Linksys WRT32X: Plenty Of Bandwidth For Online Gaming

Gaming enthusiasts know that high network latency can mean the difference between winning and losing when competing online. With the Linksys WRT32X Wi-Fi Gaming Router, your gaming rig will get all the bandwidth it needs to keep you in the game with minimal lag. This is thanks to Rivet Networks’ Killer Prioritization Engine, which automatically identifies PCs and laptops equipped with Killer Network LAN hardware and gives them priority over other devices on the network.

- John R. Delaney

The router is a breeze to install and aced our 2.4GHz throughput tests, and it handled our file-transfer tests with aplomb. Its 5GHz and MU-MIMO performance wasn’t quite as fast as that of the comparably priced D-Link AC3150 Ultra Wi-Fi Router (DIR-885L/R), but if you take your gaming seriously, the WRT32X is a solid choice.

KILLER FEATURES

The WRT32X has a different look than the WRT3200ACM MU-MIMO Gigabit Wi-Fi Router, despite sharing many hardware attributes. It uses the same 2.1-by-9.6-by-7.6-inch (HWD) enclosure with four removable and adjustable antennas but has an all black finish rather than the familiar black-and-blue color scheme that has defined the WRT line for the past decade. All of the router’s numerous ports are located on the back panels and include four gigabit LAN ports, a WAN port, a USB 3.0 port, and an eSATA/USB 2.0 port. Here you’ll also find WPS and reset buttons and a power switch. The front panel contains a row of blue LED activity indicators for power, WPS, Internet, 2.4GHz and 5GHz Wi-Fi, all four LAN ports, and the USB 3.0 and eSATA/USB ports.