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35. What are the best TCP Optimizer settings for gaming ?

While the SG TCP Optimizer is designed to give you the best possible throughput online, it can also help improve your gaming experience. There are, however a few subtle differences when optimizing for throughput/file transfer vs. gaming/reduced latency.

To tweak your system for the best possible gaming performance, please follow these steps:

1. Apply the Optimal Settings
In the TCP Optimizer, set your advertised internet speed, choose the "optimal" settings, and "Apply" them (you can postpone the reboot for now).

2. Set Network Throttling Index and System Responsiveness
In the "Advanced" tab of the Optimizer, set the "Gaming Tweak - Network Throttling Index":
NetworkThrottlingIndex: disabled:ffffffff
SystemResponsiveness: gaming: 0

3. Disable Naggling
In the "Advanced" tab, set the "Gaming Tweak - Disable Nagle's Algorithm":
TcpAckFrequency: 1
TcpNoDelay: 1
TcpDelAckTicks: 0

4. Apply the Optimizer settings and reboot when prompted.

5. More Tweaks
After applying the settings and rebooting, also see the Gaming Tweaks article for additional settings to your PC and NAT router not covered by the program.

Notes:
Some of the Optimizer tweaks affect both TCP and UDP.

Related:
Gaming Tweaks
Wireless Network Speed Tweaks
Network Adapter Optimization


  User Reviews/Comments:
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by popliteus - 2018-06-28 07:14
Hi, when optimal settings are applied the other step options are greyed out, I had to select custom to be able to follow the remaining steps. But doing so changed all the other optimal settings also.

I guess the solution would be set all the optimal settings in custom, short of changing the program, I look forward to hearing from you.
by Philip - 2018-06-28 09:10
Thanks for writing. You should apply the "optimal" settings first (you don't have to reboot yet), then go back and make any "custom" settings as you see fit.
by Krimsun - 2018-11-14 18:30
'apply ... then go back' here meaning, close and reopen the app, wasn't evident to me upon first read.
by Snxpings - 2019-03-28 19:11
Hi, I would like to know if this can reduce ping, and if it is safe?
by anonymous - 2019-06-04 08:56
Yes it will
by zuzpeqt - 2020-03-23 15:23
Is this still relevant? does this even lower game ping?
some ppl say this makes network worse. I mean is the "optimal" settings really optimal for people all across the globe? no diffrences between countries?
All i do is to disable all the power saving stuff, green ethernet etc.
Peace
by Philip - 2020-03-23 20:53
It is very relevant. The speed difference is not as great as with older OSes, however tweaks still work for most types of broadband internet connections.
by Raion969 - 2020-11-15 05:28
Hello

So this settings are still up to date?? What about coubic and so on?
by kiut - 2021-03-18 12:19
May be a silly question, but I'll ask haha. When setting the slider bar for 'Connection Speed' in general settings tab, should I be matching this to my download speed? Upload speed? Or somewhere in between?
by Philip - 2021-03-18 20:38
Very good question actually, slider should be set to your maximum advertised download speed.
by Opti Pog - 2021-03-25 12:27
are the settings still the best for latency today or are there any more latency improvements that arent mentioned here ?(eg cubic and so on)
by Philip - 2021-03-25 12:45
Yes they are. Cubic and CTCP perform similarly as far as latency is concerned.
by anonymous - 2021-04-23 13:46
1. Should I apply the optimal settings for gaming? I play Valorant. When I choose Optimal it also changes system responsiveness to Optimal instead of Gaming. Would I want to manually change it to Gaming?

2. Will Nagle's Algorithm Help Me At All?

3. I have Fibre internet, and according to the MTU/Latency tab it says to change MTU to 1492. How will this benefit me? Will it make a difference from standard 1500?
by Philip - 2021-04-25 12:47
You can apply the optimal settings, then manually change the others as recommended above.

If the biggest MTU you can have online is 1492, you should update that on your PC. This will prevent packets from being fragmented/repacked by your router before being sent onto the internet, this takes processing time and may introduce a slight delay.
by Jason - 2021-05-19 00:16
Whenever I go into TCP Optimizer as administrator and chose optimal, then apply changes and go through all that. I will reboot my pc and when everything is loaded back up, I go back in TCP and the settings are switched back to current automatically.

What can keep causing that??

Is there a setting in the optimizer or is my pc preventing it?
by Philip - 2021-05-19 08:29
There are multiple reasons for what you are experiencing Jason. If you apply the settings as administrator they should be set.

At startup, the TCP Optimizer tries to read everything, however, some of the optimal/default settings may be the same, some are not being read reliably (depending on your OS version), and some may be network-adapter specific, so the TCP Optimizer doesn't know which one to read, or which setting was applied to what adapter before.
by Dan - 2021-11-16 11:31
What settings are optimal for connecting to a cloud gaming platform such as Shadow PC etc?
by anonymous - 2023-01-14 11:46
It works, finally reaching the speeds that I pay for. It practically doubled my bandwidth.

For anyone with an older modem/router, careful because it may not be able to handle the increased bandwidth. One of mine seemed to start having overheating issues, which may or may not have been caused by the increased network load. Even had to replace the AC adapter (seriously, the AC adapter just stopped working), but it's still hanging in there.
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