15 Tips to optimize your Windows 10 PC for Gaming

Windows 10 is the platform that PC gamers prefer because of. It is not only Windows 10 compatible with almost all the top PC games released in the last few decades and you are able to alter a variety of settings built into the OS and third-party software to achieve the highest performance you can get from your most loved MMORPG and battle royale game. We will talk about the best ways to boost your performance on you Windows 10 computer for gaming.

Improve the performance of your Windows 10 PC for Gaming (Updated May 2021)

In this post, we'll examine various software options to boost games performance for Your Windows 10 PC, along with some hardware upgrades which will give you the best outcomes. In this article, you will learn more about how to make the most of your PC when playing games such as Fortnite The game, Assassin's creed Valhalla GTA V (with mods), Ark: Survival Evolved, Red Dead Redemption 2, Call of Duty, Destiny 2, Apex Legends and Rainbow Six Quarantine and many more.

Software Solutions to Enhance Gaming Performance on Windows 10

To enhance the performance of gaming on the performance of your Windows 10 machine, you can make a number of adjustments and tweaks. They are mostly software-based, meaning that you don't have to invest any additional money to implement them. These are our top recommendations:

1. Set Game Mode on Windows 10

The most simple and apparent way to boost performance of your PC is to activate the Game Mode' feature in Windows 10. This feature shuts down background processes such as Windows updates as well as app notifications to improve FPS when playing games.

Game Mode is turned on by default. Game Mode is 'On' by default, however it's not a bad idea to perform an initial test. To check this simply visit Settings (Windows button and the letter I) > > Gaming > Game Mode (left sidebar). There's a 'Game Mode' toggle on the left pane. Turn it on if it isn't yet.

2. Reduce Your Game's Resolution and Graphics Settings

If your computer is an ultra-premium machine it is likely that you don't require any tweaks at all. If you're like us and must be content with less than top-of-the-line, you might require some compromises on the graphics side to ensure more fluid gameplay. By reducing the graphics settings of your game, you can boost FPS by easing the burden on your GPU. It doesn't have to process more pixels per frame.

The majority of dedicated gaming computers with a relatively recent generation are capable of handling 1080p at 60FPS in all games. But some may be unable to handle resolutions of 4K or 2K and your standard desktop laptop may be unable to handle 1080p gaming. Make sure to test some different choices to find the right combination of the quality of graphics and higher FPS.

Certain games may have simple settings such as medium, high, ultra and low. However, other games have dials and numerical options and more. Let's take a look at some of the options available in PUBG.

3. Updating Graphics Drivers for Windows 10 to optimize Windows 10 PC for Gaming

Another popular tip for troubleshooting is to update the GPU with the latest drivers . This will greatly improve gaming performance. The following chart from Nvidia illustrates how drivers can improve FPS for games up to 23% in some instances. This is the same also for AMD Radeon drivers as well. If you're brand new to PC gaming, then follow our comprehensive guide to updating driver on the Windows 10 PC.

4. Delete SuperFetch (SysMain)

SysMain (formerly SuperFetch) is an inbuilt Windows feature that can speed up the speed of startup for applications and Windows itself. However, games don't usually get the benefit of it. Background activity usually grows when it's enabled however switching it off can boost game performance for Your Windows 10 PC. Take a look at our complete guide on how to reduce the use of memory and CPU to discover how to switch off SysMain (SuperFetch) for your PC.

Note That disabling SysMain (Superfetch) isn't necessary when you're using an SSD however, some HDD users could benefit from it.

5. Turn off Prefetch

To turn off Prefetch To disable Prefetch, you'll need to search your Windows registry. Search for the word'regedit' within the Windows search bar and launch the editor for registry. Navigate towards the next key by using on the left side: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE the SYSTEM CurrentControlSet Control Session Manager Memory Management PrefetchParameters. Then, double-click EnablePrefetcher on the left pane, and then change your DWORD (32-bit) value by changing it to "0" (without quotation marks).

6. Allow Focus Assist to be enabled.

Notification pop-ups and accompanying chimes may interrupt games. That's the reason why it is where the Focus Assist feature comes in useful. Focus Assist on Windows 10 lets you specify the frequency and manner in which you get notifications. In order to avoid annoying pop-ups and notifications while playing, you can open Settings (can also be done using to access it using the shortcut Windows key + I) > System -and then click Focus Assist. Select "Alarms Only or Priority Only to disable any pop-ups that aren't needed.

7. Turn Off Background Services

You can also block applications such as certain Windows 10 services, from being in background mode to make your PC more efficient for gaming. Applications running in the background generally consume more resources on the system, which could hinder games that require a lot of attention.

To stop background services, head to Settings > Privacy -the Background apps. Then, turn off the "allow apps to run in background' option in the left pane to stop apps from using resources on the background. You can also leave the main toggle turned on and turn off specific applications if you wish to allow certain applications to be running in the background.

8. Uninstall redundant Programs and Bloatware

Windows is known to slow down with every program installed. One method to speed up the speed of your Windows 10 computer and reduce time to load is to delete programs that you do not use. It increases the speed of your PC and power efficiency.

To remove software you need to visit Control Panel -> Programs and Features. Choose the program or app you wish to remove and then click the Uninstall button on the top. Make sure you confirm your decision to delete the application from your PC.

Also, you can uninstall applications from Settings> Apps > Apps and Features. Scroll down until you've reached Features and Apps Click on the app you'd like to delete and click the uninstall button.

9. Optimize Power Settings

Certain power settings can limit the CPU, regardless of whether you're operating a laptop or desktop. Thus, selecting a power plan can help optimize the performance of your Windows 10 PC for gaming.

To do that, click right on the battery icon in the tray of notifications and choose Power Options. For desktops, access the power settings menu via Control Panel and then Power Options. Click on 'Show other plans', and select high-performance plans.

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Note: If you do not see the option to display additional plans then click on 'Create a power plan' on the left-hand sidebar and select High Performance. You can alter the options according to your needs.

If you're running a laptop, you can tweak your power settings right by using the battery icon in the tray of your system. To do this you need to click on the icon and then drag the slider until you reach the option 'Best Performance.

10. Deleting Mouse Acceleration

Acceleration of the mouse (Microsoft refers to it as Pointer Precision) helps you when using text editors and moving between GUI elements within Windows and other applications. But, it could negatively affect how your mouse functions when playing games. Enabling this feature can improve gaming on Windows 10. To enable it start by going on to Control Panel -> Mouse > Pointer Options. Select the 'Enhance Pointer Precision' checkbox. Select Apply or OK, and you're done.

11. Modify your Nvidia Control Panel or Radeon Control Center

Drivers for graphics from Nvidia and AMD have their own control panels , which allow you to alter the settings for graphics. To demonstrate we're employing Nvidia Control Panel. Nvidia Control Panel however, you can alter similar options within the AMD software to get similar outcomes.

To open for access to Nvidia control panel click right on an open area on your desktop and choose Nvidia Control Panel. Then click "Manage 3D Settings" on the left-hand sidebar to alter the following settings for optimizing gaming performance on your Windows 10 PC for gaming

Maximal Pre-Rendered frames: This parameter determines the amount of frames processors prepare before transfer into the video card. This setting can result in more fluid gameplay. You may experience some lags when using your keyboard and mouse to play. To reduce lag, set the value to "1".

Threaded Optimization: This choice allows multi-threaded optimization on modern multi-core processors. It consequently, it should always be turned on.

Vertical Sync Vertical Sync: We've gone over VSync and its role for gaming in great depth, so make sure to check it out if you'd like to learn more about it. In the meantime, it will suffice to keep it on it is generally an excellent idea to avoid screen-tearing as well as other graphic glitches. But, turning it off allows games to run smoother in certain situations. Make sure to disable VSync only when your monitor is running at a higher frame rate than the game.

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12. Turn off Steam Auto-updates

Steam continuously updates all your games, and eats precious resources like memory, processing power as well as internet bandwidth. To stop Steam from updating your games within the background when you're playing, head to Steam Settings -> Downloads. Check that 'Allow downloads during gameplay' is not checked. This setting is off in default. Therefore, be sure you keep it that way.

13. Change the settings for Visual Effects in Windows 10

GUI animations may cause a problem for speed up the efficiency of your computer and prevent you from achieving the best FPS when playing games that require a lot of. The default Windows 10 appearance settings tend to be oriented towards aesthetics however turning them off can increase performance.

You can deactivate all of these UI shadows and animations in order to maximize Windows 10 for gaming performance. To do this you need to go into System Properties -> Advanced tab, then Performance Settings and then Visual Effects. Then, select the 'Adjust to the best performance' option and then hit OK or Apply.

14. Disable Nagle's Algorithm

Nagle's algorithm boosts internet connectivity by reducing the amount of packets that must be transmitted across the network. It's helpful for slow connections, but could cause delays in online gaming.

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With the speed of modern internet connections frequently reaching several hundred Megabits every second, it's ideal to turn off it to lower latency. This should help make the performance of your Windows 10 computer for gaming. To accomplish this you need to go to Windows PowerShell -> enter "ipconfig" (without quotes) and then note the IPv4 address.

Now open Windows Registry Editor (regedit) and navigate to the following folder: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\Tcpip\Parameters\Interfaces. There are numerous sub-folders in this folder. Explore each one to find the value for 'DhcpIPAddress' in the left pane that corresponds to your IP address.

Once you have found the correct folder that has your IP address listed as an DhcpIPAddress value, click on the right mouse button to create an entirely brand new DWORD (32-bit) Value within this same location. Name it TcpAckFrequency' (without quotes). Set it to 1. Repeat the procedure to create a second entry called "TCPNoDelay" and a value of 1'. Reboot your PC and Nagle's algorithm is disabled permanently. If you ever want to change your mind remove the two keys that you have just made.

15. You can defragment your Hard Drive (HDD-only)

Another way to speed up the speed of access for Windows applications is to defrag your drive. Windows 10 offers a built-in defragmentation option and you are able to access it by typing in 'Defrag on Windows Search Box. Windows Search Box. You can use Piriform's defraggler to download (Free) for additional options for power users. Remember that defragmentation is only appropriate only for physical HDDs. Do not defrag SSDs since it will reduce their lifespan.