Buying a bigger graphics card is fun, obviously, but PC gaming gets a whole lot better when I actually mess with the computer stuff. A few smart settings, utilities, shortcuts, and quality of life changes can make an ageing rig feel less miserable, make a couch setup far more usable, and save a game session when Windows decides to be Windows.
Before I start: this is a use-at-your-own-risk list. PC hardware and software combinations are all weirdly specific. A tweak that works brilliantly on my machine might be terrible for yours. Make a restore point, back up anything important, change one thing at a time, and do not disable security features if you regularly visit dodgy corners of the internet.
Key Takeaways
- Windows settings, startup apps, and graphics options can improve performance, but security-related changes need careful consideration.
- DLSS or FSR, sensible in-game settings, and temperature monitoring are practical ways to improve PC gaming without immediately buying new hardware.
- Playnite, PCGamingWiki, price trackers, and controller mapping utilities make a large PC game library easier to use.
- Memorising Windows key + Ctrl + Shift + B and knowing how to roll back drivers can save a game session when graphics issues strike.
Table of Contents
- Windows and PC performance tweaks
- Build a better couch, controller, and launcher setup
- Useful PC gaming resources, shortcuts, and recovery tools
Windows and PC performance tweaks
25. Consider disabling Memory Integrity, but understand the risk
Windows 11 includes Core Isolation, also called Memory Integrity, to help protect against kernel-level exploits. On some systems, disabling it can noticeably improve gaming performance, especially on older PCs where every extra frame matters. I have seen double-digit FPS gains in certain games.
The trade-off is real, though. This setting provides an extra layer of protection against a specific category of threats. If you download questionable files, use torrent sites, pirate streaming sites, or otherwise spend time in the internet’s cursed basement, leave it enabled.
If you decide the performance trade-off is worth it, open Windows Security, go to Device security, open Core isolation, and toggle off Memory integrity. Keep the rest of Windows Defender active, and accept that this is your decision, not magic free performance with no consequences.
24. Pair one controller with several devices
Mouse and keyboard is great for shooters, strategy games, and anything that requires clicking tiny nonsense. But I play a ridiculous number of PC games with a controller. For action games such as Control, I would take a controller every time.
The latest Xbox controller can switch between paired sources with a double-tap of its pairing button. The DualSense controller has an even more useful multi-device trick: it can store Bluetooth pairings for up to four devices. Hold the PlayStation button while pressing one of the four face buttons to select a saved pairing slot.
That means I can keep a controller ready for my PC, phone, PS5, and whatever mysterious fourth device I have lying around.
23. Debloat Windows 11 and clean your startup apps
Windows 11 comes with plenty of things I do not need running, installed, or begging for attention. The safe, basic route is simple: go to Settings, then Apps, then Installed apps, and uninstall software you genuinely do not use.
For a more thorough cleanup, the Chris Titus Tech WinUtil utility is a popular option. It can remove stubborn extras such as Copilot and other Windows bloat, but it is not a tool I would hand to a total beginner. Read each option before applying it, run it as administrator only if you understand what it is changing, and do not blindly nuke parts of the operating system because a button sounds funny.
Also open Task Manager with Ctrl + Alt + Delete, select Startup apps, and disable non-essential programs. Every app that does not launch at startup is one less thing wasting resources after a restart. Teams, unnecessary launchers, and preinstalled third-party antivirus software are frequent suspects. Windows Defender is generally enough for basic protection.
22. Make old PC games behave on Windows 11
Old games can be an absolute fight on a modern PC. The solution is often installing the runtimes and components those games expected years ago. Useful official dependencies to look for include:
- DirectX End-User Runtime Web Installer
- Microsoft XNA Framework
- .NET Desktop Runtime and .NET Framework
- Microsoft Visual C++ Redistributables
- OpenAL
Versions change constantly, so use official sources rather than grabbing random DLL packs from a website that looks like it was built during the Bush administration.
If I want old games with the least hassle possible, I check GOG Galaxy. GOG frequently bundles required installers and community fixes with its classic games. Steam is getting better at compatibility, but some old Steam releases simply do not run cleanly on modern systems. Check user reviews and community posts before buying vintage PC stuff.
21. Skip developer intros and launch videos
One of the great things about PC gaming is access to game files. If a game makes me sit through a pile of logos every time it launches, I can often remove them.
In Steam, right-click a game, choose Properties, select Installed Files, and click Browse. Search the installation folder for files ending in .mp4, .wav, .bik, or .bk2. Many games store intro videos separately. Elden Ring, for example, uses BK2 video files.
Back up files before deleting or renaming anything. Another option is Steam launch parameters. Valve games commonly support -novid, which skips the opening video. For other games, check a trusted mod page or the game’s PCGamingWiki entry first.
20. Start every game with sensible graphics settings
Every game is different, but my first goal is usually a stable 60 FPS rather than setting every single slider to Ultra and acting surprised when the PC starts cooking itself.
- Use DLSS Quality where it is available and works well for your GPU.
- Disable motion blur for a cleaner image and potentially better performance.
- Consider disabling chromatic aberration and vignette if you dislike the effect.
- Use film grain only when it actually improves the game’s intended look.
- On many Unreal Engine 5 games, choose High rather than Ultra global illumination.
The visual difference between High and Ultra is often microscopic, while the performance difference can be very much not microscopic. There is no prize for making a game look 2% nicer while it runs 40% worse.
19. Monitor temperatures with HWiNFO64
I am not getting into overclocking and undervolting here, because that is its own complicated rabbit hole. Overclocking can improve performance, but it can also increase heat and shorten component lifespan. With GPU prices being what they are, I would prefer my graphics card to remain alive.
HWiNFO64 is a lightweight utility packed with hardware information. The useful part for most people is the Sensors section. Monitor GPU and CPU temperatures, look for sudden spikes, and use the information to identify problems before they become expensive.
A temperature spike might point to a troublesome driver update, a need for a fresh driver installation, poor airflow, or ageing CPU thermal paste. It is boring, yes. It is also the kind of boring that can stop a gaming PC from becoming a very expensive space heater.
18. Improve Steam Deck ergonomics with 3D-printed grips
The Steam Deck is already excellent, but it can feel a little small in bigger hands. I found that 3D-printed ergonomic grips that extend farther back make it substantially more comfortable to hold.
You need access to a 3D printer, obviously, but once you have one, this sort of thing becomes dangerously convenient. I have printed monitor stands, phone stands, fridge nonsense, and Steam Deck grips. Designs such as Print Wonders’ ergonomic grips are worth exploring if standard handheld grips feel too short.
17. Use borderless fullscreen for low-latency convenience
For most modern games, I use borderless fullscreen whenever it is available. It makes alt-tabbing less annoying and can provide lower input latency than traditional exclusive fullscreen in modern Windows applications.
If I use an Nvidia GPU, I also check Nvidia Control Panel under Manage 3D settings and the global settings area. The exact options can vary with driver versions and the game itself, so test it. If a specific game acts weird in borderless mode, just use fullscreen. Computers occasionally decide they have principles.
16. Enable laptop desktop recording through the dedicated GPU
Recording game footage on a laptop can be unnecessarily annoying. Nvidia ShadowPlay or the Nvidia overlay may not capture the desktop or games it does not properly recognise, even though the hotkey should be as simple as pressing Alt + F9.
On an Nvidia laptop, open Nvidia Control Panel, find the GPU management settings, select the dedicated Nvidia GPU rather than the integrated graphics option, and apply the change. On some laptops, this unlocks desktop capture, allowing the recorder to capture whatever is on the screen unless the application itself blocks recording.
15. Think carefully before disabling Device Encryption
Device Encryption can affect file transfer performance and may create problems for some Windows installations during updates. Disabling it can improve storage behaviour on certain gaming PCs, particularly where fast NVMe streaming is being throttled.
To find it, go to Settings, then Privacy & security, then Device encryption. But this is another security setting, so do not treat it like a free candy button. Encryption protects data on a lost or stolen machine. Decide based on your actual needs, not because somebody on the internet told you to turn every Windows feature off.
14. Turn on useful Windows gaming settings
Windows hides several settings that are generally worth enabling for PC gaming:
- Optimisations for windowed games under Settings, Display, Graphics
- Hardware-accelerated GPU scheduling in Advanced graphics settings
- Dynamic refresh rate under Advanced display, if supported by the hardware
- Game Mode under Settings, Gaming
Windowed game optimisations can help lower latency and enable features such as Auto HDR and variable refresh rate. Game Mode helps focus system resources on the game rather than background nonsense. The game should be the foreground priority. If it is not, something has gone deeply wrong.
13. Restart to clear a clogged GPU cache
Most people will never need to think about GPU cache clearing. But if I use GPU-heavy editing tools such as Adobe Premiere Pro or DaVinci Resolve, I may eventually find the PC slowing down in a way that makes me wonder whether the GPU is dying.
First, restart the PC. Seriously. Restarting clears the cache and solves a shocking number of issues. If the computer mostly lives in sleep mode, a proper restart every few days is a good habit. It is not glamorous troubleshooting, but it works often enough to be the first thing I try.
Build a better couch, controller, and launcher setup
12. Switch between monitor and TV profiles
I do not always want to sit at a desk. If my PC is connected to both a monitor and a television, switching between them is much easier with separate display and audio profiles.
AutoActions is a free GitHub utility that can create profiles for different display setups and launch programs automatically. I can set up a TV profile that switches audio, display settings, and launches Steam Big Picture, then return to a desktop profile without manually reconfiguring everything.
11. Map keyboard and mouse functions to a controller
Using a keyboard from the couch is a miserable little ritual. JoyXoff is a lightweight controller mapper that lets an Xbox controller mimic mouse and keyboard inputs, so I can navigate Windows, pick games, and deal with launchers without getting up.
It also supports profiles for specific games. That makes it useful for couch gaming, especially when I need a few keyboard functions but do not want an actual keyboard living on my lap.
10. Replace Steam Big Picture with Playnite
Steam is fine. The problem is that my game library is absolutely not just on Steam. Games end up scattered across Epic, GOG, Origin, Battle.net, and whatever other launcher managed to acquire an exclusive this week.
Playnite is a free, open-source library manager that puts those games in one place. It supports major PC launchers and console emulators, making it a fantastic replacement or alternative to Steam Big Picture for a living-room PC setup.
It also helps me avoid buying something on sale only to discover I already own it on a launcher I forgot existed. That alone is a public service.
9. Use DLSS 4 or FSR 3+ where supported
DLSS is one of the best performance tools available on compatible Nvidia GPUs. If a game supports DLSS 4, I would enable it and test the Quality mode first, especially at 4K. The right setup can improve frame rate, image quality, and GPU temperatures at once, which feels a little like cheating.
There are global override tools for forcing newer DLSS support in games that do not officially include it, but that is enthusiast territory. Most people should just use the in-game setting. If I am on AMD hardware, I look for FSR 3+ as the equivalent option.
Do not blindly use community tools to force experimental features. Newer unofficial DLSS unlocks can lead to stability and overheating problems. Better performance is good. Turning the PC into a fire ritual is not.
8. Try path tracing if your PC can handle it
Real-time path tracing is brutally demanding, but it looks incredible when the hardware can run it. In Cyberpunk 2077, path tracing can make the game look like a sequel to itself. Lighting, reflections, and the overall atmosphere jump to another level.
It is not for every system, and even high-end hardware may need aggressive upscaling to make it playable. But if I have the GPU power, it is absolutely worth trying at least once. Prepare for the fans to make their feelings known.
7. Disable Nvidia system fallback policy only if you have VRAM to spare
On systems with integrated graphics and an Nvidia GPU, the system fallback policy can move work to the integrated GPU when VRAM use gets too high. Disabling this setting forces Windows to rely on the selected dedicated GPU, which can help keep textures and assets loading quickly.
This is an advanced tweak. If the game exceeds available VRAM after I disable fallback, it can crash. I only consider it on a GPU with plenty of VRAM.
In Nvidia Control Panel, go to Adjust image settings with preview, choose Use the advanced 3D image settings, follow the link to the advanced settings page, and find the relevant fallback option. Most settings in that menu do not need touching. Respect the menu. It is full of buttons that can make a perfectly normal PC begin acting haunted.
Useful PC gaming resources, shortcuts, and recovery tools
6. Use PCGamingWiki before searching for a giant tutorial
PCGamingWiki is one of the best PC gaming resources on the internet. When a game has a strange technical issue, it is usually the first place I check.
Game pages often include installation paths, save locations, known bugs, fixes, modding information, display support, controller support, and compatibility details. It cuts straight through the endless search for a solution buried halfway through a 50-minute tutorial.
The people contributing their time and technical knowledge to that site are saints. Bookmark it.
5. Track game prices before buying anything
For broad game deal tracking, I use IsThereAnyDeal. It covers PC and console games, multiple storefronts, and key resellers. The important part is setting the filters to match stores I actually trust and use.
For Steam-only price history, SteamDB is excellent. CheapShark is another option for PC deals, while Deku Deals is worth knowing for Nintendo Switch pricing. The best site mostly comes down to where I buy games, but all of them help me avoid paying full price when I absolutely do not have to.
4. Reduce Windows telemetry and background services
Windows telemetry is another part of the operating system that I do not need doing much while I am trying to play a game. It can use background resources, and it exists primarily to send data back to Microsoft, which is not exactly a feature I get excited about.
To disable the Connected User Experiences service, search Windows for Services, open it, find Connected User Experiences and Telemetry, double-click it, press Stop, set Startup type to Disabled, and apply the change.
For broader privacy controls, O&O ShutUp10++ provides access to many Windows sharing and telemetry settings. I use this stuff mainly to cut background processes, not because I believe any one tool turns Windows into an invisible ghost machine.
3. Shake a window to minimise everything else
This one is not strictly gaming-related, but it is useful when I am modding a game and have seventeen folders, a browser, a launcher, a text file, and something else I am afraid to close.
Grab any app by its title bar and shake it. Windows will minimise the other windows. Shake it again to bring them back. If the feature is not enabled, go to Settings, System, and Multitasking to turn it on.
2. Fix a black screen with one keyboard shortcut
Everybody knows Ctrl + Alt + Delete. Another shortcut worth memorising is Windows key + Ctrl + Shift + B.
This restarts the graphics driver and can fix a black screen without restarting the entire PC. It is extremely useful when a display cuts out mid-game and I do not want to lose progress. If black screens keep happening, check for a bad graphics driver update and consider rolling back.
1. Roll back or reinstall a bad Nvidia driver
Bad GPU drivers are never going away. A driver installation can fail, a new release can introduce a problem, or Windows can simply decide it is time to make the display do something alarming.
For Nvidia users, start with the Nvidia app, not Nvidia Control Panel. They are separate programs for reasons that remain beyond me. Open the Drivers tab, find Previously installed drivers, click the three-dot menu next to an older driver, and choose Reinstall.
If that does not solve the problem, a complete driver removal may be necessary. Display Driver Uninstaller is an option for wiping a broken driver installation before manually installing a fresh driver from Nvidia’s official site. That is more work, but sometimes the driver situation is so cursed that a clean reinstall is the only thing left.
PC gaming will always involve a little tinkering. That is part of the deal. But once I know which settings matter, which tools are actually useful, and which shortcuts can save a bad moment, the mess becomes a lot more manageable.
