Tag: Playstation 4

The PlayStation 4 and its need for more Bandwidth

Last Updated: December 1, 2017

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Many of you likely took advantage of the Black Friday sales to purchase a new PlayStation 4 video game system. Great sale prices abounded for both PlayStation models – including the PS4 Pro – as well as Microsoft’s Xbox One line.

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The PlayStation 4. Image copyright Sony.

However, with all that extra gaming horsepower comes an additional thirst for the household’s Internet bandwidth, so let’s take a closer look at what you need to consider before getting your game on. This issue goes beyond simply online gameplay performance.

PS4 Downloadable Game Sizes tend to be HUGE

The PlayStation 4 Slim comes with a 1 TB hard drive. The design of the PlayStation hardware also makes it easy to swap out new drives as necessary. The system also supports connecting thumb drives to the two USB ports. You’ll likely end up needing all that storage since the file sizes for some downloadable PS4 games are massive.

Bandwidth considerations also matter when downloading games. For example, Ubisoft’s excellent winter sports title, Steep, requires an over 16 GB download. Once the original download completes, nearly 17 GB of additional content gets transferred to your system. On a 30 Mbps Internet service this takes at least a few hours, so be sure to run our speed test beforehand to ensure your ISP is humming along.

Another point involves game updates. An update for Steep sized at 20 GB was automatically downloading after powering up the PS4 the other day, preventing a game session with all Steep’s important network features. Thankfully, the PlayStation 4 offers a low-power “Rest Mode” where downloads happen automatically; hopefully at night.

Even if you focus on buying disc-based video games, note that extra DLC for high-end games typically runs well into the gigabyte range. The extra convenience of games stored on your video game console continues to position downloads as the preferred format moving forward. In fact, nearly all popular disc-based games also offer a downloadable version.

What about Online Gaming Performance?

Sure, a robust Internet service matters for online gaming. Check out our recent reviews of Need for Speed Payback and Call of Duty: WWII for more information. We also recently covered how video game developers handle ISP issues when coding their games.

Suffering from low bandwidth or poor latency lowers your chance at playing well in an online video game. When performing an Internet speed test before a gaming session, make sure you pay close attention to the Ping result, as this relates to the latency encountered during an online game. Latency is important, as it affects the overall responsiveness and interaction with other players.

Ultimately, if your Internet provider isn’t holding up their end of the bargain, use our site to check out other ISPs serving your location. Don’t let poor online performance ruin your gaming fun!

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The Xbox One X – Microsoft enters the 4K Videogaming World

Last Updated: November 8, 2017

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With the PlayStation 4 Pro already taking a share of the 4K videogame market, Microsoft joins the fray with its own top of the line console. The Xbox One X aims at high-end gamers looking for the most immersive experience possible. Of course, an ISP with a copious amount of Internet speed and bandwidth is another important part of this equation.

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Microsoft’s new Xbox One X videogame system. Image copyright Microsoft.

If you are interested in the new videogame box out of Redmond, read further for additional details and specifications. Is the Xbox One X the new king of the console world?

Xbox One X Specifications

Featuring a robust set of specifications, Microsoft claims the Xbox One X ranks as the preeminent videogame system on the market. An 8-core AMD processor running at 2.3 GHz is the heart of the new console. A 6 teraflop GPU and an impressive amount of video RAM – 12 GB – help the box deliver smooth graphic performance in 4K HDR.

In short, if you are a gamer with a high-end 4K TV that supports HDR, the Xbox One X needs to be on your wish list, especially if already own earlier Xbox models. Ironically, Microsoft’s new videogame system is also its smallest to date. Advanced chip design and manufacturing techniques helped achieve this small footprint.

Rounding out the technical specs is 8 GB of Flash memory as well as a 1 TB hard drive. A 4K UHD Blu-ray drive is included, along with an HDMI output and support for the most popular 5.1 audio formats. Most importantly for some, the Xbox One X is priced at $499; $100 more than Sony’s equivalent, the PlayStation 4 Pro.

Bandwidth Considerations for the Xbox One X

In addition to being a high-end videogame machine, the included Blu-ray drive and streaming capabilities make the Xbox One X the centerpiece to any home entertainment system. Remember, streaming 4K video requires a significantly higher amount of bandwidth compared to “plain old” HD. At least 20 Mbps of dedicated Internet speed is a must!

Thankfully, the unit is backwards compatible with the original Xbox One as well as the Xbox One S. So if you already built a robust library of games, you are good to go with Microsoft’s latest. Early reviews highlight Forza Motorsport 7 and Gears of War 4 as the top games for the new system.

Whether you think the Xbox One X is worth the extra $100 compared to the PlayStation 4 Pro depends on your preference for Microsoft or Sony. Both systems offer a state of the art videogame experience as well as being able to stream 4K HDR video. Run a fresh Internet speed test to ensure your bandwidth is up to snuff!

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What to Do When Your PS4 Internet Speed Is Running Slow

Last Updated: January 10, 2014

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The PS4 is currently the top-selling console machine in the US. People were already anticipating its release two years ago and were put on a waiting list a year before it came out. When you’ve waited so long to bring this new computerized gaming guru home, there is nothing worse than when your PS4 Internet speed isn’t as fast as it should be.

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You may have expected to spend more time that night with his new best friend — the PS4 — than with your girlfriend. But you were probably expecting to spend your night playing that sizzling new video game, not staying up all night waiting for the console to download the game. By the second hour, you probably had a few choice words for your game console — but it may not be the PS4’s fault at all.

Software

Newly released consoles, computers, DVD players, and other electronics are usually pushed out the door with a few bugs still in them. The development team makes these bugs a priority and sends out a fix as soon as it’s ready. One of the first things new PS4 owners should check for is a software update to make sure they are running the most current drivers for their system.

Other software applications can slow down the bandwidth speed on the PS4, or the entire network. Verify that firewalls, antivirus programs and other third-party programs are not interfering with the PS4. If the software is on the computer, then it is nothing to worry about, but software that may be running on the modem or router can slow down the bandwidth speed.

Remember that removing firewalls or antivirus programs increases your risk factor against hackers.

Hardware

Routers and modems will slow down the bandwidth speed on a network, but they are a necessary evil. The better one you have, the less bandwidth that will be absorbed by the device. If your computer or other devices on the network are running fine, then consider other options. If the PS4 is wireless, then connect a LAN cable to it to see how it runs. Change the LAN connection to one of the other ports in the router to make sure the port has not gone bad. Change the LAN cable.

Wireless connections always get less bandwidth than wired connections. Wireless connections must travel through the air to get to the device, and air is not very conductive.

Playstation’s User’s Guide says to select Network, and click Test Internet Connection to test your Upload and Download speeds. Run a speed test on your other devices on the network and compare their speeds to the PS4’s. If they are all about the same, then you may have to contact your ISP to resolve the issue. Let’s face it, if your computer or other devices are running a little slow that’s fine, but if your PS4 Internet speed is slow, that’s just not right.

Photo credit: Flickr/Airwolfhound

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Xbox One and PS4: A Look at Bandwidth Requirements

Last Updated: October 8, 2013

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As the release dates for the Xbox One and PlayStation 4 get closer, it makes sense to take a look at both next-generation video game systems from a bandwidth requirement standpoint. After all, it would be a shame to shell out for a new system only to have your Internet connection choke on any new requirements.

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Expect Most of the New Bandwidth Requirements to be Similar to Those for the Xbox 360 and PS3

While the new video game systems from Sony and Microsoft contain generally better graphics and unique gameplay features, especially when considering the Kinect and PlayStation Move controllers, the bandwidth requirements for the new systems are pretty much similar to the previous generation’s PS3 and Xbox 360. Game downloads might be slightly larger, but if you already have a pretty robust Internet connection, you should be good to go for the Xbox One and PlayStation 4.

One slight difference requiring more bandwidth would be with streamed online gaming, which is different from playing a previously downloaded game online. Still, most gamers’ Internet connections should handle that extra bandwidth with no problem.

Don’t Forget Watching Movies and Other Home Entertainment

Remember that both Sony and Microsoft — especially the latter — are positioning their video game machines as the centerpiece of a home entertainment system. This means streaming movies, TV shows, and other media content. So take into account these other use-cases when considering the ultimate bandwidth requirements of the Xbox One and PlayStation 4. If you don’t currently own a PS3 or Xbox 360 or don’t connect either device to the Internet, make sure your Internet connection can handle the additional horsepower required by streaming movies and TV shows — and games — before considering a purchase of a new system (check your internet performance with a speed test to find out).

Ultimately, if your house already sports a fast Internet connection, these new video game systems won’t stress out your connection any more than the existing generation of game hardware. So when the Xbox One and PS4 hit the market — game on!

Photo credit: Wikimedia Commons

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PS3 Streaming Movies and TV: A User’s Guide

Last Updated: October 3, 2013

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The PlayStation 3 is much more than just a gaming console. It’s an entertainment-streaming machine!

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Here’s a list of the premier PS3 streaming movies apps:

  • PlayStation Store: Includes gaming content, movies and television, and serves as a hub for all Sony Entertainment content, like an online virtual market.
  • Video Unlimited: Users can dig through the PlayStation Network’s video library and discover tons of movies and TV shows from Sony Entertainment, Twentieth Century Fox, and Universal.
  • Crunchyroll: A library of Japanese animation and live action drama, for the anime aficionado. You can stream anime, manga, drama, music, electronic entertainment, and auto racing.
  • MLB.TV: Get stats, scores, and archived clips — everything a fan needs to enjoy all things baseball. Watch every out-of-market game “live” online or on your mobile device.
  • Netflix: The leader in on-demand Internet streaming media is also the premier PS3 streaming movie app. For $8 a month, you can’t go wrong. Netflix is amazing!
  • Hulu Plus: Also $8 a month, Hulu Plus is mostly for television, such as The Daily Show, Modern Family, South Park, and more.
  • YouTube: It’s YouTube on your PS3, but cleaned up and tailor-fit for your TV screen.
  • Amazon Instant: Get films and TV shows for rental, purchase, and streaming from Amazon’s video-on-demand service (although you need a Prime membership to use it).
  • CinemaNow: This is Best Buy’s pay rental service with over 3,000+ feature films, shorts, concerts, and television programs from Fox, ABC, Disney, MGM, Warner Bros, etc.
  • Crackle: Crackle.com is another Sony digital streaming service with TV, movies, and original shows such as Extraction.
  • Vudu HD Movies: This is Walmart’s movie-streaming service with new releases and the most HD on demand in 1080p.
  • PS3 Media Server: The PS3 Media Server allows you to play videos and music from your desktop to your PS3. All you have to do is follow these easy instructions:

On your desktop:

  1. Download PS3 Media Server.
  2. Launch.
  3. Add your folders by using Navigation/Share Settings > Shared Folders.
  4. Click the “+” sign and add more folders, share iTunes library, etc.

On your PS3:

  1. Enable DLNA by Settings > Network Settings > Media Center Connection
  2. Go to Video.
  3. Select PS3 Media Server.
  4. Select your Media and Start PS3 streaming movies and TV shows!

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