Understanding Your PC’s Current Performance
I have been a fan of computer games for over 20 years. I never stop correcting the configuration of each game until it gives me the maximum number of frames per second. In other words, I know the feeling of playing in a way that is not smooth and looks like a series of pictures on a screen. But cheer up all you, gamers! I tell you that my time for sharing my valuable knowledge on how to optimize your gaming performance has already come.
All whether an occasional gamer or a hardcore fan, you will see how a few actions step up your PC’s performance. Want to level up? Well, now is the time to open those gates and explore new different paths to choose the most suitable one!
However, the first step is not to discuss the updates, it is even more vital to understand your position. My advice is that I should better reveal those components that make my PC a better one and then after running some tests, I will know which areas need enhancement.
Begin your race by inspecting the specification of your system. First you have to click on “System Information” to see details of your CPU, RAM, and GPU. the above-mentioned components are vital to gaming performance.
Now, look at some of the benchmarks as these will give you a quick idea of what your computer���s power capabilities are. The tools I normally employ to check the benchmark are 3DMark and UserBenchmark. Through the respective simple and easy-use system, these tools not only just give you a clue of how your PC plays different games but also how it is against other PCs.
Optimizing Your Windows Settings
There are also several settings that come along with the Windows operating system that have an effect on the qualities of your games. Here are a few adjustments that I always apply:
- Updating Windows and drivers frequently
- Turning on Game Mode in Windows settings
- Disabling unnecessary startup programs
- Choosing the best visually appealing effects for maximum performance
Most likely, without you realizing it, these simple changes can give your computer a powerful boost, without you having to spend much, if any, money!
Upgrading Your Hardware
Other than causing through the software, re-programming is not the best move. There are times, hardware upgrades are needed. If I would make the upgrade myself, I would go for these ones:
Graphics Card (GPU)
A graphic processing unit is one of the important components in gaming, it is to the core of a computer’s game performance. One of the immediate benefits of buying fresh ones, suppliers and electricity suppliers alike, is how the new card lowers the turn on time, restricts memory errors, and even supports new software thats runs with the new graphics technology. Newer graphic cards typically have better compatibility and graphical processing power than older models. Look out for those that can operate smoothly not to mention being able to fit in with the rest of the equipment.
RAM
More RAM equals better multitasking and higher memory performance. Preferably, I would recommend at least 16GB for gaming.
Solid State Drive (SSD)
An SSD can speed up the process of loading games significantly. Transformations happen with some ease when sheeted from a normal hard drive to a flash drive. I tell you this: once you replace your hard disk drive with a solid-state drive (which is the fastest storage) you will not be able to tell which one is faster, the average window startup time for me is 10 seconds concerning the SSD when the computer is powered off and by 3 seconds when restarting the computer:) So switching to a Solid state drive is the way to go especially for your laptops. After that never not will we abbreviate the word SSD again as it is crystal clear to all that the future is only made of SSDs.Thus if your device has an optical disk drive in it, the hard drive you can remove from it and put in a Solid-State Drive (SSD) or other storage device. There are some that have more than one input they then allow a user to choose from a list attached to the laptop, which allows them to use both flash drives and regular keyboards at the same time.
Processor (CPU)
Although not as important for the majority of games as the GPU, a good CPU speeds up games which can reduce the pressure on the GPU. If you have a CPU that is six-to-eight years older then you may not have a substitute for the CPU now.
Optimizing In-Game Settings:
Through experience I have come to learn that adjusting the in-game settings of the software can actually improve its performance. Without negatively affecting the visual quality I always do this, here’s are the things I do in order to optimize in-game settings:
Resolution and Aspect Ratio
First and foremost, lessening the resolution most often speed up the performance of the game the maximum. Initially I set my display screen to the native resolution, then lower the resolution to get the most out of it. I used to like the 16:9 or 21:9 widescreen aspect ratio style as this gives a wider field of view in certain games.
Texture Quality
High-quality textures usually feature the detail of the whole image but the requirements of the VRAM are increased. I configured the settings to ‘Medium’ or ‘High’ based on the performance of my GPU. I find it the best solution for impactful visual representation and sufficient performance.
Anti-Aliasing
This so-called feature is made specifically for making the jaggies look smoother yet it can take away from performance to do so. I tried out various methods such as using FXAA or TAA which are lighter variants of the MSAA. Also, I occasionally disable it fully for a significant increase in the frame rate.
Shadow Quality
On the other hand, shadows can be the first element for the system to go slow. I decided to go for ‘Medium’ or ‘Low’ configurations with this one. The quality aspect of visuals does not change dramatically while the gain of performance can be very notable.
View Distance
This determines how far away you can see in the game. I personally maintain it at a moderate level to have a fun time with gaming while at the same time the system does not get overloaded.
Overclocking: Proceed with Caution
Overclocking is the art of extracting additional performance from your hardware but, of course, it involves some risks. Here’s what I typically do:
Firstly, I will check the specific of it for my hardware parts. Not all the CPUs and GPUs are supporting overclocking. Sometimes I use applications like MSI Afterburner with GPUs and Intel’s Extreme Tuning Utility for CPUs.
It is the sequence of slowly rising the speeds of clock and voltage with the observation of temperature, data, and the process. Before and after each increase, I usually run the stability test to make sure everything is right. A good maintenance of coolers is required to stand this test before one decides on the experiment.
Please note that overclocking can void warranty agreements and hardware could be damaged. I only direct this technique at highly experienced people who are acutely aware of its dangers.
Cooling Solutions: Keeping Your PC Chill
Proper cooling is often neglected in the context of PC performance because of the situations we have all gone through. Here’s what I’ve found effective:
Case Airflow
The case should have positive airflow in order to improve its internal environment. This is achieved by having more intake fans than exhaust, which makes sure there is no dust buildup. I do the cleaning every week to help dust to build its greatest flow.
CPU Cooling
Comprehensive gaming gets the best of an all-in-one liquid cooler or air cooler. These devices guarantee optimal temperature levels of the CPU, thus, no thermal throttling occurs.
GPU Cooling
Most of the latest graphics cards look after their own coolings. But, I use MSI Afterburner sometimes to come up with a special fan curve, which levels up fan speeds under heavy loads.
Network Optimization for Online Gaming
Even if you have a strong gaming PC, the network you are using can still be an issue that can ruin the overall experience. Here’s what I do to improve my network:
Wired Connection
If one is available, I use a wired Ethernet connection when playing online games. It has a low latency and a stable speed that is greater than Wi-Fi has.
Router Settings
I tend to make the router settings changes quite often. First of all, I assign a higher priority to the device playing the game and then I set the QoS settings to Quality of Service. Normally, this is a very easy and helpful approach for me to make the most of my web experience, such as cutting down the latency and enhancing the performance of my online, virtual games.
DNS Optimization
Changing DNS servers from time to time may increase connection speeds. I’ve experimented with using the Google public DNS (8.8.8.8 and 8.8.4.4) and Cloudflare’s DNS (1.1.1.1), both of which have worked. It might be very useful to check to see which is the best for your area.
Software Optimization
In addition to the previously mentioned hardware and network adjustments software-wise, there is a myriad of actions that can make gaming more enjoyable for you.
Game Mode in Windows 10/11
I, invariably, make sure that Game Mode is on Windows. It’s in a position to allocate system resources to gaming, and thus, the system performance might be eye-catching and the background noise might be minimalized.
Graphics Driver Updates
Today, the frequent updates of graphics drivers play a major part in successful gameplay, as well. I usually keep myself updated once a month as new drivers often bring better compatibility with games and they fix some in-game errors.
Disk Cleanup and Defragmentation
Regulated data cleansing and defragmentation for HDDs can be a good option if you want to keep performance level as high as it can go. My computer system is set so that it performs these tasks automatically at regular intervals, and thus, the system keeps running in the best conditions.
Monitoring and Tweaking
What really gets things to work perfectly for me in gaming is the usage of some monitoring tools that can show me what is happening all the way down the line:
FPS Monitoring
I do rendering metrics like MSI Afterburner and FRAPS to test my games’ FPS. This feature allows me to acknowledge the effect of various settings and techniques on my performance.
Temperature Monitoring
The first thing you need to do when overclocking is to keep an eye on the temperatures of the CPU and the GPU. For this, applications like HWMonitor are very useful as they enable me to check if my components are overheating during demanding gaming sessions.
The Importance of Regular Maintenance
Turns out that keeping your system at peak-mode performance is not about only doing this once. I realized that to keep my gaming performance at its optimum I need to do some regular maintenance.
Physical Cleaning
The formation of dust in the fans to a considerable degree has a negative impact on the cooling process. As a corrective action, I dismantle my computer, say, every three months and oust the dust with a bunch of compressed air. The amount of incredible work that a cleaning can do is unbelievable.
Software Cleanup
There’s also the way of doing uninstalls of programs that I never employ and wiping off the related temporary files disk, then throughout the management of startup programs which when done, my system operates just as efficiently as it used to. I perform this task every now and then.
Future-Proofing Your Gaming PC
We can’t possibly foresee the exact turns that will take place in the future, but there definitely are some steps that I prefer to take in order to make sure that my gaming PC doesn’t go out of style for a longer time.
Modular Components
In the course of the building or upgrading phase, I always choose modular parts over the rest ones if there are. Since this will, in turn, make way for future upgradations to be more easily and cost-effectively undertaken.