Are you trying to figure out how to improve FPS on PC? You’ve landed in the right place. I’ve been there, staring at a stuttering screen, knowing my hardware should be doing better. I once spent an entire Saturday troubleshooting why a brand-new game felt like a slideshow on my supposedly powerful rig. It turns out, getting the best performance isn’t just about having the most expensive graphics card; it’s about making your software and hardware work together in perfect harmony. It requires a bit of digital elbow grease. Think of your PC as a high-performance race car.
You wouldn’t just put gas in it and expect to win; you’d tune the engine, adjust the suspension, and pick the right tires. This guide is my personal logbook from years of tweaking, testing, and tuning, all condensed into actionable steps that will boost your frame rate and make your games run buttery smooth. We will dive deep into graphics settings, system tweaks, and maintenance tips that truly make a difference.
More in Gaming Performance & Optimization Category
How to Optimize Windows 10 for Gaming
How to Improve Your Gaming Experience
How to Improve PC Performance for Gaming
Where Should I Start with PC Optimization for Gaming?
Before we get into the weeds of individual settings, it’s best to tackle the low-hanging fruit. These are simple, system-level adjustments that create a solid foundation for all your other tweaks. One of the easiest and most effective starting points is Windows 10’s built-in Game Mode.
What Is Windows 10 Game Mode and Is It Effective?
First up is a feature Microsoft created specifically for gamers: Game Mode. I’ll admit, I was pretty skeptical when it first came out. We’ve all seen those “game booster” programs that promise the world but don’t do much of anything. And in the beginning, Game Mode was a little disappointing; some players even said it caused problems. But to their credit, Microsoft has made it much better with subsequent updates. When you flip on Game Mode, Windows makes your game the top priority. It funnels more of your computer’s resources, like CPU and GPU cycles, directly to the game.
At the same time, it pushes background tasks to the side. This stops things like Windows Update from installing drivers or bugging you with restart notifications while you’re trying to clutch a win. I once got tabbed out of a competitive match by an update notification—it was infuriating! Game Mode is meant to stop that from happening. For most gamers, I’d say it’s a no-brainer to keep it on.
How Do I Activate Game Mode?
Getting this feature running is as easy as it gets. Microsoft clearly designed it to be user-friendly.
- Press the Windows key + I to open Settings.
- Click on the Gaming icon (the one with the Xbox logo).
- From the menu on the left, choose Game Mode.
- Just make sure the toggle for “Game Mode” is flipped to On.
Can Closing Background Processes Really Help Me Improve FPS on PC?
Without a doubt. This is one of the most significant changes you can make. Your PC has a limited amount of processing power and memory, and every app running in the background takes a piece of that pie. Some are just nibbling, but others are taking huge bites. Antivirus software, cloud sync services like Dropbox or OneDrive, chat programs like Discord, and even browser tabs—it all adds up.
I once ran a system monitor while playing a game and was floored to see a cloud backup program spiking my CPU usage to 15%. That’s a serious amount of power being diverted from my game! When you shut down these non-essential apps, you free up those resources for your game to use. The result is often a more stable and higher frame rate (FPS).
Which Specific Background Apps Should I Close?
You do need to be a bit cautious here. You don’t want to turn off anything your system relies on. But for the most part, you can safely close bloatware and other third-party applications.
Here’s a quick rundown of what you can usually shut down:
- Startup Apps: A lot of programs configure themselves to start up with your PC. It’s time to be ruthless with that list. Does Spotify, Discord, or Steam really need to launch automatically? You can always open them yourself when you want them. To manage this, open your Task Manager (Ctrl + Shift + Esc), navigate to the “Startup” tab, and disable anything you don’t need right away.
- System Tray Applications: Check out the icons in the bottom-right corner of your screen. Each one is a running program. Right-click and exit anything that isn’t necessary for your gaming session, like chat clients, software updaters, or printer utilities. Be especially wary of apps with overlays, like Discord or some performance monitors, as they can sometimes conflict with games.
- Windows Background Apps: Windows 10 has its own suite of apps that like to run in the background, such as Weather, Maps, and Mail. You can manage these by going to Settings > Privacy > Background apps. Simply scroll through the list and turn off anything you don’t actively use.
How Do I Optimize My Graphics Settings in Windows?
Alright, let’s get into the technical stuff. Your graphics settings are where you can really tailor your visual experience, and making the right tweaks is vital. This goes beyond in-game options; Windows has some powerful settings of its own that can have a big impact on your quest.
What Is Hardware-Accelerated GPU Scheduling?
One of the most impactful Windows features is Hardware-accelerated GPU Scheduling. It’s a bit technical, but basically, it lets your graphics card’s dedicated processor and memory (VRAM) manage tasks more efficiently, rather than relying on the main CPU. This can lead to lower latency and better performance by reducing the overhead on your CPU. After I enabled it, I saw a small but noticeable improvement in frame times, making my games feel much smoother.
How Do I Enable Hardware-Accelerated GPU Scheduling?
This feature isn’t always on by default, so you might need to enable it yourself. It’s a quick fix.
- Right-click on your desktop and choose Display settings.
- Scroll down to the bottom and click on Graphics settings.
- You’ll see “Hardware-accelerated GPU Scheduling” at the top. Flip the toggle to On.
- You’ll have to restart your PC for the setting to take effect.
How Can I Force a Game to Use My High-Performance GPU?
In the same “Graphics settings” menu, you’ll find another powerful tool. You can manually assign a graphics preference for specific applications. This is especially useful for laptops with both an integrated and a dedicated GPU, ensuring your games always use the more powerful option.
- In the Graphics settings menu, under “Graphics performance preference,” click Browse.
- Navigate to the executable file (.exe) for the game you want to optimize.
- Once added, click the game in the list, select Options, and choose High performance.
What Are the Best NVIDIA and AMD Control Panel Settings for FPS?
Beyond what Windows offers, your GPU’s control panel is loaded with optimization tools. This is where you can make some of the most granular and impactful adjustments. Whether you’re on team NVIDIA or AMD, you can fine-tune your settings for peak performance.
For NVIDIA Users, What Are the Key Settings in the Control Panel?
The NVIDIA Control Panel is a treasure trove for tweakers. Here are the most important settings to adjust for maximum FPS:
- Manage 3D settings > Global Settings:
- Low Latency Mode: Set this to On or Ultra. This setting reduces the number of frames the CPU prepares ahead of the GPU, which can significantly decrease input lag.
- Power Management Mode: Change this to Prefer maximum performance. This keeps your GPU running at its full clock speed instead of trying to save power.
- Shader Cache Size: Setting this to a larger value (e.g., 10 GB or higher) on an SSD can help reduce stuttering and load times in games that compile shaders frequently.
- Texture Filtering – Quality: Set this to High performance. This makes a very minor difference in visual quality but can give you a few extra frames.
- Vertical Sync: It’s best to turn this Off globally and enable it on a per-game basis if you experience screen tearing.
For AMD Users, What Are the Go-To Settings in Radeon Software?
AMD’s Radeon Software is equally powerful, offering a suite of features designed to boost performance.
- Gaming Tab > Global Graphics:
- Radeon Anti-Lag: This feature is similar to NVIDIA’s Low Latency Mode and is a must-have for reducing input lag in competitive games.
- Radeon Boost: This dynamically lowers the resolution in scenes with a lot of fast motion, boosting FPS when you need it most. The effect is often hard to notice during frantic gameplay.
- Radeon Image Sharpening: While not a direct FPS booster, this can make games look crisper, allowing you to potentially lower the in-game resolution for more FPS without sacrificing too much visual clarity.
- Texture Filtering Quality: Set this to Performance.
- Wait for Vertical Refresh: Similar to V-Sync, set this to Off, unless application specifies and control it in-game.
Feel free to play around with these settings. The optimal configuration can sometimes change from one game to another.
Does Updating My Graphics Drivers Really Matter That Much?
Yes, absolutely, one hundred percent! This is probably the most critical maintenance task for any gaming PC. Your graphics drivers are the software that lets your operating system talk to your graphics card. NVIDIA and AMD are always pushing out new drivers, and they’re not just for minor bug fixes. These updates frequently contain specific performance optimizations for the newest games. I remember when a big AAA game came out, and my performance was just awful. A day later, NVIDIA dropped a “Game Ready” driver for it, and my FPS almost doubled.
They had identified and fixed a bottleneck in how the driver was interacting with the game’s code. Keeping your drivers up-to-date ensures you’re getting all the performance you paid for. For a deeper look at how graphics drivers function, the Computer Science department at Stanford University has some excellent resources.
What Is the Correct Way to Update My Graphics Drivers?
Updating is simple, but a clean installation is the best way to prevent problems.
- For NVIDIA: The GeForce Experience app is your best friend. It automatically detects your graphics card and lets you know when a new driver is out. It offers a simple one-click “Express Installation.”
- For AMD: The AMD Radeon Software works in a similar way, checking for updates and making installation a breeze.
- For a Clean Install: Every so often, old driver files can create conflicts. For a completely fresh start, I suggest using a tool called Display Driver Uninstaller (DDU). It wipes all traces of your old drivers, giving you a clean slate for the new ones. You should run it in Windows Safe Mode for the best results. I make it a habit to do this every few months.
How Can I Optimize My Power Plan for Maximum Performance?
This is a setting that’s easy to overlook but makes a big difference. By default, Windows 10 uses a “Balanced” power plan. This plan is a compromise, designed to save energy by reducing your CPU’s performance when it thinks you don’t need it. The issue is that it’s not always great at guessing when you need that extra power. For gaming, you want your CPU running at full throttle all the time. You don’t want it trying to conserve energy in the middle of a tense firefight, which can cause stuttering. Switching to the High Performance power plan removes those limitations.
How Do I Switch to the High Performance Power Plan?
It just takes a moment to unleash your PC’s full potential.
- Press the Windows key, type “Choose a power plan,” and hit Enter.
- You’ll probably see “Balanced” is selected. Click on “Show additional plans.”
- Choose the High Performance option. You might also see an “Ultimate Performance” plan, which is even more aggressive.
- If you have an AMD Ryzen processor, you might also have an “AMD Ryzen High Performance” plan, which is tailored to your specific CPU.
This tells your PC to go all out. It will use more power, but for gaming, the performance boost is more than worth it.
What Other Tweaks Can Help Me Learn How to Improve FPS on PC?
Beyond the big-ticket items, there are a number of smaller adjustments that can add up to a much better gaming experience. It’s all about finding those marginal gains; a 1% boost here and a 2% boost there can make a real difference.
Should I Disable the Xbox Game Bar to Improve FPS on PC?
For some, the Xbox Game Bar is a handy tool for recording clips and chatting with friends. But it’s also another background process that uses up resources. Some gamers have found that disabling it results in a smoother experience and a slight FPS increase, particularly if you don’t use its features. If you already use other software for gameplay capture, like OBS or NVIDIA ShadowPlay, then turning off the Game Bar is a smart move.
Should I Disable Mouse Acceleration?
For gaming, definitely. Mouse acceleration, which Windows calls “Enhance pointer precision,” makes your cursor travel further the faster you move your mouse. This might be useful for navigating your desktop, but it’s a nightmare for gaming. It destroys your muscle memory because the same physical mouse movement can result in different in-game movements depending on your speed. You want a consistent, 1-to-1 relationship between your hand and your aim.
Can Adjusting Visual Effects Help?
Windows 10 is full of slick animations and visual effects. They look cool, but they do consume system resources. You can disable these to free up a little extra processing power. It might not be a game-changer, but on less powerful systems, every little bit helps. To change these settings, press the Windows key, type “performance,” and choose Adjust the appearance and performance of Windows. In the Performance Options window, select Adjust for best performance.
It’s about taking command of your system and making it do exactly what you want: play games, and play them flawlessly. By following these steps, you’re not just flipping switches; you’re customizing your entire operating system to support your passion.
Frequently Asked Question for How to Improve FPS on PC
What role do advanced tools like DLSS and FSR play in boosting FPS?
DLSS (NVIDIA) and FSR (AMD) are upscaling technologies that render the game at a lower resolution and then use AI to upscale to higher resolutions with minimal quality loss. Turning these features on can significantly increase FPS, often by 30-50%, making games run much smoother without sacrificing much visual fidelity.
What are post-processing effects, and should I disable them to improve FPS?
Post-processing effects add visual filters like motion blur, bloom, and depth of field to enhance game visuals. However, they can consume a considerable amount of GPU resources. Disabling or lowering these effects can free up performance and provide a smoother gameplay, especially on lower-end PCs.
How does screen resolution affect game performance?
Screen resolution determines the number of pixels your GPU must draw. Higher resolutions like 4K require rendering more pixels, which can slow down performance. Reducing resolution from 1440p to 1080p is an effective way to nearly double FPS, providing a smoother gaming experience at the cost of visual sharpness.
Which graphics settings have the greatest impact on FPS and how can I optimize them?
Resolution, shadows, and anti-aliasing have the most significant impact on FPS. Lowering resolution reduces the number of pixels your GPU needs to render, shadows can be turned down from ultra to medium for better performance, and turning off or reducing anti-aliasing can significantly boost FPS.
Why is a high FPS essential for a good gaming experience?
High FPS, or Frames Per Second, ensures gameplay appears smooth and controls feel responsive, especially important in fast-paced games like shooters where quick reactions are crucial. A steady high FPS provides a better gaming experience than fluctuating or low FPS, which can cause choppiness and lag.
