First, make sure your graphics drivers are up to date.
Keeping them up to date ensures
that your system is running properly,
is in sync with Windows updates,
and fixes current and future bugs.
Navigate to Device Manager
by using the search function on the bottom left corner.
Click "Display adapters" to reveal options.
Right-click on your graphics card.
Select "Update driver."
Continue by selecting "Search automatically for drivers"
and follow the prompts.
Also make sure that your Windows operating system
is updated with the latest changes
to ensure overall compatibility with your drivers and games.
Using the search function, type "updates."
Select "Check for updates."
Complete any updates and restart the computer as needed.
Next, let's adjust our PC settings
for the best gaming performance.
In the search bar, type "advanced system properties."
Select "View advanced system properties."
Navigate to the settings under "Performance."
We'll select "Adjust for best performance."
This should deselect all options below,
all of which are appearance factors
that affect performance,
such as the shadow under the mouse
or animations when you're closing a window.
These are unnecessary during gameplay,
so we'll turn them off
so your PC can perform more efficiently.
I like to select "Show thumbnails instead of icons,"
so I can still see a preview of the files,
and "Smooth edges of screen fonts,"
which keeps fonts smooth for better quality.
Click "Apply."
Use the search bar to search for "notifications."
Select "Notifications & actions settings."
Turn off all notifications,
both to limit distractions during gameplay
and enhance performance.
You can do this by clicking the toggle.
Next, turn off sticky and toggle keys.
Accidentally triggering these functions may be frustrating,
especially if you have to spend time
figuring out why your keystrokes
are not matching up during gameplay.
Search for "ease of access" in the search bar.
Select "Ease of Access keyboard settings."
Under "Use Sticky Keys," toggle the option to off.
Deselect "Allow the shortcut key to start Sticky Keys."
Do the same under "Toggle Keys."
Close any unneeded programs
that may be running in the background,
causing your PC to work harder.
Press on the control, shift, and escape keys.
This will pull up the task manager.
Right-click any programs that are not needed
to run your game and select "End task."
In the same window, navigate to the startup tab.
These are the apps that automatically run at startup,
increasing boot time and running unnecessarily.
Disable any apps that are not needed
by right-clicking on the name and selecting "Disable."
Only change the apps that you're familiar with.
We can also modify settings within the game itself.
Run your game.
Navigate to the settings.
Choose which settings work best for your system.
Generally, a system that has
a good, compatible GPU and CPU
will perform better in a higher-end game's settings.
Finally, opt for an ethernet cord, rather than WiFi,
for more stable connectivity and performance.
Connect your ethernet cord directly to your computer.
You can confirm your connection
at the bottom right corner of your desktop.
With that, you're ready to kick back
and enjoy some gaming.