How is my ping

If you like to play online, you always stumble across your "ping". But how good is my ping and why do I need it? We answer these questions in this practical tip.

A good ping - why is that important?

First we clarify what is actually behind the term "ping" and what you need it for:

• The ping value denotes the time period between the sending of a data packet to a recipient and the response packet that is then returned.
• In other words, your computer sends a small amount of data to a server and measures the time it takes for it to respond. The smaller the ping value, the faster the data is exchanged.
• This is particularly evident in online games or video calls: the better the ping, the fewer jerks and sound dropouts.

Via the browser: Determine my ping with special tools

There are numerous websites on the Internet that measure your Internet speed. The ping is usually determined for this purpose. One of these pages is "wieistmeineip.de".

1. Open the website to start the ping test.
2. Quit all programs before the test so as not to falsify the result. Then click on "Start ping test".
3. After a short loading time you will see your current ping value.

Thanks to Windows CMD: determine the ping value exactly

The ping measurement via the aforementioned website already offers a good indication. However, the server addressed plays an important role in your current ping value. The speed test website might be slower than your online game. You can use the command line to determine your ping to a specific server. To do this, proceed as follows:

1. Press the key combination [Windows] + [R].
2. Enter the command "cmd" in the field. The "Command Prompt" opens.
3. Enter "ping -t google.com" there. Windows then pings the Google server.
4. If you want to test your ping for Skype or an online game, simply replace "google.com" with the server address of the respective program. This is how you achieve the most meaningful results.
5. Windows now records the ping time. Let the test run for a few seconds and then cancel it with [Ctrl] + [C].
6. Now you see a summary of your pings (see screenshot). The average most accurately reflects your current ping value to the server entered. The same applies here: the lower this is, the better.

For a flawless gaming experience, it is not only the ping that is decisive: the general bandwidth also plays an important role. In this practical tip you will learn how to determine your Internet speed. DSL Speedtest: Test your download and upload speed

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