If your games are stuttering or not running as smoothly as you’d like, you know how frustrating it can be. Learning how to improve gaming performance on PC is the key to a much better experience. This guide will walk you through practical, step-by-step methods to get your system running faster, from simple software tweaks to hardware upgrades.
How To Improve Gaming Performance On PC
This section covers the foundational steps that apply to almost every PC. Before spending any money, these are the essential checks and tweaks you should perform.
Update Your Graphics Drivers
Outdated drivers are a major cause of poor performance. Graphics card manufacturers release updates to optimize for new games and fix bugs.
- NVIDIA: Use GeForce Experience or visit the NVIDIA website.
- AMD: Use the Radeon Software Adrenalin Edition or the AMD website.
- Intel: For integrated graphics, use the Intel Driver & Support Assistant.
Always perform a clean installation if given the option, as it removes old settings that might cause conflicts.
Optimize In-Game Settings
Graphics settings have the biggest immediate impact on your frame rate. You don’t always need everything on “Ultra.”
- Resolution: The single most demanding setting. Lowering it from 4K to 1440p or 1080p boosts FPS massively.
- Shadows, Reflections, and Lighting: These are often very taxing. Try setting them to Medium or High instead of Ultra.
- Anti-Aliasing: Techniques like MSAA are heavy. Use lighter options like FXAA or TAA, or lower the sample count.
- Texture Quality: This uses VRAM. If you have enough VRAM (check your GPU specs), keep this high. If not, lower it to prevent stuttering.
- View Distance: Lowering this can help in open-world games without ruining visual quality up close.
Close Background Applications
Programs running in the background steal CPU, RAM, and sometimes even GPU resources. Before launching a game:
- Press Ctrl+Shift+Esc to open Task Manager.
- Go to the “Processes” tab.
- Sort by CPU, Memory, and Disk to see what’s using resources.
- Right-click on non-essential applications (web browsers, chat apps, updaters) and select “End task.”
You can also use the Startup tab in Task Manager to disable programs from launching with Windows, which helps overall system responsiveness.
Adjust Windows Power Settings
Windows often uses a “Balanced” power plan to save energy, which can limit your CPU and GPU. Switching to a high-performance plan ensures your components run at full speed.
- Open the Windows Control Panel.
- Go to “Hardware and Sound” > “Power Options.”
- Select “High performance.” If you don’t see it, click “Show additional plans.”
For laptops, make sure you’re plugged in, as most will throttle performance on battery power regardless of settings.
Enable Game Mode in Windows
Windows has a built-in Game Mode designed to prioritize resources for your game. It can help by temporarily pausing Windows updates and reallocating CPU cycles.
- Press the Windows key + I to open Settings.
- Go to “Gaming” > “Game Mode.”
- Toggle “Game Mode” to On.
Its effectiveness can vary, but it’s a simple toggle that might give you a small boost.
Keep Your System Clean and Cool
Overheating causes components to slow down (thermal throttling) to protect themselves. This directly lowers your FPS.
- Dust: Regularly clean dust from your PC case fans, CPU cooler, and GPU fans with compressed air.
- Airflow: Ensure your case has good airflow. Cables should be managed so they don’t block air intake or exhaust fans.
- Thermal Paste: On older PCs (2+ years), the thermal paste between the CPU and its cooler can dry out. Reapplying it can lower temperatures significantly.
Intermediate Software and System Tweaks
Once you’ve covered the basics, these software-focused adjustments can squeeze out more performance and stability.
Manage Startup Programs and Services
Too many programs launching with Windows slows down your boot time and uses up RAM in the background. We mentioned the Startup tab, but you can go further.
- Open Task Manager (Ctrl+Shift+Esc).
- Click the “Startup” tab.
- Disable any program you don’t need immediately upon booting (cloud storage, peripheral software, etc.).
You can also type “msconfig” in the Windows search bar, go to the Services tab, and hide Microsoft services to see third-party ones you might temporarily disable for a gaming session. Be cautious here.
Adjust Visual Effects for Performance
Windows has visual effects that look nice but use system resources. Tuning them for performance can free up some CPU and GPU cycles.
- Right-click on “This PC” or “My Computer” and select “Properties.”
- Click “Advanced system settings” on the left.
- Under the “Advanced” tab, in the Performance section, click “Settings.”
- Select “Adjust for best performance” or manually disable animations like fading and sliding.
Use Optimization Software (Carefully)
Tools like NVIDIA GeForce Experience or AMD Radeon Software have features to optimize game settings automatically. They scan your hardware and apply what they think are the best settings.
- Pros: Quick, easy, and a good starting point.
- Cons: They are not always perfect. Use them as a baseline and then fine-tune manually from there.
Avoid general “PC booster” or “registry cleaner” software, as they often cause more problems than they solve.
Check for Malware and Bloatware
Malicious software or unwanted pre-installed programs (bloatware) can consume huge amounts of resources. Run a scan with Windows Security (Defender) or a trusted third-party antivirus. Uninstall any programs you don’t recognize or use from the Apps & Features section in Windows Settings.
Reinstall or Repair the Game
Game files can become corrupted over time, leading to crashes or poor performance. Most game launchers (Steam, Epic, etc.) have a “Verify Integrity of Game Files” or “Repair” option. This checks your installation against the server and replaces any bad files. If problems persist, a full reinstall can sometimes fix weird issues.
Hardware Upgrades for Maximum Performance
If software tweaks aren’t enough, your hardware might be the bottleneck. Upgrading components is the most effective way to boost FPS. Here’s where to invest.
Upgrade Your Graphics Card (GPU)
The GPU is usually the most important component for gaming performance. A newer card will handle higher settings and resolutions much better.
- What to look for: More VRAM and a faster core clock. Check benchmarks for the specific games you play.
- Bottleneck warning: Ensure your CPU is powerful enough to keep up with a new GPU, or you won’t see the full benefit.
Add More RAM
Modern games often recommend 16GB of RAM. Having less can cause stuttering as your system uses slower hard drive space as “virtual memory.”
- Check usage: Play your game and then check RAM usage in Task Manager. If it’s consistently near 100%, you need more.
- Dual-channel: Install RAM in matching pairs (e.g., 2x8GB instead of 1x16GB) for a significant speed boost.
- Make sure you buy RAM that is compatible with your motherboard (DDR4 or DDR5, correct speed).
Switch to a Solid-State Drive (SSD)
An SSD won’t increase your average FPS much, but it drastically reduces loading times and can eliminate stuttering caused by slow asset streaming in open-world games. Installing your operating system and games on an SSD is one of the best overall upgrades for any PC.
Upgrade Your Processor (CPU)
If your GPU usage is low (below ~95%) in a game while your CPU usage is very high, your CPU is likely the bottleneck. This is common in simulation, strategy, or older games. Upgrading your CPU often requires a new motherboard and sometimes new RAM, so it’s a bigger project.
Improve Your Cooling
Better cooling prevents thermal throttling and can allow for higher sustained performance. Consider:
- Aftermarket CPU Cooler: A good air cooler or all-in-one liquid cooler is better than most stock coolers.
- Case Fans: Adding more fans or replacing them with higher-quality ones improves airflow.
- GPU Cooling: Some GPUs have better cooling solutions than others, but this usually means buying a whole new card.
Advanced Tweaks and Overclocking
For users comfortable with more technical changes, these methods can provide a free performance boost but come with risks.
Overclock Your GPU
Overclocking increases the clock speed of your graphics card. Tools like MSI Afterburner make this relatively safe.
- Install MSI Afterburner.
- Increase the “Core Clock” slider in small increments (e.g., +15 MHz).
- Test stability with a benchmark or game for 10-15 minutes.
- Repeat until you see artifacts (graphical glitches) or a crash, then back off slightly.
- You can do the same with the “Memory Clock” slider.
Always monitor your temperatures during this process. Overclocking voids warranties and can damage components if done carelessly.
Overclock Your CPU
CPU overclocking is done in your motherboard’s BIOS/UEFI. It’s more complex and requires a CPU and motherboard that support it (typically Intel “K” series CPUs and Z-series motherboards, or AMD Ryzen with B/X-series boards).
- Research: Look up safe overclocking guides for your specific CPU model.
- Stress Test: Use tools like Prime95 or Cinebench to test for stability and monitor heat.
- The key settings are CPU multiplier and voltage. Increasing voltage increases heat dramatically, so be cautious.
Optimize RAM Timings with XMP/DOCP
Your RAM often runs at a default speed lower than its advertised speed. Enabling XMP (Intel) or DOCP (AMD) in your BIOS loads the optimal profile and is a simple, safe performance boost.
- Restart your PC and enter the BIOS (usually by pressing Del or F2 during boot).
- Find the XMP or DOCP/D.O.C.P. setting (often on the main page or in an “Ai Tweaker”/”Overclocking” section).
- Select the enabled or profile 1 option.
- Save and exit. Your system will reboot with faster RAM.
Perform a Clean Windows Installation
Over years, Windows installations accumulate clutter. A fresh install removes all bloat, old drivers, and registry errors, giving you a like-new system. Back up all your important files first, as this erases everything on your system drive.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
How can I boost my PC for gaming?
Start with the basics: update graphics drivers, lower in-game graphics settings, close background apps, and enable Windows Game Mode. These free steps often provide a quick and noticeable improvement.
What is the best way to increase FPS on my computer?
The most effective single way to increase FPS is to lower your game’s resolution and graphics quality settings, especially shadows and anti-aliasing. For a hardware solution, upgrading your graphics card gives the biggest FPS boost.
Why are my games lagging on a good PC?
Lag or stuttering on a capable PC can be caused by background processes, outdated drivers, overheating (thermal throttling), a slow hard drive struggling to load assets, or even network issues if you’re playing online. Check these areas one by one.
Does more RAM improve gaming?
Yes, but only if you don’t have enough. If you already have 16GB for modern gaming, adding more (like 32GB) will show minimal FPS gains in most games. But if you have only 8GB, upgrading to 16GB is a huge improvement and will reduce stuttering.
Is overclocking safe for my PC?
Overclocking is generally safe if done carefully and incrementally. The main risks are increased heat and potential system instability (crashes). As long as you monitor temperatures and don’t apply excessive voltage, modern hardware has safeguards to prevent permanent damage. It can, however, void warranties.
Should I defrag my SSD for gaming performance?
No, you should never defragment a Solid-State Drive (SSD). It provides no benefit and actually reduces the lifespan of the drive by causing unnecessary write cycles. Windows should automatically disable defrag for SSDs and use the TRIM command instead, which is handled in the background.