Why Do I Lag Even With Ethernet Cable? (Explained)

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You may be wondering why you are experiencing lag even when you are using an Ethernet cable.

Even though an ethernet cable provides a more solid and reliable connection, you might still end up with some lag spikes. This might occur due to network congestion, firewalls, bandwidth-hogging apps, or outdated drives. You might resolve this with VPN software or by updating the driver.

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Why Do I Have Lag Spikes With Ethernet Cable?

People who spend most of their time using the internet, especially gamers, can find lag spikes quite annoying. To avoid these spikes, many people resort to using an ethernet cable in order to improve their connection. Although wired, this connection is proven to work the best without interruptions.

Therefore, when you decide to use this kind of connection, you assume that there should be no lag spikes. However, sometimes, you might still find yourself in a situation where you end up with an interrupted connection, and that can be quite irritable. This will signify that something else is wrong.

Some people are not bothered, so they keep going on along with the lag spikes. There are people who would go to great lengths to resolve this problem because a perfect connection is everything. These people do not mind spending much of their time to get the connection they want.

If you have found yourself in the second group, then there are some things you should know before you decide to do something about your spiked connection. Before you do anything, you need to know the reasons you get lag spikes even when using an ethernet cable.

Your computer comes with a lot of features and properties which cannot be solved only by wiring your connection. This means that you have to check everything before you blame your internet provider for the lag spikes you get when trying to stay online.

In other words, you have to learn what causes the internet spikes before you decide to try some solutions. Namely, you cannot do anything by just trying different options in order to see what is going to happen. You need to know what is causing the spikes if you want your connection to improve.

One reason for the lag spikes, which is the most common, is that you might be connected to a cell tower that is quite congested at a particular moment. When network congestion is in question, lag spikes are inevitable even with using an ethernet cable.

Another reason might be because of several network issues, such as firewall configurations, bandwidth that is limited, geographical server location, and so on. Since there are a few reasons that might be factors upon your connection, you first need to figure out which one it is.

When the reason is that of the congested cell towers, you might not have promising options that might improve the connection. However, you can always try some things because you never know what will work in your case.

Will An Ethernet Cable Stop Lag?

An ethernet cable is mainly used to stop and prevent lag spikes. No one really likes a wired connection. However, when something improves the connection, you will not mind doing it.

In other words, if we are talking about convenience, nothing can really replace the Wi-Fi connection. When you need speed in your connection, you would definitely opt for a solution such as an ethernet cable.

So, an ethernet cable will not only provide you lag-free connection but will also give you some speed. This is extremely practical when you want to transfer some larger files. Also, a connection without spikes is quite convenient for the gamers since they will not be subjected to interruptions.

To cut to the chase, the ethernet cable is a solid solution for a reliable connection. This might be the only solution that gives real results. However, you should also expect that even with an ethernet cable, it might come to lag spikes.

You should not rely on the ethernet because sometimes your network might be congested, meaning that even an ethernet cable will not be of any help. That is why it is important to find the root of your connection issue. Only then you will know what will certainly work.

Why Do I Lag Even With An Ethernet Cable?

As I mentioned above, there are several reasons that can cause lag spikes in your connection, even when you have a wired network. Namely, an ethernet cable is quite helpful and beneficial, but there are occasions in which it cannot really help.

An occasion in which an ethernet cable is not really helpful is when your network is congested, i.e. when you are getting internet from a really busy cell tower. Here, an ethernet cable might change something but in a really slightly manner. Congested networks are not resolvable by users.

However, if your network is just fine but you are still lagging, that means that something else is wrong. Namely, you should try to find the issue in your firewall configurations, bandwidth limitations, as well as geographical locations. In such cases, you have the opportunity to change something.

Therefore, the first thing you should do is install some VPN software that will resolve this issue. VPN servers are designed to provide better and improved connections, so you might first want to try that.

If this does not work, then you might take a look into your network drivers. Sometimes, if your network drivers are not updated they might interfere with the connection even when using an ethernet cable. So, make sure that you update your network adapter or drivers that are faulty.

Furthermore, if this does not work, then you might want to update your whole operating computer system. Sometimes, the fault might be in outdated features which prevent your connection to work as you expect. Therefore, make sure that you take this into consideration as well.

Can A Long Ethernet Cable Cause A Lag?

The length of your ethernet cable might slightly cause the quality of your network and connection, but it does not have a crucial part. Sometimes longer ethernet cables can interfere with the connection, since the signal needs to travel a long way.

This interference is not noticeable, meaning that it is not an essential part of the quality of your connection. You may wonder whether there is a recommended length of an ethernet cable that will ensure good connectivity. But, there is no recommendation regarding this question.

You should not bother a lot with the length of the ethernet cable because it is not a significant factor. You might have the shortest cable, but still experience some issues with your network connection, meaning there is no reason to worry about it.

Can A Bad Ethernet Cable Cause Latency?

A bad ethernet cable refers to the one that has been used for a long time and does not look in a good condition. This means that if the ethernet cable is all worn out and twisted around, it is considered a bad and old ethernet cable.

These kinds of cables are not beneficial for your network since they can cause latency. If your ethernet cable is old and twisted, then the signal for your connection will not be easily and successfully transmitted. This will definitely lead to lag spikes.

A wired connection is helpful, but your wire needs to be in a good condition if you want to achieve some actual results. Therefore, avoid using old and worn-out ethernet cables.