If you want to get the best performance in your favorite games, learning how to optimise your pc for gaming is the most important step you can take. A smooth frame rate and fast load times can make the difference between victory and defeat, and you don’t always need to buy new hardware to see a big improvement.
This guide will walk you through a complete set of tweaks, from simple software settings to deeper system adjustments. We’ll cover everything you need to know to make your games run faster and look great, all without spending a dime on new parts. Let’s get started with the easiest wins first.
How to Optimise Your PC for Gaming
Before you change any settings, it’s smart to know where you stand. Establishing a performance baseline helps you see which tweaks are actually working.
1. Benchmark Your Current Performance
First, check your current frame rates (FPS) in a few different games. Use the built-in performance overlay if the game has one, or a tool like MSI Afterburner with RivaTuner Statistics Server. This gives you a clear before-and-after picture. Note your average FPS and any stuttering.
2. Update Your Drivers
Outdated graphics drivers are a common cause of poor performance. Here’s how to handle them:
* Graphics Drivers: Go directly to the website of your GPU manufacturer—NVIDIA GeForce Experience or AMD Adrenalin Software. Download and install the latest Game Ready or Adrenalin driver. Always choose “Custom Install” and select “Perform a clean installation” to avoid conflicts.
* Other Drivers: Don’t forget your chipset, audio, and network drivers. These can be found on your motherboard manufacturer’s website and can improve system stability.
3. Optimise Windows for Performance
Windows has many features designed for appearance and convenience, but they can use up valuable resources. Turning them off can free up power for your games.
Adjust Windows Power Settings
Make sure your PC is set to maximum performance.
1. Open the Windows Control Panel.
2. Go to “Hardware and Sound” > “Power Options.”
3. Select the “High performance” plan. If you don’t see it, click “Show additional plans.”
Disable Startup Programs
Programs that launch when Windows starts can slow down your boot time and run in the background.
1. Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager.
2. Click the “Startup” tab.
3. Right-click on any non-essential application (like cloud storage or chat apps) and select “Disable.”
Turn Off Visual Effects
Windows animations look nice but can consume CPU power.
1. Search for “View advanced system settings” and open it.
2. Under the “Advanced” tab, click “Settings…” in the Performance section.
3. Choose “Adjust for best performance” or manually disable effects like animations and shadows.
Enable Game Mode
Windows Game Mode is designed to prioritize your game by temporarily pausing Windows updates and reallocating CPU resources. It’s simple to turn on.
1. Press the Windows key + I to open Settings.
2. Go to “Gaming” > “Game Mode.”
3. Toggle it to “On.”
4. Tweak In-Game Settings for the Best FPS
This is where you’ll see the most dramatic changes. Every game is different, but some settings have a much bigger impact than others.
Most Demanding Settings (Turn These Down First)
* Shadows: High-quality shadows are very taxing. Setting them to Medium or Low can boost FPS significantly.
* Anti-Aliasing: This smooths jagged edges but is heavy on the GPU. Try using FXAA or SMAA instead of MSAA or SSAA for a good balance.
* Ambient Occlusion: This adds depth to lighting. HBAO+ or SSAO is less demanding than VXAO or full GTAO.
* Volumetric Fog/Lighting: These atmospheric effects are often very expensive. Reducing their quality helps a lot.
Moderately Demanding Settings
* Textures: This affects visual detail and uses VRAM. Set it to High if you have a GPU with 6GB+ VRAM, but lower it if you experience stuttering.
* View Distance: This controls how far you can see objects. A moderate setting is usually fine.
* Post-Processing: Effects like motion blur and depth of field. Set these based on your personal preference, as they don’t always hit performance too hard.
Less Demanding Settings
* Texture Filtering: Anisotropic Filtering (AF) has a minimal performance cost but improves distant texture clarity. Keep this at 8x or 16x.
* Lighting & Effects: These can often be set to Medium or High without a major FPS drop.
Pro Tip: Many modern games offer resolution scaling. If you’re struggling for frames, try setting it to 85-90%. The image will be slightly softer, but the FPS gain is usually substantial.
5. Optimise Your Graphics Control Panel
Both NVIDIA and AMD provide control panels with global settings that override individual games.
NVIDIA Control Panel Key Settings
* Image Scaling: Enable NVIDIA Image Scaling for a sharp upscaled image with good performance.
* Low Latency Mode: Set to “Ultra” to reduce input lag.
* Power Management Mode: Prefer “Prefer maximum performance.”
* Texture Filtering – Quality: Set to “High performance.”
AMD Adrenalin Key Settings
* Radeon Anti-Lag: Enable to reduce input lag.
* Radeon Image Sharpening: Can help clarity if you lower resolution.
* Texture Filtering Quality: Set to “Performance.”
* GPU Workload: Set to “Graphics.”
6. Keep Your System Clean and Cool
Heat is the enemy of performance. When your CPU or GPU gets too hot, it will slow down (thermal throttle) to protect itself.
* Dust It Out: Regularly clean dust from your PC case fans, CPU cooler, and GPU fans with compressed air. Dust acts like a blanket, trapping heat.
* Improve Airflow: Make sure your case has good cable management and that intake and exhaust fans are working properly. Your system needs a clear path for cool air to come in and hot air to get out.
* Monitor Temperatures: Use a tool like HWMonitor to check your CPU and GPU temperatures under load. Ideally, keep them below 85°C for long gaming sessions.
7. Manage Your Storage for Faster Load Times
Where your games are installed has a huge impact on loading screens and asset streaming in open-world games.
* Use an SSD: Install your operating system and your favorite games on a Solid State Drive (SSD). The difference in load times compared to a traditional Hard Disk Drive (HDD) is night and day.
* Free Up Space: Never fill an SSD completely. Aim to keep at least 10-15% free space for optimal performance and longevity.
* Defragment HDDs Only: If you must use an HDD for some games, run the Windows Defragment tool on it occasionally. Never defragment an SSD, as it wears it out unnecessarily.
8. Advanced Tweaks and Considerations
If you’ve done all the above and still want to squeeze out more frames, these steps require a bit more care.
Overclocking Your GPU
Overclocking pushes your graphics card beyond its factory speed. Use tools like MSI Afterburner.
1. Increase the “Core Clock” slider in small increments (e.g., +15 MHz).
2. Test for stability with a benchmark like Heaven or a demanding game for 15-30 minutes.
3. If it’s stable, increase a little more. If it crashes, lower the clock or increase the “Power Limit.”
4. Repeat the process for “Memory Clock.” This is generally safer and can provide a good boost.
Overclocking Your CPU & RAM
This is done in your motherboard’s BIOS/UEFI and is more complex. It varies by motherboard and CPU. Enable XMP/DOCP for your RAM first—this is a one-click setting that makes your RAM run at its advertised speed and is the easiest performance gain. For CPU overclocking, research guides specific to your hardware.
Disable Background Processes and Services
Some Windows services and apps can interfere. You can use a tool like O&O ShutUp10 to carefully disable non-essential telemetry and services. Be cautious and research what you’re disabling.
9. Regular Maintenance
Optimization isn’t a one-time job. A little regular upkeep keeps your system running fast.
* Run Disk Cleanup: Search for “Disk Cleanup” to remove temporary files and old Windows updates.
* Scan for Malware: Use Windows Security or a trusted antivirus to run periodic scans. Malware can severely impact performance.
* Reinstall Windows Annually: A fresh Windows install every year or two clears out all the digital clutter and can make your PC feel brand new again. Back up your files first!
FAQ Section
How can I optimize my PC for gaming for free?
Most optimization is free! Updating drivers, tweaking in-game settings, adjusting Windows power plans, and disabling startup programs cost nothing and offer the biggest gains for most people.
What is the best way to optimize my computer for gaming?
The best way is a methodical, step-by-step approach. Start with the easy wins like driver updates and Windows settings, then move to in-game graphics, and finally consider advanced tweaks like overclocking. Always benchmark so you know what’s working.
How do I make my PC run games faster?
Focus on the graphics settings that demand the most: lower Shadow quality, Anti-Aliasing, and Ambient Occlusion first. Ensure your PC is cool and clean, and that your games are installed on an SSD if possible. These steps will almost always make games run faster.
Does overclocking really help gaming performance?
Yes, but the amount varies. A GPU overclock might give you a 5-10% FPS boost. Enabling XMP for your RAM is a form of overclocking that can also provide a very noticeable improvement, especially for games that are sensitive to memory speed. It’s not a magic bullet, but it helps.
By following this comprehensive guide, you should see a meaningful improvement in your gaming experience. Remember, the goal is to find the perfect balance between visual fidelity and smooth performance that’s right for your specific hardware. Take your time, test each change, and enjoy the benefits of a finely-tuned gaming PC.