Four Reasons Processing Power Matters

For most Wi-Fi users, who mainly just need it for the simple things like email and social media, the fact that your router has a 1 GHz Dual Core processor may not have even crossed your mind. Or, if you’re like my parents who still don’t even understand the concept of Wi-Fi, the idea of ‘bandwidth bottlenecking’ is a term you’ve never even heard of. But for those who take Wi-Fi to the extreme with laptops, tablets, gaming PCs and connected home devices all running on one network, your router’s processing capability is something you should definitely be thinking about.

Your router’s processor is like the brain, it’s what communicates and produces bandwidth to be sent out to devices. The smarter the brain, the more it can handle. It’s a simple equation, the more wireless data you have, the more wireless sessions you’ll be using and thus the more Core Processing Unit (CPU) power you need. With a 1GHz Dual Core Processor, like what’s in the AC3200 Ultra Wi-Fi Router (DIR-890L/R), you get all the benefits that come with advanced processing and never have to worry about straining your router.

Here are four reasons why processing power matters:

1. Support More Devices

If you’re ever experiencing stuttering or a slow connection when it comes to HD streaming and online gaming, it might not be because of bandwidth or connection issues at all. It may very well be that you’re router’s processor simply can’t handle the amount of sessions running. A processor, like the brain, can get overwhelmed when it’s trying to multitask and, as most people know, when you’re trying to manage too many things at once certain things are forgotten or quality is lost.  With a dual-core processor, compared to a single-core processor, it’s like you get an extra brain so you’re not just going to get better speeds, you’re also adding more processing power to handle the impact of streaming and gaming on multiple devices at once.

2. High End Features

Without the power of a larger processing unit, a lot of the higher-end features that have come to be expected in new routers such as Smart Connect and Tri-Band just wouldn’t be an option. These features are built to boost networks for Wi-Fi users that have more devices than the average Joe, and a single core processor just wouldn’t be capable of providing those features while also providing enough bandwidth needed for your devices. It would be spread way too thin.

3. Advanced Capabilities

Another great feature that comes with a dual-core processor is the media sharing capabilities. With dual-core you have enough power to use every facet of your router (yes, your router can do a lot more than just spit out wireless signals). For example, the AC3200 Ultra Wi-Fi Router has a USB 3.0 port, a USB 2.0 port and 4 Gigabit LAN ports.  With a single-core processor, using any of those ports would most likely affect your router’s wireless signal and cause a much slower wireless connection. A dual-core processor allows you to use all the features without the fear of losing quality to other devices. 

4. Bottlenecking

Now this one’s a big one. If you’re paying for premium speeds from your Internet Service Provider (ISP) but don’t seem to be getting faster than lighting speeds, it may not be their fault. It could simply be your router. Processor size can create a bandwidth bottleneck, so even if you are paying for the higher quality service it may just not be getting to you. So before you request the Super Premium Speed package make sure the router you own, or the one they’ve provided, can handle that speed, otherwise you’ll only be getting a portion of the bandwidth to your devices and still dealing with stuttering and bad connections.

So once again, if you’re the kind of person who lives and breathes Wi-Fi , or even just wants lag-free, high-speed streaming when multiple devices are in use then when it comes to your router make sure your CPU has the brains to handle it.