real-time monitoring of your devices, parental controls, and much more, giving you complete control over your network. Furthermore, with four 1-Gigabit ethernet ports and Wi-Fi 6 speeds up to 3 Gbps, it is designed to handle even the most demanding internet usage. However, this device may need to reset sometimes.

This networking powerhouse device offers lightning-fast Wi-Fi performance with speeds of up to 1900 Mbps, ensuring seamless connectivity over an area of 1800 square feet. It supports up to 30 devices simultaneously, making it ideal for households with multiple gadgets and users. The device also provides versatile connectivity options, including 4 Gigabit Ethernet and 2 USB ports, delivering reliable wired connections to various devices like printers, storage drives, game consoles, and computers.

This device has advanced modem technology featuring 32x8 channel bonding and DOCSIS 3.1. Its exceptional internet speeds stand out, allowing smooth streaming of 4K videos, speedy file downloads, and lag-free online gaming. Furthermore, it is user-friendly, providing a readily available user guide with detailed troubleshooting steps for setup and configuration. With its sleek and modern design, it seamlessly complements any home décor. Although it may heat up occasionally and temporarily stop working, a simple unplugging for 30-60 seconds resolves the issue.

6 MOTOROLA MG7540 Cable Modem Router
Our Score:
9.1
Motorola

The combination of a 16x4 DOCSIS 3.0 cable modem and an AC1600 Dual Band WiFi Gigabit Router presents an excellent solution for those needing reliable and high-speed internet connectivity. With support for both 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz frequencies, this device ensures seamless wireless access for a wide array of devices, including smartphones, tablets, HDTVs, gaming consoles, and popular streaming devices like Amazon Echo, Google Home, Chromecast, Roku, Amazon Fire TV, and AppleTV.

Furthermore, four Gigabit Ethernet ports allow for stable and dependable wired connections to Windows and Mac computers. It has been approved by leading cable service providers such as Comcast Xfinity, Cox, Charter Spectrum, and others, making it well-suited to meet the demanding requirements of current cable internet services. Its compatibility with WiFi DFS frequencies also sets it apart from most routers, providing more excellent immunity to interference from neighboring networks. One point to note is that it does not have a phone jack.

This cutting-edge modem router is a powerhouse that uses the latest DOCSIS 3.1 technology to provide lightning-fast internet speeds of up to 2.5 Gbps, surpassing all others in the market. It features four Ethernet ports, including one 2.5 Gigabit and three 1 Gig Ethernet ports, to connect multiple devices easily while maintaining top-notch performance. Furthermore, with WiFi 6 technology, it provides ultra-fast speeds, ensuring crystal-clear video calls and uninterrupted browsing. 

Moreover, this device has two phone lines that enhance call features such as caller ID, conference calling, and call forwarding, making it the ultimate choice for households with multiple users. Additionally, setting up this Xfinity-compatible modem with the Motosync app is effortless, providing the most secure control over your network from anywhere. It also allows you to optimize your network for maximum performance and security, ensuring the best experience from your internet service. However, this modem router is not compatible with non-Xfinity voice services.

8 ARRIS SURFboard Gigabit Cable Modem
Our Score:
8.7
ARRIS

Simple and Secure Set-up: Just plug-in, download the SURFboard Central App, and follow the step-by-step intrstuctions to activate the modem, set-up and customize your Wi-Fi network, and add devices to your home network! Once setup is complete, the app provides real-time monitoring of the devices on your network, enhanced parental controls like setting time limits and pausing internet and much more.

What's in the Box: When you purchase you will get an ARRIS SURFboard SBG8300 Cable Modem, Power Supply, Quick-Start guide, and 2-year warranty card.

Router Technology: Features four 1-Gigabit ethernet ports and delivers Wi-Fi 5 speeds up to 2.3 Gbps (2,350 Mbps).

Warranty Provided by ARRIS: Product ships with 2-Year Limited Warranty.

A Trusted Name in Home Connectivity: Get high speeds, low latency, and a two-in-one product! With the ARRIS SURFboard SBG8300 Wi-Fi Cable Modem, you will increase your network capability and get ultra-fast streaming and downloading throughout your home. From a trusted brand with over 260 million modems sold and growing.

Dedicated Customer Support: Live Chat and Phone Support available 8am -1am EST.

Compatibility: The SURFboard SBG8300 is compatible with major U.S. cable internet providers including Cox (Gigablast), Spectrum (Internet Gig), Xfinity (Gigabit/Gigabit x2) and others. It's approved for cable internet speed plans up to 1 Gbps. Check your Internet Service Provider (ISP) website to confirm compatibility.

Modem Technology: DOCSIS 3.1 is the newest technology available from cable internet providers. Its 10x faster than DOCSIS 3.0, provides better security, reduces lag while gaming & enables multi-gig networking (ability to run fast speeds on your copper cable from your internet provider).

Save Money: Own your modem and save. Reduce your cable bill up to $168 dollars per year in cable modem rental fees (Savings vary by cable service provider). Certified for use with most U.S. cable internet service providers. For a complete list see additional details below.

100% Passive Cooling with fan-less design for noise-less experience

Compact & CableLabs certified cable gateway to ensure the best compatibility of cable internet service.

This model does not support ASUS Router App and AiMesh

Cost Saving & Future Proof - Stop Paying modem/router rental fees from your cable provider

Small & Elegant Design with embedded WiFi antenna makes it the smallest DOCSIS 3.1 WiFi 6 cable gateway in retail cable industry.

High Efficiency WiFi 6 - Enjoy fast speeds up to 6000 Mbps with WiFi 6 (802.11ax)

RF Interface: ‘F’ type connector

USB Interface: USB 3.1 Gen1, Type A

MoCA: Moca 2.0 with Channel Bonding

Product Images, Product Titles, Product Highlights from Amazon Product Advertising API

Several things a reader must do before selecting best cable modem router for gaming

Actually, best cable modem router for gaming can be discovered by following these simple steps. Individuals should first understand their needs and the requirements which will guide their decision-making procedure.

Then they must investigate all options available to decide which product satisfies those needs and meet those criteria. After that, the buyer can narrow down their options based on factors such as cost and dependability. Let’s check the tips for better purchase:

Security

To secure your router, you should use the latest available encryption standard. This is likely WPA2 or WPA3, depending on the age of your router. You’ll need to enter the password just once into each wireless device you use; afterward, the device will remember it.

USB Ports

USB ports on a router are used for connecting to a flash drive, an external hard drive, or a USB printer if the router has a built-in print server.

App-Based Management

Every new router comes with apps meant to simplify the task of setting up and making adjustments to your WiFi network. The apps make it easier than ever before to monitor which devices are connected to your network and adjust which devices get priority. These apps can also alert you when an update is available for your router.

Booster Club

When it comes to wireless routers, most ISPs offer several tiers of service. If you’re ever in a situation where you need more speed for streaming or gaming, you can always upgrade your service. A connection speed of around 200 megabits per second should be able to handle a family’s worth of activities like this.

Quality Of Service

Wireless Routers offer a great way to optimize the performance of your computer. You can change the router's settings to work best for streaming videos, making Skype calls, playing games, or streaming music. This will give those applications more of the bandwidth—so, for example, your Netflix movie doesn't pause and rebuffer because someone in your house is downloading a large file.

LAN Ports

Many internet-connected smart home devices, such as Philips Hue and Samsung SmartThings products, require a LAN port-connected hub to function. If you need more LAN ports than the router has, you can expand the number available by adding an Ethernet switch. This is sort of like a power strip that adds open Ethernet ports.

WiFi Standards

As of early 2021, the tech world is starting to transition away from the WiFi standard known as WiFi 5 and towards WiFi 6, which is faster and boasts better support for more devices connected at the same time. Older, WiFi 5-certified devices like smartphones and laptops can still be used with WiFi 6 routers, but you won’t receive the full benefits of WiFi 6 unless the device you are using is certified for the new standard. For more information on WiFi 6, be sure to read this article.

FAQs

What are the benefits of having a cable modem router for gaming?

Cable modem routers for gaming provide higher speeds than regular modems, as well as improved range and reliability. They also provide features like Quality of Service (QoS), which prioritizes gaming traffic over other types of network traffic.

What settings should I use on my cable modem router for gaming?

You should enable Quality of Service (QoS) on your cable modem router for gaming. This will ensure that your gaming traffic gets priority over other types of network traffic. Additionally, you should ensure that your router is running the latest firmware and that you have enabled port forwarding for your gaming console or PC.

How do I connect my gaming console or PC to my cable modem router?

To connect your gaming console or PC to your cable modem router, you must use an Ethernet cable to connect it to one of the router’s Ethernet ports. Once you have done this, you can configure your gaming console or PC to use the router’s network connection.

Conclusion

Before making a purchase decision, the reader should do the following. It's critical to keep these factors in mind when looking for the best cable modem router for gaming since they can help to ensure that you discover what's worth the investment. If you need another option for best cable modem router for gaming, you should look into NETGEAR Nighthawk Modem Router. Hope you have a nice shopping day!


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About Nicolas Ward

Nicolas Ward

Nicolas Ward is an elite author with many years of experience in the music field and the owner of many engaging articles at TheAudioInsights. He studies music production and has many years of passionate research into sound systems. Appearing in many popular newspapers, Nicolas Ward provides useful knowledge and the latest information on music and sound.