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The Best Modem Router Combos for Gaming

Current 2023 Recommended Modem Routers for Cable Internet (Guide)



Last Updated: June 2, 2023

In this guide to choosing the best modem router combo for gaming on PC we'll cover our current top value picks to help you buy a good modem router as a gamer with a need for speed and reliability. But first of all, should you even buy a modem router combo instead of getting a good gaming router? Good question, because modem routers are definitely not for everyone.

When setting up your networking hardware for online gaming (or accessing the internet in general) you basically have three choices:

  • Just get a modem by itself if you only need wired LAN using an Ethernet cable, and get a network hub/switch for your modem if you need to run multiple Ethernet ports as basic modems will just have one LAN port (cheapest option)
  • Get a modem AND a separate router for wireless (most common home setup)
  • Get a modem router combo device that kills 2 birds with one stone black box

If you're going to roll with option 3, this is the guide for you. Using a modem router combo has its potential downsides as explained in more detail in our guide to routers vs modem router combos, such as being less flexible overall compared to having a separate modem and separate router, but modem routers are convenient and might be just fine for your particular setup.



If you do want/need a modem router combo, just like with choosing a router it's easy to get overwhelmed as the specs can be quite confusing. We've done the extensive research for you as usual and below we'll breakdown some of the best modem router combos for gaming based on our careful analysis of the current market from the perspective of an online gamer allergic to lag who is wanting something reliable but also that is good value for money.

Remember that while we always do our due diligence and value attention to detail quite highly on our quest to always bring to you the most reliable product recommendations, always do your research to ensure any particular modem router is compatible with your service provider, has the speed you need, features you want, and so on.

For example, there's no point spending a lot on a super-fast high-end modem router if you don't have a fast-enough internet plan that will actually get to those speeds in the first place (well, unless you want to future-proof, but again remember that modem routers will only support certain providers so keep that in mind too if potentially switching providers in future). Enough beating around the bush and let's dive into the current best modem routers for PC gaming for various different price points/budgets.

See Also: Choosing the Best Wireless Adapter for Desktop (PCIe vs USB)



Confused about the specs below? Hover over the icon below for a quick overview of that feature.



Swipe to Scroll the Table:


The Best Modem Router for Gaming
Price Tier: Cheap Budget High End Ultimate
Our Pick:
Model: Netgear C3700 (N600) Netgear Nighthawk C7000 (AC1900) ARRIS Surfboard G36 (AX3000) Netgear Orbi CBR750 (AX4200)
WiFi Standard:


WiFi 5 (802.11ac) WiFi 5 (802.11ac) WiFi 6 (802.11ax) WiFi 6 (802.11ax)
Speed:


Up to 340Mbps Up to 800Mbps Up to 2500Mbps (2.5Gbps) Up to 4200Mbps (4.2Gbps)
Ethernet Ports:


2x Gigabit 4x Gigabit 4x Gigabit + 1x 2.5 Gigabit 4x Gigabit
USB Ports: 1 x USB 2.0 1 x USB 2.0 - -
Full Official Specs: Here Here Here Here
Honorable Mentions - ARRIS SURFboard SBG7600AC2 (AC2350)

Netgear Nighthawk D7000 VDSL/ADSL (AC1900) 		Netgear Nighthawk CAX30S (AX2700)

Motorola MT8733 (AX6000) 		-

Related: The Best WiFi 6 Gaming Routers



Trusted VPN

VPN software can be important in this day and age, especially if you do lots of online banking and/or use public WiFi whilst travelling. Having a VPN adds an extra layer of security to your PC or laptop to help protect your details such as financials, banking activity, etc. There are also benefits to using VPNs for gaming.

Because they're so popular these days, there are countless VPN providers, and it can be confusing to pick one. If you want my 2 cents, after a lot of research I decided on NordVPN 'cause it's one of the fastest, most reliable VPNs for both gaming and general use, with a lot of credible reviews out there backing that up. They also quite often run very solid deals.


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Indie dev currently working on my first public release after tinkering as a programmer and game designer over the years with hobby projects. Writing and updating the articles on this site helps a little with self-funding the game, and I hope the site helps save you money or frustration when building a new PC. If you want to support the work I do, sharing an article on socials or Reddit does help out, and is much appreciated. I also accept tips, but please do not tip unless this site has helped you substantially.

My fav games of all time are OOT, Perfect Dark, MGS1, MGS2, GE007, DKC2, THPS3, Halo, HL1, and HL2, with the most recent addition to my list of immortals being the VR masterpiece Alyx. For anyone who owns a VR headset, you can find out about my upcoming game here where I will be sharing the upcoming announcement trailer as soon as I'm happy with the level of quality of the game to be able to share it with the world.