How to Optimize Your Custom PC for Gaming
Unlock the best performance from your gaming rig with this clear, step-by-step guide. Whether you’ve built your own PC or had it assembled by the custom PC experts at Dave’s Computers NJ, knowing how to optimize your custom PC for gaming can mean the difference between a laggy experience and seamless gameplay. At Dave’s Computers, we help gamers across New Jersey get the most out of their systems, both through hands-on service and remote support. This guide walks you through practical settings, performance adjustments, and advanced tweaks that deliver smoother frame rates and sharper graphics for every game you play.
Enable Game Mode for Faster Performance
One of the simplest ways to get an immediate boost is by enabling Game Mode in Windows.
This built-in feature prioritizes your system’s resources to improve gameplay performance by
limiting background activity and focusing on what matters. Your game.
How to enable Game Mode:
- Click Start, then Settings
- Navigate to Gaming > Game Mode
- Toggle Game Mode On
Once enabled, your system will automatically recognize when you’re running a supported
game and adjust performance settings in the background. It’s a small step that can make a
big impact, especially for games that require consistent frame rates.
For gamers in New Jersey looking for more than just DIY fixes, Dave’s Computers offers remote assistance to configure Game Mode and related settings as part of our guide on how to upgrade your PC for better streaming. We’ve seen firsthand how this simple adjustment can reduce stuttering and improve responsiveness, especially on mid-range systems or older builds that need a bit of a boost.
Boost FPS and Increase Stability with Smart Adjustments
Getting higher FPS (frames per second) is one of the top goals for any PC gamer. A
smoother frame rate doesn’t just make games look better, it also improves your reaction
time and overall experience. The good news? You don’t need to overhaul your entire setup
to boost FPS. A few smart changes can go a long way.
Start with these essential steps:
Update your graphics drivers: Visit the official site for NVIDIA, AMD, or Intel to get the latest version. Updated drivers often include FPS improvements and stability fixes for new games.
Set your system to High Performance: Go to Settings > System > Power & Sleep > Additional Power Settings and select the High Performance plan.
- Close background apps: Shut down programs running in the background that use up CPU, memory, or disk resources—especially browsers, update tools, and chat apps.
- Use GPU optimization tools: Programs like NVIDIA GeForce Experience or AMD
- Adrenalin can auto-adjust graphics settings for better balance between quality and
- speed.
You can also manually adjust in-game graphics settings:
- Lower shadow quality
- Reduce anti-aliasing
- Turn down texture resolution
These changes often have the biggest impact on frame rates without making your game look
blurry or outdated. If you’re using a hard drive instead of an SSD, defragment it regularly to
speed up load times and reduce stuttering during play.
At Dave’s Computers, we’ve helped hundreds of local gamers get more from their current systems through targeted performance enhancements and expert support, as outlined in our guide on workstation vs gaming PC. Whether it’s through remote tweaks or in-shop upgrades, boosting FPS is always part of our custom PC optimization strategy.
Use Hardware-Accelerated GPU Scheduling and GPU Settings
Once you’ve tackled the basics, the next step is to unlock even more gaming performance
by using advanced GPU settings. One standout feature is hardware-accelerated GPU
scheduling, a Windows option that lets your graphics card handle memory management
directly, reducing latency and improving responsiveness.
How to enable GPU scheduling:
1. Go to Settings > System > Display
2. Scroll down and click Graphics Settings
3. Toggle Hardware-accelerated GPU scheduling to On
4. Restart your PC for the change to take effect
Before turning this on, make sure your graphics drivers are up to date. This setting works
best with recent versions from NVIDIA, AMD, and Intel. An outdated driver could cause
issues or reduce performance gains.
This feature works especially well during fast-paced, high-action scenes in games, where
even a slight drop in latency can make gameplay feel smoother. Combine this with your
GPU’s control panel settings (like NVIDIA Control Panel or AMD Radeon Settings) to finetune
render quality, refresh rate, and vertical sync.
Dave’s Computers can help with advanced GPU setup for users who want deeper
customization. If tweaking BIOS or allocating memory sounds overwhelming, our team is just
a phone call away. We provide remote and in-person service across New Jersey to help you
get the most from your GPU.
Lower Your Resolution for Smoother Gameplay
High-resolution displays look amazing, but they can put serious strain on your graphics card,
especially during intense scenes or multiplayer matches. If your system is lagging or your
FPS drops unexpectedly, it might be time to lower your resolution.
Dropping from 4K to 1440p or from 1080p to 900p can free up GPU resources and reduce
input lag. This adjustment is often enough to get smooth, stable performance without a huge
change in visual quality.
Combine resolution tweaks with:
- Enabling Game Mode in Windows
- Lowering in-game settings like effects, post-processing, or draw distance
- Turning off unnecessary overlays (Discord, Steam, etc.)
This combination can transform a choppy experience into a fluid one. It’s especially useful
for fast-paced games like shooters, where consistent frame rates matter more than ultrahigh
detail.
At Dave’s Computers, we regularly help New Jersey gamers balance resolution and
graphics settings for maximum playability. If you’re unsure which resolution your system can
handle comfortably, we offer both remote and on-site help to configure settings that match
your monitor and your rig.
Get Expert Help to Optimize Your Custom PC for Gaming
Gaming performance isn’t just about one-time tweaks. Keeping your custom PC running at
peak performance takes regular maintenance, updates, and configuration reviews. That’s
where Dave’s Computers comes in. We offer remote and managed services tailored to
gamers who want long-term reliability and smooth gameplay.
Our services include:
- Remote troubleshooting and optimization
- Managed system health checks
- Graphics and BIOS configuration
- Windows performance tuning
Whether you’re a solo gamer in need of fast support or part of a business with custom
gaming rigs, we provide expert help at your convenience. With Dave’s Computers, you’ll
spend less time fixing issues and more time playing.
If you’re ready to take your gaming to the next level, contact us today for a system review,
optimization session, or a complete managed services package.
