Review of the TP-Link Archer C5400X Game Router

Game routers remain an important segment of the market, with recent entries, including the Netgear XR500 earlier this year and the Linksys WRT32X last year. Although a typical router may be standard for some uses, when it comes to raising high quality video and games, especially at the same time, the lower end devices may invariably meet heavy network traffic requirements. Similarly, while mesh router kits have evolved, offering better coverage for larger homes, none are yet aimed at the gaming market. A high-end gaming router can offer higher data rates, better quality of service to maintain a video stream while maintaining low gaming latency and more wired ports, among other advanced features.

While TP-Link manufactured decent routers for the lower and middle market, the high-end of the company was previously lacking because it did not target the gaming market with its former high-end router, the Archer. C5400. The routers of this company have failed to prioritize gaming traffic, relegating them to more general network usage (although the newly introduced mesh kit, the M9 Plus is surprisingly powerful in this area).

One of our favorite routers last year was the ASUS ROG Rapture GT-AC5300, with its imposing size, its eight antennas and its excellent interface for all players. At a glance, it looks like the TP-Link C5400X looks a lot like the square shape, the eight antennas and even the red accents.

Looking at the list of features of the Archer C5400X, it clearly brings its "game", and the high-end specifications set it up with other high-end gaming routers:

• Tri-band AC5400 with 2.4 GHz (1000 Mbps) + 5 GHz (2167 Mbps) + 5 GHz (2167 Mbps) / Mu-MIMO
• 64 GHz quad-core processor at 1.8 GHz + 3 processors
• 1 GB of RAM
• 8 Gigabit Ethernet LAN ports with the ability to associate two ports for link aggregation
• 1x Gigabit Ethernet WAN port
• 2 USB 3.0 ports
• 16 MB eMMC storage
• 8 external antennas
• Bluetooth (for configuration)
• Beamforming with Smart Connect
• Amazon Alexa compatible and works with IFTT
• Access point mode

The configuration is fluid and we appreciate the opportunity to do it via the TP-Link Tether smartphone application or via a web browser interface. Network security became more and more important and the Archer C5400X covered us. Upon exit from the box, Trend Micro incorporates a built-in security feature (screen capture above) that includes three features that can be disabled: malicious content filter, intrusion prevention system, and device quarantine. infected. In addition, devices that should not be on the network can be easily blacklisted or, for even greater security, preferred devices can be whitelisted, which removes everything from the network.

An integrated set of features includes a built-in Speeedtest, allowing the router to function as an OpenVPN server capable of encrypting internal network traffic and parental controls. Overall, the web interface is modern and easy to use, grouping the controls in the basic and advanced areas, with useful and relevant tips available by clicking on the question mark in the upper right corner.

The red accent strips and the RGB LEDs – of which the C5400X has a lot of both – are not what makes a gaming router. The main feature is rather the quality of service, better known as the Quality of service, via what TP-Link calls their "dynamic optimization engine". The Archer C5400X divides the traffic into five categories (screen capture above):

• The game
• Diffusion
• Surf (general web traffic)
• Chat
• downloading

There are available presets that can automatically prioritize any of these applications (or none if we select standard), as well as a custom option that allows each category to be set on the list. one of three parameters: up, down or normal. (If we were to be twined, we would like to have even more granular control over a more continuous spectrum and not limit ourselves to three flip-flop settings.) That's what allows you to prioritize gaming traffic, which is so sensitive to latency issues. In addition, while many routers offer priority to the application or device, the Archer C5400X can do both at the same time as a welcome option but rarely seen on other routers. The only real omission of the C5400X for games is the lack of specific technology to reduce latency, as the WTFast GPN approach that Asus takes select routers, or the geo-filtering approach to find the nearest game server NetRear XR500.

To quantify how all the features of the Archer C5400X work together, we tested it in our performance tests (methodology right here), and you can think of us as impressed. In the flow department, while the 2.4GHz speeds of 117.05 Mbps (near) and 112.66Mbps (far) were at best mediocre, the 5GHz speeds of 344.8Mbps (almost) and 347.2 Mbps (far) place the C5400X at the top of the charts. We then turned our attention to congestion testing, while playing Medal of Honor: Pacific Assault (high settings / 720p), and simultaneously streaming two YouTube videos in 4K quality. The FPS is quantified via the FRAPS software, and the Archer C5400X handles 22.6 FPS, which is a clear improvement over the Archer C9 (version 2) router of TP-Link, which handles 16.55 FPS.

TP-Link has taken its time to enter the high-end router market. They clearly benefited from the traditional approach of not being the first to go out, but to be better than the competition. The benefits are many, with a ridiculously fast 5 GHz speed, a user-friendly interface with a large library of advanced features and robust service quality. Weaknesses are minimal: Slow 2.4 GHz throughput and lack of integrated GPN. The Archer C5400X is available at a price of $ 399.99 and offers a two-year warranty.