So, you have just bought a brand new gaming PC or built yourself a new PC from the start, and you are ready to start playing games. The fact that you have a newly installed copy of Windows on your PC and the games you have downloaded doesn’t mean your PC is running these games smoothly. There are still many ways you can optimize your PC for gaming for better performance.
In this detailed article, we’ll talk about how to make your PC even faster for gaming.
Contents
- 1 How to Optimize Your PC for Gaming: 9 Best Tips
- 1.1 1. Turn on Game Mode
- 1.2 2. Disable Windows notifications
- 1.3 3. Enable Hardware-Accelerated GPU Scheduling
- 1.4 4. Adjust the Settings for Optimal Performance
- 1.5 5. Disable Enhanced Pointer Precision
- 1.6 6. Update your drivers
- 1.7 7. Turn on Nvidia G-Sync
- 1.8 8. Adjust Your Monitor Refresh Rate
- 1.9 9. Adjust Windows Start-up settings
- 1.10 10. Install a Solid-State Drive (SSD)
- 1.11 11. Keep Your System Clean and Dust-Free
- 1.12 12. Optimize Your PC’s Cooling System
- 2 FAQs
How to Optimize Your PC for Gaming: 9 Best Tips
1. Turn on Game Mode
Windows is already built to make a gaming experience better. Microsoft knows that people who use PCs love to play games. That’s why people like Game Pass. Windows still needs to work on a few tweaks to optimize performance; the game mode is one of these tweaks. This setting controls how the system uses its resources so that games run faster.
Follow these simple steps to turn on the game mood:
- Click on the Windows icon in the bottom left corner and type game mode.
- Open the game mode settings when it appears at the top of the start menu.
- Turn on the game mood.
2. Disable Windows notifications
Optimize your PC for gaming is great, but you know what else is great? playing your favorite games without interruption from other people’s popping messages. There is an option in Windows that lets you disable notifications at a particular time when certain things are happening. So this is a great way to make sure that no more irritating notifications ruin your fun.
To disable the Windows notifications, follow these steps:
- Click on the Windows Start button in the bottom left corner and type Focus Assist.
- In the focus assist settings, click on notifications: “Alerts from apps and systems; do not disturb.”
- Find the setting “turn on, do not disturb automatically.”
- Enable “when playing a game.”
You can also set the do-not-disturb mode to operate solely at certain times of the day. This works if you know you always play games at night, for example. Set the time, and you can play games without getting notifications.
3. Enable Hardware-Accelerated GPU Scheduling
With hardware-accelerated GPU scheduling, your computer can get the most out of its speed and reduce latency. And if you have the right gear (a new graphics card) and Windows 10 or 11, this setting is easy to turn on, just like Game Mode:
- To find Graphics Settings, press the Start button and look for it.
- After that, click to enable hardware-accelerated GPU scheduling.
- Check out the “graphics performance preference” settings further down the page. This is where you can choose the app that you want to use. This is the Nvidia Control Panel. From the dropdown, you can choose whether this is a PC app or a Microsoft Store app.
- When you open the app, click “Options,” then choose “High Performance.”
- Repeat for every game where you want to get the best results.
4. Adjust the Settings for Optimal Performance
Windows is set to focus on having the best appearance, as usual. Everything about it looks amazing, with its moving parts and smooth lines. These quality choices can slow down gaming, though. So it might be best to turn them off or at least change how they work instead of how they look.
- Press the Windows start button on your keyboard or PC and type “looks and performance.”
- If “Adjust the performance and appearance of Windows” shows up, click on it.
- It should say “adjust for the best performance” somewhere.
- Select that one and click “Apply.”
- Make sure that the best performance is set for programs and not background jobs on the advanced tab by clicking it.
Read More: The Best iPhone for Gaming 2024 – Picked By Expert Gamers
5. Disable Enhanced Pointer Precision
You might have bought a high-end gaming mouse to give you an edge over the other players, but Windows settings could be making that mouse less useful. Windows has several settings that affect how fast the mouse pointer runs. One of these settings can be problematic, so we need to disable it:
- Type “mouse pointer” into the Windows start menu on your PC or keyboard then press the go button.
- Go to “Change the mouse pointer display or speed.“.
- Uncheck the box next to “Enhance pointer precision” under the “Motion” setting.
- Click “Apply.”
We also think you should check the software on your mouse while you’re at it. A lot of gaming mice today can be set to a fast polling rate. You can click on your program and choose the highest frequency, either 1,000 Hz, 4,000 Hz, or 8,000 Hz. This will make sure that your signals get to your PC faster and with less latency.
6. Update your drivers
Make sure that both Windows and your graphics card drivers are up to date regularly, ideally when you’re not playing games. This will give you the best performance.
We’ve already written about how to get the most out of updating your Nvidia drivers and installing them correctly, but it’s also a good idea to keep up with changes so you always have the most recent drivers. GeForce Experience is the best way to do this with an Nvidia graphics card. There’s a choice in there to have drivers downloaded and installed automatically once that’s been done. You can click to turn that on, and then the newest ones will be installed as soon as they come out.
7. Turn on Nvidia G-Sync
You can and should turn on G-Sync if you have a new graphics card and a monitor that works with it. G-Sync makes sure that the refresh rate of your monitor matches the number of frames per second that your graphics card is sending to the game you’re playing. We’ve written before about how to do this.
If you turn on G-Sync on both your monitor and in Windows settings, screen tearing will stop, and you’ll have a smooth game experience. Also, make sure that the display settings in your game meet the refresh rate of your monitor and that the maximum FPS is set to the highest level possible for your monitor.
8. Adjust Your Monitor Refresh Rate
Windows won’t always use the fastest refresh rate for the screen you’re connected to. If you have a high-end gaming monitor, you need to enable this setting on both the monitor and Windows.
The monitor will only go to 60Hz if you don’t. Optimize your PC for gaming by Follow these steps to adjust the maximum refresh rate:
- Right-click on your desktop and click Display Settings.
- Continue to scroll down until you see “Advanced display settings.”
- Then go to refresh rate and click the dropdown. Then, choose the maximum refresh rate for your computer.
The most likely reason is that you are using the wrong cable if you don’t see the setting you want. If your device can only handle a maximum refresh rate with a DisplayPort cable, you might want to look into HDMI 2.1 instead.
9. Adjust Windows Start-up settings
When you install many apps, they will push themselves into start-up processes on their own. Those apps will be ready for you when you turn on your PC and log in to Windows. It’s not always a good idea to do this because the apps end up running in the background, using up resources and processing power.
It’s pretty simple to turn these apps off, which will not only make your PC start up faster but also make it run better when you’re gaming. Follow these steps:
- To open Task Manager, press CTRL+SHIFT+ESC.
- Click on the tab that says “Startup.”
- Look through the list of apps and get rid of any that you don’t use often.
- Right-click on the apps that are making you furious and select “Disable.”
10. Install a Solid-State Drive (SSD)
Upgrading to an SSD can significantly improve loading times and overall system responsiveness. By installing your games on an SSD, you can enjoy faster load times, smoother gameplay, and quicker level transitions. SSDs have become more affordable in recent years, making them a worthwhile investment for gamers seeking improved performance.
11. Keep Your System Clean and Dust-Free
Dust buildup inside your PC can impede airflow and lead to overheating issues. Regularly clean your PC’s components, including fans, filters, and heatsinks, to prevent dust accumulation. Consider using compressed air or a soft brush to remove debris and maintain optimal airflow for your system.
12. Optimize Your PC’s Cooling System
Overheating can lead to reduced performance and potential hardware damage. Ensure your PC’s cooling system, including fans and heatsinks, is functioning correctly. Consider investing in additional cooling solutions, such as liquid cooling or aftermarket CPU coolers, to maintain optimal temperatures during intense gaming sessions.
FAQs
1. What is Game Mode, and how does it improve gaming performance on Windows?
Game Mode is a feature in Windows designed to enhance the gaming experience by prioritizing system resources for games, resulting in smoother gameplay and better performance.
2. How can I disable Windows notifications to avoid interruptions while gaming?
You can disable notifications during gaming sessions by enabling the “Do Not Disturb” mode in Windows settings, specifically tailored to activate when you’re playing games.
3. What is Hardware-Accelerated GPU Scheduling, and how does it benefit gaming performance?
Hardware-accelerated GPU Scheduling optimizes the utilization of your graphics card, reducing latency and improving overall gaming performance, especially when paired with compatible hardware and Windows versions.
4. What are some recommended settings adjustments for optimal gaming performance on Windows?
Adjusting settings for optimal performance involves fine-tuning visual effects and prioritizing system resources for programs, particularly games, to ensure smooth gameplay without sacrificing visual quality.
5. How important is updating drivers, such as graphics card drivers, for gaming performance?
Regularly updating drivers, including those for your graphics card, is crucial for optimal gaming performance as it ensures compatibility with new games, fixes bugs, and enhances overall system stability during gaming sessions.