How to Make Your Computer Run Games Faster Windows 10
So you're fired up to play the best PC games of the year, and you want to eke every bit of performance out of your rig as possible. We understand—after all, PCs are multipurpose machines, which means yours might not be optimized for gaming out of the box. But with so much snake oil out there, it's hard to know what'll actually improve your experience, and what'll just waste your time. Here are a few tweaks that'll ensure you get the most out of your machine.
Rein In Background Processes
If you have hardware-hungry programs open in the background, they may prevent your PC from using its full potential in games—particularly if you have a lower-end PC with limited resources. In general, closing those background programs is a good idea, but don't expect miracles.
Windows' built-in Game Mode is designed to help with this as well. It dedicates more of your system to the game you're playing, so background processes can't steal precious CPU power. It also prevents Windows Update from installing new drivers or sending restart notifications, which is a nice bonus. Game Mode is on by default in current versions of Windows 10, but it doesn't hurt to check—head to Settings > Gaming > Game Mode and flip the switch to On. You might also try turning it off, as it has been known to cause problems with certain games.
Apart from this, don't put too much stock in "slimming down" Windows for gaming. Many of the tips you'll find for doing so are outdated or straight-up useless—instead of hunting through the registry for obscure tweaks, you're better off focusing your attention on your hardware, drivers, and in-game settings. (Oh, and turning off notifications so they don't bother you while you're playing.)
Update Your Graphics Drivers
In general, you don't need to go out of your way to update drivers for your hardware unless you're experiencing issues. But your graphics card is an exception: manufacturers like Nvidia and AMD regularly issue driver updates that contain optimizations for the latest games. So installing the manufacturer's drivers and keeping them up-to-date can give you a serious boost in performance, particularly on new titles.
You may already see the Nvidia or AMD driver icon in your taskbar, but that doesn't mean you have the latest version. Head to the download pages on the Nvidia, AMD, or Intel website, punch in your graphics card model, and download the latest driver package—if you don't know what graphics card you have, here's how to find out.
Wire Up Over Ethernet (or Improve Your Wi-Fi)
(Pixabay / Martinelle)
If you play multiplayer games online, you're just as limited—if not moreso—by your internet as you are your graphics hardware. If your game is lagging, stuttering, or constantly losing connection, you'll need to improve your network connection.
Your best bet, if at all possible, is a wired connection: connect your PC directly to your router with an Ethernet cable. If your computer isn't next to your router, find another way—your home may have Ethernet jacks in the wall wired to a central location, or you can use powerline adapters to run network data through the electrical wiring in your house. I've even run Ethernet cable across the ceiling of my kitchen before—desperate times call for desperate measures. If Ethernet isn't an option, check out our tips for improving your Wi-Fi instead. If you can get a strong enough connection with low latency, it can be good enough.
Adjust Your Mouse Settings
You've probably gotten used to how your mouse moves on screen, but certain settings are designed more for desktop work than gaming. If it's been a while since you dove into your mouse's settings, there are a few things you might want to change.
From Settings > Devices > Mouse > Additional Mouse Options, make sure the pointer speed is set to the default 6th notch from the left, and Enhance Pointer Precision is disabled. Pointer Precision—also called Mouse Acceleration—will move your cursor farther when you move your mouse faster. That can be handy on the desktop, but it isn't ideal for gaming where you want to build that muscle memory, predict where your cursor will land, and get enemies in your crosshairs every time. (If you use a trackpad or don't have a lot of desk space, it could help you get around those limitations—but most gamers prefer to keep it turned off.)
If you want your movements to be more or less sensitive, it's best to adjust sensitivity in-game rather than in Windows (provided your game supports it). If you have a gaming mouse with adjustable DPI, you can also adjust that in conjunction with in-game sensitivity to really dial things in. Mouse sensitivity is personal preference, and there are a lot of different configurations to try—so test different combinations and read up on other gamers' recommendations to see what's best for your playstyle.
Recommended by Our Editors
Tweak Your Display Options
I can't tell you how many times I've seen people plop money down on a fancy gaming monitor, only to find months later that they weren't actually using its gaming features. If you have a high refresh rate monitor that runs at 144Hz or higher, you need to enable that refresh rate in Windows before you'll see smoother gameplay.
Go to Settings > System > Display, choose Advanced Display Settings, and set your Refresh Rate as high as it'll go. You'll also want to explore your monitor's built-in gaming options, like the Overdrive feature that reduces motion blur. If you have a particularly beefy graphics card, you can even turn on supersampling in your graphics driver options for sharper images. Oh, and if your display supports HDR, you'll want to set that up too.
Refine Your Game's Graphics
Finally, while it isn't specifically a Windows tweak, you'll get the best performance from your games by setting their graphics options properly. Some games may auto-detect your configuration and adjust their settings accordingly, but if not, the pre-configured Low, Medium, and High settings can help get you in the ballpark. You might even be able to find graphics settings guide for specific games online, if you look around.
If you have an Nvidia card, check out the game settings optimizer built in to Nvidia's GeForce Experience—it'll let you choose between better performance and better graphics, automatically picking the right settings for your hardware and tastes. If you're on a lower-end PC, you might even be able to hack high-end games to make them more playable, provided you have time to dig into configuration files.
If all else fails, it may be time to upgrade your hardware—in which case, check out our recommendations for the best graphics cards and best gaming laptops around right now. Sometimes, no amount of tweaking can stand up to a powerful PC upgrade.
Like What You're Reading?
Sign up for Tips & Tricks newsletter for expert advice to get the most out of your technology.
This newsletter may contain advertising, deals, or affiliate links. Subscribing to a newsletter indicates your consent to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You may unsubscribe from the newsletters at any time.
How to Make Your Computer Run Games Faster Windows 10
Source: https://www.pcmag.com/how-to/how-to-optimize-windows-for-pc-gaming
0 Response to "How to Make Your Computer Run Games Faster Windows 10"
Post a Comment