How-To Guide
How to Optimize Your Gaming Computer for Maximum FPS
Nov
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Gaming on a console is simple compared to a computer because every piece of hardware has been fine-tuned for excellent gameplay, and games are always designed with the performance limitations of the platform in mind. On the other hand, PC gaming can be significantly less reliable, with inconsistent hardware, outdated graphics cards, and outdated software drivers all contributing to occasionally poor game performance. You may need to modify your PC to increase the frame rate, expressed in frames per second (fps) if you are experiencing video lag or stuttering (frames per second).
Over at RB Tech and Games, we understand how bad it is to deal with micro-stutters, input delays, crashes, and many other unforeseen issues, therefore, here are the following ways to optimize your system for maximum FPS. Before we begin, please do note that this guide applies to both Windows 11 and 10.
Your Computer’s Resolution and Refresh Rate
Before you begin modifying your PC, you should be aware of two main things: your current frame rate, which is stated in frames per second (fps), and the monitor’s refresh rate, which is expressed in hertz (Hz).
We’ll start by locating the refresh rate as it’s simple to do so. There is no benefit to having a frame rate quicker than this since this is monitoring how many times your monitor redraws the screen per second. It would be best if you aimed for a frame rate of 60 frames per second because most monitors have a refresh rate of 60Hz. If you have one of the latest gaming monitors that supports refresh rates of 144Hz, 200Hz, or more, you can try to match that frame rate, but you’ll need a pretty decent, high-end computer to pump out all those extra frames.
Ever wondered what your FPS count is?
Finding the frame rate your gaming PC can produce isn’t really challenging, but depending on the games you play, there are a few different ways to do it:
The frame rate can often be seen as an overlay when playing a game. Check the setup or settings menu of your game to see how to enable this. You can enable the in-game overlay while playing a game if you have an Nvidia GeForce graphics card and the GeForce Experience program. The overlay can be set up to display the frame rate in a screen corner. Start the GeForce Experience program, select the In-Game Overlay tab, click “Settings,” then select “HUD Layout,” where you may add the frame rate counter to any area of your choosing.
(In the image above you can see how the Nvidia Utility allows you to setup the FPS under HUD options)
For the AMD fans out there, the in-game overlay can be toggled by pressing the ALT+R. Do note, however, that you will need to enable the overlay option in the general tab of the AMD Adrenaline Control Panel.
(In the image above, turn on the two options “Show Sidebar, In-Game Overlay”)
If you prefer not to use either of the GPU manufacturer’s embedded FPS counters, you could always opt for 3rd party alternatives like Steam, or more advanced information, the MSI Afterburner software, which is loved by enthusiasts all over the world.
(In the image above, navigate to the Steam Settings, and enable In-Game FPS Counter)
You can enable a frame rate counter in the Steam in-game overlay if you play Steam games. Launch the Steam app, then select the Steam menu to get started. Click Settings in the drop-down menu, then select In-Game in the left navigation pane. Select where you want the fps counter to show under the In-game FPS counter section, and then click OK. Any game’s frame rate can be determined using the free tool called Fraps. You can use any of these techniques to boost your computer’s performance after you determine the frame rate of your PC (and how it compares to your monitor’s refresh rate).
Be sure to use the latest “Game Mode” feature built into Windows 10/11
Game Mode sets up a number of Windows options with a single click, setting up your PC for gaming and maximizing the FPS.
- Press the “Windows + I” keys to pop-up windows’ settings.
- Type “game” into the search bar in the Settings window, then choose Game Mode Settings from the list of results.
- Toggle Game Mode on if it isn’t already by swiping the button to the right.
Are your computer drivers up to date?
To get the most out of your computer, it’s crucial to make sure that the system updates and device drivers are updated. There are two options available if you’re looking to update your drivers:
Let windows search for updates automatically by heading into: Settings > Windows Updates > Check for updates
Do be sure to check your GPU drivers as well. While Windows Updates are pretty thorough, you may find the latest release of the GPU driver on the GPU utility “GeForce Experience” for Nvidia, and “Adrenaline Suite” for AMD.
Be sure to play around with your in-game settings
The image quality can be decreased in your game’s settings if your frame rate is too low. However, every game is different.
For example, you might be able to toggle a single switch to change the image quality from “high” to “medium,” or you could adjust the settings for the viewing angle, shadows, texture effects, and other factors separately.
If Things Get Too Laggy, Drop That Resolution!
Try lowering the screen resolution, which is frequently a different setting in the game from video quality, and is usually found in the “display” tab under the in-game options. Alternatively, you could select a lower resolution option from the Resolution menu by going to your PC’s Settings, selecting System, and then Advanced display settings.
The frame rate may be significantly impacted by this, simply due to the fact that you’re now rendering those frames at a lower resolution.
If all else fails, it may be time to part ways with your GPU
If you’ve come this far, then chances are, none of the above-mentioned suggestions have helped. If so, then it’s safe to say you’re in dire need of a GPU upgrade.
If you’re a laptop gamer, you’re out of luck, however, do be sure to check your laptop for a thunderbolt 3 port (disguised as a Type-C Port). The difference is, Thunderbolt 3 has a thunderbolt sign, and if your laptop has one of these ports, you can connect an External GPU to maximize performance.
On the other hand, if you have a desktop computer, you might be able to replace your graphics card with one that significantly boosts performance and frame rate. We’ve got you covered on that front as well. Do be sure to check out our socials for GPU deals or give us a call at (+92 302-0111-136).
