What speed AT&T U-verse internet do I need?

HeraldS

I'm getting internet put in at my place soon and trying to select the right option for me. I'd like something fast enough to handle playing Diablo 2, using Netflix, and basic dicking around on the internet. My options are 3, 6, 12, 18, or 24 Mbps plans. AT&T recommends at least 18 if I want to stream but that sounds high to me. What would you recommend?

Essee

Sheesh, they must mean 18 if you want 1080p. You DEFINITELY don't need that much to stream in general. Diablo 2, like all online games, uses almost no bandwidth, so no worries there (your ping will be the same no matter what your connection is, unless you're maxing out your bandwidth-- usually just your upload bandwidth-- while playing... and consistent ping is what matters in online games). If you really mean Diablo 2, hell, that could be played over dial-up. Netflix, on the other hand, will be your most intensive action online. Netflix adjusts its streaming quality to your connection speed... 3 Mbps will certainly let you stream, but the faster your internet the better quality you'll be seeing. If you just want "acceptable quality movie watching" and not "HD movie watching" or "streaming multiple videos at once", you should only need 3 Mbps. I'm pretty sure that's fast enough to keep you from having buffering problems while you're watching, but I don't know exactly what quality you'll be looking at.

Disclaimer: I haven't personally had Netflix, but I've read quite a lot online about the speeds required, and this seems to be accurate. If somebody's had a problem on Netflix with a connection that slow (especially if buffering has been a problem), feel free to weigh in, but I've read success stories online from people with that speed. I don't know if people have needed to let the movie buffer a bit beforehand or anything like that though.

Edit: From even more googling, it looks like the bare minimum for Netflix is like 1.5 Mbps, so you should at least get 480p video without buffering (this is consistent with my own experiences). You might be able to get around 720p quality.

spool32

You can stream 1080p HD Netflix with the 6mb option - I do at home. However, you cannot do anything else (youtube / netflix on another screen, gaming of any sort, downloads) at the same time. If you plan to do more than one thing at a time, I would get the 12.

fightinfilipino

do you have any other options besides Uverse? their bandwidth is, well, not very consistent.

Psychotic One

I'd recommend their Max Package (12 mbps) if its just you. If you have other people using the connection as well then 18 would be playing it extra safe.

zepherin

fightinfilipino wrote: »

do you have any other options besides Uverse? their bandwidth is, well, not very consistent.

Really? I suppose it may have to do with different area, but my experience with them while visiting friends has been pretty good. Not as good as fios, but better than comcast or cox. However I'm one and that is not evidence only a data point.

And to stay on topic, anything more than 10mbps will be good for your uses. Of course more is better, I wouldn't spend too much extra to get it. If the difference between 12 and 18 is under 10 bucks it might be worth it, if its like 5 bucks take it. If its over 10 you might want to pass.

HeraldS

Thanks guys. They have a pretty decent cable/internet package that gets me the 12 mbps so I'll go with that one. Consider this solved and lockable.