OT: Video Game Computers/Gadgets/Gizmos Thread

[Ryan5UW]

Anyone have good modem/router suggestions for Spectrum? Looks like they’re going to be my only ISP option at my new home. Wondering if I should do my own right out the gate or have them provide the gear to just get me setup and return it at a later date.

I have them and just went through replacing my modem a couple of months ago. The modem they provided got so bad that my service was literally cutting out every day - solved by simply unplugging the modem and plugging it back in. When I'd call for support they could see the service dropping but the only option they could come up with was sending a tech out to check the lines. The lines weren't the problem - the modem they provided was faulty, easily confirmed with a quick google search. I bought this one at the beginning of May and my service hasn't cut out one time since:

https://www.bestbuy.com/site/motorola-32-x-8-docsis-3-1-cable-modem/6105800.p?skuId=6105800

That one should be good for all of their service levels up to 1 gig, and I just confirmed it is still on their approved modem list:

https://www.spectrum.net/support/internet/compliant-modems-spectrum-network/

Once you plug it in you just have to give Spectrum a call and they'll provision it over the phone and you'll be good to go.

Personally, I wouldn't get a modem/wireless router combo - it doesn't seem like those work as well. I'd pair it with a mesh system - I have the Linksys Velop one which I really like, but there are others out there too that are really good, the Nest one is supposed to be good too.

Got a link to the Velop or some other suggestions? I know I was looking at Nighthawks a few years ago. My thought process right now is use their crappy modem to get setup but go grab a WiFi router from Best Buy so I’m not paying them monthly fees for theirs. Then in a few weeks I’ll replace the modem with probably the option you dropped above.

So this is the one I have:

https://www.bestbuy.com/site/linksys-velop-ac2200-tri-band-mesh-wi-fi-5-system-3-pack-black/6209705.p?skuId=6209705

Ive had it for a few years, so it’s a little dated perhaps and it looks like they have an updated version or two that might be a little faster? I don’t game online much, but I do stream all my tv and have around 25 devices always connected and have never had any speed issues.

[ReasonablySober]

Watching a GDQ run of Ninja Gaiden Black.

Watch on YouTube

Very impressive and it's nice to hear a couple guys who apparently love this old game as much as I do.

[MikeIsGood]

I have them and just went through replacing my modem a couple of months ago. The modem they provided got so bad that my service was literally cutting out every day - solved by simply unplugging the modem and plugging it back in. When I'd call for support they could see the service dropping but the only option they could come up with was sending a tech out to check the lines. The lines weren't the problem - the modem they provided was faulty, easily confirmed with a quick google search. I bought this one at the beginning of May and my service hasn't cut out one time since:

https://www.bestbuy.com/site/motorola-32-x-8-docsis-3-1-cable-modem/6105800.p?skuId=6105800

That one should be good for all of their service levels up to 1 gig, and I just confirmed it is still on their approved modem list:

https://www.spectrum.net/support/internet/compliant-modems-spectrum-network/

Once you plug it in you just have to give Spectrum a call and they'll provision it over the phone and you'll be good to go.

Personally, I wouldn't get a modem/wireless router combo - it doesn't seem like those work as well. I'd pair it with a mesh system - I have the Linksys Velop one which I really like, but there are others out there too that are really good, the Nest one is supposed to be good too.

Got a link to the Velop or some other suggestions? I know I was looking at Nighthawks a few years ago. My thought process right now is use their crappy modem to get setup but go grab a WiFi router from Best Buy so I’m not paying them monthly fees for theirs. Then in a few weeks I’ll replace the modem with probably the option you dropped above.

So this is the one I have:

https://www.bestbuy.com/site/linksys-velop-ac2200-tri-band-mesh-wi-fi-5-system-3-pack-black/6209705.p?skuId=6209705

Ive had it for a few years, so it’s a little dated perhaps and it looks like they have an updated version or two that might be a little faster? I don’t game online much, but I do stream all my tv and have around 25 devices always connected and have never had any speed issues.

We have a similar setup but different hardware.

Modem: https://www.bestbuy.com/site/netgear-32-x-8-docsis-3-0-cable-modem-black/6058901.p?skuId=6058901
Router (from mesh system): https://www.bestbuy.com/site/netgear-orbi-ac2200-tri-band-mesh-wi-fi-system-3-pack-white/6373080.p?skuId=6373080

We upgraded to this about a year ago now, and I literally doubled my d/l speed in my office. Our modem and router are a level and several rooms away from my office, and our house isn't wired, and I struggled with our older mesh system and Spectrum-provided modem. Upgrading totally sovled it.

Hoping to just get our next house wired, though. I'd love to have a wired connection on my desktop.

[jschligs]

Having our house wired has been un-freaking believably nice. I struggled to play PS5 and even some PC games in my office that wasn't even that far away IMO. But wired has been a freaking blast. Everything blazes.

[ReasonablySober]

The Witcher 3 is getting a next gen update. I'm 100% gonna be replaying that day one.

[MikeIsGood]

Having our house wired has been un-freaking believably nice. I struggled to play PS5 and even some PC games in my office that wasn't even that far away IMO. But wired has been a freaking blast. Everything blazes.

I am hoping to find a company to come in and do all of wiring the house, security system, and some misc. electrical. Moving in like a month and we're hoping to do it before we even move in.

[ReasonablySober]

BOTW is probably the game that I most enjoy playing, think is maybe the best in the medium, that I still somehow always bounce from. Twice I've gotten to maybe 30% of it, taken down two of the bosses, then put it away for a year.

Starting over fresh again.

[Sauce Boss]

Got a link to the Velop or some other suggestions? I know I was looking at Nighthawks a few years ago. My thought process right now is use their crappy modem to get setup but go grab a WiFi router from Best Buy so I’m not paying them monthly fees for theirs. Then in a few weeks I’ll replace the modem with probably the option you dropped above.

So this is the one I have:

https://www.bestbuy.com/site/linksys-velop-ac2200-tri-band-mesh-wi-fi-5-system-3-pack-black/6209705.p?skuId=6209705

Ive had it for a few years, so it’s a little dated perhaps and it looks like they have an updated version or two that might be a little faster? I don’t game online much, but I do stream all my tv and have around 25 devices always connected and have never had any speed issues.

We have a similar setup but different hardware.

Modem: https://www.bestbuy.com/site/netgear-32-x-8-docsis-3-0-cable-modem-black/6058901.p?skuId=6058901
Router (from mesh system): https://www.bestbuy.com/site/netgear-orbi-ac2200-tri-band-mesh-wi-fi-system-3-pack-white/6373080.p?skuId=6373080

We upgraded to this about a year ago now, and I literally doubled my d/l speed in my office. Our modem and router are a level and several rooms away from my office, and our house isn't wired, and I struggled with our older mesh system and Spectrum-provided modem. Upgrading totally sovled it.

Hoping to just get our next house wired, though. I'd love to have a wired connection on my desktop.

I got just the Spectrum modem for now, but grabbed this for my WiFi setup.

https://www.bestbuy.com/site/netgear-orbi-ax4200-tri-band-mesh-wi-fi-6-system-2-pack-white/6405440.p?skuId=6405440

I’m going to take all of your recommendations on the modem front and replace that in the next few weeks. Just going to try to get it setup tonight/tomorrow so we can work for the week.

[MikeIsGood]

BOTW is probably the game that I most enjoy playing, think is maybe the best in the medium, that I still somehow always bounce from. Twice I've gotten to maybe 30% of it, taken down two of the bosses, then put it away for a year.

Starting over fresh again.

I love BOTW, but have also never finished it or gotten past the second boss. I hesitate to say this, but...

...I think the world feels super, super empty.

[jschligs]

BOTW is probably the game that I most enjoy playing, think is maybe the best in the medium, that I still somehow always bounce from. Twice I've gotten to maybe 30% of it, taken down two of the bosses, then put it away for a year.

Starting over fresh again.

I love BOTW, but have also never finished it or gotten past the second boss. I hesitate to say this, but...

...I think the world feels super, super empty.

You're not wrong. That's why I literally just burned through the main story and did as many shrines as I could, haven't gone back since. But....it was one of my favorite games of recent years. World just felt lifeless.

[WRau1]

Anyone plan on playing New World?

[StickeeFingaz]

Anyone plan on playing New World?

Was just going to ask the same thing, LOL. I've never really played an MMO before but thought I might pre-order to gain access to the beta and try with this one. Only concern is that MMO veterans are railing on Amazon because they've already mentioned having a cash shop that could include XP boosts.

Thoughts?

[MikeIsGood]

Anyone plan on playing New World?

Interested to know more about it, but not high on my list. I tend to only enjoy an MMO if I can be reasonably successful solo, and then it helps when non-solo-able content isn't super toxic. FF14 (free 2 weeks for past subscribers right now, BTW) is the only one I've really enjoyed. WoW is **** godawful with douchebags. I found TESO to be better, and more solo-able, but not well realized.

So probably wait and see for me.

[WRau1]

I pre-ordered it, I'll check it out for awhile. Played a good amount of MMOs so I'm thinking it won't be that hard to pick up. I also hope there is a good amount of solo stuff to do.

[BucksStatsGuy]

BOTW is probably the game that I most enjoy playing, think is maybe the best in the medium, that I still somehow always bounce from. Twice I've gotten to maybe 30% of it, taken down two of the bosses, then put it away for a year.

Starting over fresh again.

I love BOTW, but have also never finished it or gotten past the second boss. I hesitate to say this, but...

...I think the world feels super, super empty.

I think, at least in terms of busy-ness, it appears empty on the outset. But that game is so ridiculously well-crafted that literally every where you go, there is something to do. I still run into areas with stuff I've never seen before. Obviously the shrines are kind of the main form of "go somewhere", but there are tens and tens of side quests, puzzles, random people you run into on the top of a mountain, items (especially with all of DLC hidden items), combat challenges, etc. So I think I'd agree that it is empty from the standpoint of "if I am in the middle of the field, there isn't anything immediately around me", but it's truly a game of where pretty much anything you see in the distance, they reward you for going there. I'd also highly recommend Master Mode if you want a real challenge, especially at the beginning of the game. You have to get REALLY crafty for some enemy situations.

I think beating the bosses / even the game are kind of secondary. I've put in about 200 hours into the game, and I still actually haven't gone to go after Ganon. Not because he's hard or anything, just the opposite by the time I get to him, but I have far more fun doing other stuff.

Side note, has anyone actually tried Second Wind (the modification for BOTW that you can play through emulator/modded Wii U)? It's pretty awesome. The content they've added is super impressive. In general, there are some killer mods for BOTW that really make it much more of a survival experience. Also looking forward to Skyward Sword this week. IMO it actually has some of the best dungeons in the Zelda franchise, and the QoL improvements will help so so so much. It's def more linear than many of the games, but I also think without all the constant hand holding it will be a lot more fun.

[crkone]

I really disliked The Imprisoned battles in Skyward Sword.

[machu46]

Having our house wired has been un-freaking believably nice. I struggled to play PS5 and even some PC games in my office that wasn't even that far away IMO. But wired has been a freaking blast. Everything blazes.

Unfortunately with how old this house is and the way these row houses were constructed, it's impossible to feed a cable up the wall to connect my PC and PS5 directly to the router in our living room. I got one of those powerline connection things instead so that I can at least have a stable connection. It's a bummer that I pay for 1 gig internet speeds but only get around 70 Mbps on my PC and PS5 though but that's still more than enough for my online gaming.

We're considering building a 3rd floor/roof deck on this house though so if that ends up happening, I'm probably going to try to see if they can do something to allow us to move the router so that I can finally connect it directly.

[MikeIsGood]

Having our house wired has been un-freaking believably nice. I struggled to play PS5 and even some PC games in my office that wasn't even that far away IMO. But wired has been a freaking blast. Everything blazes.

Unfortunately with how old this house is and the way these row houses were constructed, it's impossible to feed a cable up the wall to connect my PC and PS5 directly to the router in our living room. I got one of those powerline connection things instead so that I can at least have a stable connection. It's a bummer that I pay for 1 gig internet speeds but only get around 70 Mbps on my PC and PS5 though but that's still more than enough for my online gaming.

We're considering building a 3rd floor/roof deck on this house though so if that ends up happening, I'm probably going to try to see if they can do something to allow us to move the router so that I can finally connect it directly.

Might be worth checking out MoCA, if you haven't already. This was our backup solution had the updated modem/mesh system combo not worked.

[Sauce Boss]

So I couldn’t set up my internet this weekend at the new place and I’m just waiting on my technician to show up. Fairly certain there’s no line feeding into the house right now. At least my boss is cool and is fine with me being away at least half the day to get set.

[machu46]

Having our house wired has been un-freaking believably nice. I struggled to play PS5 and even some PC games in my office that wasn't even that far away IMO. But wired has been a freaking blast. Everything blazes.

Unfortunately with how old this house is and the way these row houses were constructed, it's impossible to feed a cable up the wall to connect my PC and PS5 directly to the router in our living room. I got one of those powerline connection things instead so that I can at least have a stable connection. It's a bummer that I pay for 1 gig internet speeds but only get around 70 Mbps on my PC and PS5 though but that's still more than enough for my online gaming.

We're considering building a 3rd floor/roof deck on this house though so if that ends up happening, I'm probably going to try to see if they can do something to allow us to move the router so that I can finally connect it directly.

Might be worth checking out MoCA, if you haven't already. This was our backup solution had the updated modem/mesh system combo not worked.

If I'm understanding it correctly, I unfortunately don't have a coax upstairs either so it would be the same issue for me (unless I'm misunderstanding the technology in that article).