Killer NIC® and the Tab Key

Posted by Ethan M. on 14 May 2009 | 3 Comments

Tags: tab key, ping, tips, info

There’s something we need to address.  The Killer NIC can lower your latency.  It’s true.  So why aren’t you seeing a drop in your in-game ping report when you hit the Tab key?  There’s a (relatively) simple explanation:
Games can send data to and from your PC in many different ways:

• UDP – most games use this data because it’s quicker to get through.  It uses smaller pieces of information, throws caution to the wind, and shoots them in whatever order it pleases, then relies on the game to assemble them in the correct order
• TCP – A lot of different non-game applications use this protocol because it will keep your data in a nice, neat order and ensure that nothing gets lost when you send it.  This is slower than UDP
• ICMP – An uncommon delivery system, it’s not usually used except for internal operations like error reporting…with the exception of measuring ping

As mentioned, most games utilize the UDP protocol for their network traffic.  Knowing this, the Killer NIC was designed to accelerate UDP data.  It offloads the workload from your CPU and puts it onto its own processor (the NPU), and it bypasses the slower Windows networking stack and substitutes its own solution (a custom Linux stack). 

So you’ve plugged in the Killer, booted up, installed the drivers, and opened your game.  You enter your favorite game server, and smash the tab key to see if it was really true.  You notice the ping looks exactly the same as it did before!  What gives?

Well, these clever game designers have pulled a fast one.  While the game data itself is being sent via the UDP protocol, the task you just assigned it has used either TCP or ICMP protocol.  Why?  Don’t ask me.  That’s just how they do it.  So what does this mean for you?  Well, it means that specific ping request isn’t being accelerated, because it isn’t part of the UDP family.  Does that mean the Killer isn’t working?  Of course not!  It just means the number on the Tab screen won’t change (too much). 

Here’s my suggestion:  Play the game.  Spend some time with it and experience the difference.  The lower latency that the Killer brings provides smoother gameplay, better hit registration, and less frustration.  It’s especially noticeable in a very network-intensive situation (i.e.: a 60 man raid or standing in the blast radius of an air strike).

Bottom line:  Don’t rely on the tab key!  Get in the game and feel the difference!