Question regarding Streaming and Router

I currently have a Wireless G Linksys router, but am about to buy a new ASUS K53TA-BBR6 laptop. I stream a great deal of media and am wondering if I need a new wireless N router to optimize my streaming capabilities.

My two biggest issues:
1) Optimize streaming. I stream a lot of sports (espn3, mlb.com, various other sites) and want to get the best quality possible.
2) I play some madden online through my PS3. I think it is only wireless G capable though so not sure if new router would help at all.


Here are my speed results with current Wireless G Router and Dell 700m laptop.

 

Test again using Ethernet cable rather than Wi-Fi. The speed you've achieved is max practical speed of wireless "g"- it may be a coincidence but it may also mean that 802.11g is limiting you.
This doesn't necessarily mean you have to change the router but if you plan on streaming HD media and especially if anyone else in your household may be doing something else at the same time, 802.11n 300mbps would be a good idea.

 

18.26 Mbps = 2.2825 MB/s (Megabytes per second) is your internet download speed. You won't get any better results watching video streams from internet websites like ESPN by changing your wireless from G to N. Wireless G (54 Mbps) is usually around 3-6 MB/s depending on the signal strength.

However, streaming full HD video from computer to computer in your local network will be much smoother on wireless N if wireless G does not meet the bandwidth requirement.

 

That's incorrect- wireless G will not get to 3MB/s let alone 6MB/s.
Some data to back this claim up is here.

 

Oh I see. I assumed 3MB/s or more was possible because my router is on the other side of the house and I get around 2.5MB/s transfer rates with wireless G through my Linksys WRT54G router from computer to computer in my local network. I didn't know transfer rates were cut 50% or more realistically. I thought it was closer to 20-30%. Thanks for letting me know.

 

You do loose a lot on verhead. On wireless N, the most i got during file transfer from wireless on 5GHz to wired was ~14MB/s (112Mbps) on my Linksys E3000 with stock firmware. From two wireless clients, i get more in the 5MB/s range, both clients on 5GHz.

In the OP's case, it is necessary to do a speedtest with a cable since the throughput on his G network might be bottlenecking his connection.