10 Ways to Boost PC Performance (Hardware + Software Tips for Gamers)

10 Ways to Boost PC Performance

(Hardware + Software Tips for Gamers)

Low FPS, sudden stutters, or long loading times can quickly ruin the gaming experience. The good news is that you don’t need an expensive system upgrade to significantly improve your PC’s performance. In this guide, we cover the 10 most effective ways for gamers to boost PC performance, combining both hardware and software tips.

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1. Install Your Games on an SSD

If you’re still using an HDD, this could be one of the biggest reasons for performance loss.

• SSDs allow games to load much faster

• Reduce texture pop-in issues in open-world games

 If possible, choose an NVMe SSD for the best results.

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2. Keep Your Graphics Card Drivers Up to Date

NVIDIA and AMD regularly release driver updates optimized for new games.

• Higher FPS

• Fewer crashes and graphical bugs

• Full support for modern technologies (DLSS, FSR, RTX)

 Performing a clean installation before updating can provide extra stability.

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3. Optimize In-Game Graphics Settings

Setting everything to “Ultra” doesn’t always deliver the best experience.
The settings that impact performance the most are:

• Shadows

• Anti-Aliasing

• Volumetric Effects

• Ray Tracing

Lowering these to High or Medium can significantly increase FPS.

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4. Close Unnecessary Background Applications

Browsers, launchers, and background apps consume CPU and RAM resources.

• Use Task Manager to close unnecessary programs

• Make sure the game is the only active application while playing

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5. Enable Windows Game Mode

Windows Game Mode:

• Prioritizes system resources for gaming

• Limits background updates

 You can enable it via Settings > Gaming > Game Mode.

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6. Optimize RAM Capacity and Speed

For modern games:

• Minimum: 16 GB RAM

• Recommended: 32 GB RAM

Also, make sure XMP / DOCP profiles are enabled in the BIOS so your RAM runs at its intended speed.

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7. Set Power Options to “High Performance”

Default power plans can limit CPU performance.

• Control Panel > Power Options

• Select High Performance or Ultimate Performance

 This makes a noticeable difference, especially for laptop gamers.

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8. Control Overheating Issues

Excessive heat can cause hardware to slow itself down (thermal throttling).

• Improve case airflow

• Clean fans and coolers

• Replace thermal paste if necessary

 Stable temperatures = stable FPS.

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9. Use Game-Specific Performance Software

Certain tools can help optimize performance:

• NVIDIA Control Panel / AMD Adrenalin settings

• FPS limiting (Frame Cap)

• Latency reduction options

 Creating game-specific profiles delivers the best results.

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10. Upgrade the Right Hardware Component

If you’re planning an upgrade, identify the bottleneck first:

• Low FPS → Graphics Card

• Stuttering → RAM

• Long loading times → SSD

 Instead of upgrading everything, strengthening the weakest link is always more effective.

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1. Which Games Benefit the Most from SSD Usage?

Games with the Biggest Impact:

• Cyberpunk 2077

• Starfield

• Red Dead Redemption 2

• GTA V

How Does It Help?

In open-world games, SSDs:

• Reduce stuttering during map traversal

• Prevent late texture loading

• Dramatically shorten fast travel times

These games should always be installed on an SSD or NVMe SSD.

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2. Which Games Require Up-to-Date GPU Drivers?

Example Games:

• Call of Duty: Warzone

• Fortnite

• Baldur’s Gate 3

• Alan Wake 2

New drivers provide:

• FPS improvements

• Reduced stuttering

• Better DLSS / FSR performance

Keeping drivers up to date is a major advantage, especially in competitive games.

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3. Where Do Graphics Settings Provide the Biggest FPS Gains?

Settings with the Highest Performance Impact:

• Shadows

• Ray Tracing

• Volumetric Fog

• Reflections

Game Examples:

• Cyberpunk 2077 → Disabling Ray Tracing can increase FPS by 30%+

• Hogwarts Legacy → Lowering shadow quality significantly boosts performance

• Metro Exodus → Volumetric effects heavily impact FPS

 High settings + DLSS/FSR usually offer the best balance instead of Ultra.

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4. Which Games Are Most Affected by Background Applications?

CPU- and RAM-Sensitive Games:

• Valorant

• CS2

• League of Legends

• PUBG

These games may suffer FPS drops due to:

• Open web browsers

• Discord screen sharing

• Recording software

 A “clean desktop” directly improves performance in competitive games.

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5. Which Game Genres Benefit Most from Windows Game Mode?

Most Effective For:

• Online FPS games

• Battle Royale games

Examples:

• Apex Legends

• Warzone

• Rainbow Six Siege

Game Mode:

• Prioritizes CPU resources for the game

• Limits background Windows processes

Result: more stable FPS and lower latency.

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6. Which Games Depend Heavily on RAM Capacity?

RAM-Hungry Games:

• The Last of Us Part I

• Starfield

• Cities: Skylines II

• Microsoft Flight Simulator

16 GB vs 32 GB:

• Less stuttering

• More stable FPS

• Better performance on large maps

•  RAM upgrades are extremely valuable for simulation and open-world games.

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7. Which Games Are Affected by Power Settings?

Especially for Laptop Gamers:

• Elden Ring

• Assassin’s Creed Valhalla

• Forza Horizon 5

High Performance mode:

• Prevents CPU frequency drops

• Reduces FPS fluctuations

 The difference is much more noticeable on laptops.

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8. Which Games Suffer Most from Overheating?

Hardware-Intensive Games:

• Cyberpunk 2077

• Alan Wake 2

• Starfield

Overheating can cause:

• Gradual FPS drops

• Sudden stutters

 Proper cooling and airflow can directly improve FPS in these titles.

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9. Which Games Benefit Most from NVIDIA / AMD Settings?

Competitive FPS Games:

• Valorant

• CS2

• Overwatch 2

Recommended settings:

• Low latency mode

• V-Sync disabled

• FPS cap

Result: reduced input lag and faster response times.

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10. Which Hardware Upgrade Fits Which Game Type?

Game Type	Priority Upgrade
FPS / Esports	CPU + RAM
Open World	GPU + SSD
Simulation	RAM + CPU
VR Games	GPU

Examples:

• VRChat / Half-Life Alyx → A powerful GPU is essential

• Cities: Skylines II → RAM is a must-have

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Conclusion

Every game requires a different combination of hardware and settings.
That’s why the best way to boost PC performance is to optimize your system based on the games you play. With the examples above, you can clearly see which settings work best for which games.

The right settings + the right hardware = a smoother gaming experience