12 days of tech tips: How to optimize Windows 10 for PC gaming performance

There really is no greater identify for intense gaming than a PC, and Windows x is Microsoft's latest OS for interactive entertainment. Out of the box, it's a bang-up Bone for playing games, merely at that place are a few things you can do to improve the feel. Whether you're getting a new PC for Christmas or ordering a few parts to improve your game, we've got a few handy tips that tin can meliorate things.

Windows Gaming Tips

From disabling updates to installing the latest GPU drivers, our guide will help optimize your PC for gaming. Spend less time lagging and more time fragging this holiday flavour!

Update your GPU driver

Before the GPU can be used for intensive workloads like gaming, you lot need to ensure yous have the latest drivers installed so Windows and the software can effectively communicate with the card. Striking the links below to download and install drivers for a new NVIDIA or AMD bill of fare:

Download AMD drivers.
Download NVIDIA drivers.

Disable automatic updates

Windows Updates

You'll too want to disable Windows updates. The last affair you want to occur is for your PC to shut down and reboot mid-game for an update that Microsoft sent out to be installed on your PC immediately. This volition crusade you to be disconnected from the session in play and require you to wait for some time until you can rejoin. That's not a proficient experience at all, and tin actually ruin a holiday gaming sesson. Hither'south how to remedy this:

Hit the Windows Fundamental + Q shortcut.
Type "updates."
Cull Windows Update Settings.
Choose Advanced Options.
Enable Break Updates.

This will pause all automatic downloads and installs of Windows updates for up to 35 days. When you're using the PC and accept a minute (or 20), de-activate this again when yous're set to bank check and install them and then re-enable afterward. It'southward as well possible to set your active hours appropriately for the PC to auto-update when yous're not unremarkably gaming. You don't want to forget about updates, considering they of import. But y'all besides don't desire them to interupt yous mid-game.

Alter your power program

Windows Power Options

This is a trick that may (or may not) affect your in-game performance, but it's worth doing withal. Ability plans are useful in Windows 10 to allow the OS to ameliorate manage draw from the bombardment in laptops and other portable products. But on a desktop PC, you have no such limitations, which is why y'all should gear up Windows to high performance. Hither'due south how:

Hit Windows Key + Q.
Type "power plans."
Choose Choose a power plan.
Select Bear witness boosted plans.
Select High performance.

Manage Steam automatic updates

Steam Downloads

Just like Windows, there are times when updates in Steam can really mess with your gaming experience. If you run a modded installation for, say, The Elder Scrolls Skyrim y'all volition desire to proceed to a version you lot know works. A new update could break things, even in a vanilla game, which is why some people hold off updating earlier others have reported everything to be OK. Here'southward how to go started with this.

Revert to game version

Follow these steps:

Open Steam.
Right-click the game.
Choose Backdrop.
Choose Betas tab.
Opt-in to a specific version using the drib-downwardly menu.

This relies on the game developer releasing specific versions and keeping them available on Steam. Titles similar Stellaris allow y'all to revert to older versions if you're not a fan of current changes.

Disable game updates while playing

Yous can too disable updates mid-game:

Open Steam.
Choose Settings.
Cull Downloads.
Uncheck Allow downloads during gameplay.

This volition forbid Steam from updating games while you're playing.

Disable mouse acceleration

Windows has a characteristic chosen mouse acceleration that causes your mouse to move not only based on physical movement detection and measurements but on speed, too. Irresolute this option volition brand your mouse more accurate in games, peculiarly ones that require aiming similar commencement-person shooters (FPS).

Hit Windows Key + Q.
Type "pointer."
Cull Change the mouse arrow brandish or speed.
Uncheck Enhanced pointer precision.

You will desire to mess around with the speed settings for the arrow to reach a comfortable configuration.

Disable visual effects

Windows Advanced Settings

Windows x is pretty, and Microsoft will add some avant-garde UI effects in future updates. This is no good for gaming, where you lot want as much of the processor equally possible for the game. You'll want to disable everything simply the following (unless you want to disable everything):

Show thumbnails instead of icons.
Show window contents while dragging.
Smooth edges of screen fonts.

To achieve the settings area and disable the settings you don't desire, follow these quick steps:

Hitting Windows Key + Q.
Type "advanced settings."
Choose View avant-garde system settings.
Click Settings... under "Performance."
Choose Custom.
Uncheck all simply the to a higher place list of items.

Your tips and suggestions

Gaming on Windows 10 and have some more tips to share? Sound off in the comments. And happy holidays!

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