Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors2Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches3Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsTo improve PC gaming performance, first identify whether the problem is low frame rate, stutter, or delayed controls; then change one relevant setting at a time. Check the game’s requirements, background load, memory, drivers, graphics options, display settings, and heat before buying hardware. No single adjustment guarantees an FPS gain: results depend on the game, PC, settings, and display.
Start by identifying what feels wrong
Low FPS, uneven frame pacing, and delayed input can feel similar while having different causes. Note which game is affected, when the problem occurs, and whether it started after a software, settings, or hardware change. Test one adjustment at a time so you can tell what helped.
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- Low FPS: the game consistently produces fewer frames than you want.
- Stutter or choppiness: motion is uneven, sometimes despite a reasonable average frame rate.
- Input delay: actions take too long to appear on screen; system latency and display settings may matter.
Steam notes that detailed diagnosis varies with each hardware and software configuration. Its guidance is a useful starting point, not a promise that the same fix works for every PC: Steam Support’s software troubleshooting guide.
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1. Check the game’s system requirements
Compare the game’s published requirements with your PC’s CPU, GPU, memory, and operating system. Minimum requirements do not guarantee high frame rates or smooth play; demanding settings may call for more capable hardware. If the game has a performance problem that began suddenly, also consider what changed rather than assuming the PC is simply too weak.
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2. Close unnecessary apps before launching
Browsers, launchers, recording tools, and other applications can compete with a game for CPU time and memory. Close only software you recognize and do not need during play. Do not use a generic “debloat” recipe or terminate security software and unfamiliar system processes.
3. Reduce unnecessary startup programs
Programs that launch with Windows can consume resources even when you are not using them. Review startup apps in Windows settings or Task Manager and disable only apps you understand and do not need to start automatically. This reduces background load; it does not guarantee a particular frame-rate increase.
4. Check memory use before buying RAM
Open Task Manager while the game is running and check memory usage. When available RAM is insufficient, Windows may move data to disk, which can noticeably affect performance. If memory use is consistently near capacity, closing apps may help; consider a RAM upgrade only after confirming your system supports it and that memory pressure is part of the problem. Steam also notes that some video options, including detail settings and HDR, can require additional memory.
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5. Update relevant device drivers
Check official support pages for your PC or component maker for applicable CPU, graphics, and audio driver updates. Use the driver intended for your exact device and operating system; do not rely on third-party “driver booster” utilities or assume the newest driver is always the right remedy. Steam recommends checking these drivers as an early troubleshooting step, but a driver update is not a universal FPS fix.
6. Lower graphics settings that tax the system
Try reducing demanding in-game options such as resolution, shadows, effects, or other visual details, then compare the same scene. Lowering resolution can help when the GPU is the limiting factor, but it makes the image less sharp. Change a few settings at a time and keep the visual quality you prefer.
7. Use resolution changes as a diagnostic
If lowering resolution does not improve frame rate, the GPU may not be the main limit; CPU performance or another constraint could be involved. This is a clue, not a definitive diagnosis. Steam’s hardware guidance explains that performance can be limited by different components depending on the system and game: Steam Support’s hardware troubleshooting guide.
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8. Confirm the game is using the intended graphics processor
On a laptop or a PC with both integrated and discrete graphics, check the game’s graphics preference in Windows or the graphics software supplied for the system. Select the higher-performance GPU for the game if that option is available and appropriate. Labels and paths vary by Windows and driver version, so use the device maker’s instructions rather than assuming every PC has the same controls.
9. Set a refresh rate the monitor supports
In Windows, open Settings > System > Display > Advanced display and choose a refresh rate listed for the display. The choices depend on the monitor and resolution. A higher refresh rate does not make the GPU render more frames by itself, but it can let the display show motion more frequently when the PC can supply frames. See Microsoft’s instructions for changing the refresh rate.
10. Check variable refresh rate support
Variable refresh rate (VRR) can help synchronize a compatible display’s refresh with the frames produced by the PC. It requires support from the display and the relevant hardware and software configuration. Check the monitor’s specifications and Windows or graphics settings; do not assume VRR is available on every screen. In some games, VRR can affect whether you need to select a refresh rate manually.
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11. Try Windows 11 windowed-game optimization when it applies
Microsoft’s windowed-game optimization is for compatible DirectX 10 and DirectX 11 games running in windowed or borderless-windowed mode. On Windows 11, open Settings > System > Display > Graphics > Optimizations for windowed games, enable the option if available, and restart the game. Microsoft says the feature moves compatible presentation to flip-model, reducing frame latency and enabling features such as VRR on supported screens. It is not a universal switch for all games or display modes. Details: Microsoft’s Windows 11 windowed-game guidance.
12. Enable a game’s supported latency option
Look in the game’s graphics or display settings for a low-latency option and consult the game’s own description. NVIDIA recommends Reflex Low Latency where a supported game and hardware context provide it. This is a vendor-specific feature, not a setting available to every player. NVIDIA’s guide explains its scope and related settings: NVIDIA’s system-latency guide.
13. Avoid stacking advanced latency tweaks blindly
Driver-level or low-level options may interact with the game’s own settings and hardware. Start with ordinary in-game and Windows controls; change an advanced option only when its documentation says it applies to your setup, and reverse it if results worsen. NVIDIA cautions that advanced tweaks are situational and can reduce performance.
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14. Check for heat-related throttling
If performance drops during longer sessions, check whether temperatures rise and clocks fall using a trusted monitoring tool appropriate for your PC. A slowdown under sustained load can be consistent with thermal throttling, but temperature alone is not proof of a fault. Steam and Microsoft both identify cooling and ventilation as relevant to gaming performance.
15. Improve airflow only when the system needs it
Keep vents unobstructed, use a hard surface for a laptop, and clean dust according to the manufacturer’s instructions. Check that fans work and that the PC has adequate clearance. A cooling accessory is not a universal fix: match any change to the system design and confirm that heat or airflow is actually a constraint.
16. Match a monitor upgrade to your PC
A higher-refresh-rate monitor is useful only if the PC and games can deliver a frame rate that takes advantage of it. Match native resolution to the GPU’s capability, check refresh rate against reliably sustained game FPS, confirm VRR and connection compatibility, and account for viewing distance and cost. Microsoft’s April 9, 2026 Windows guidance gives 144 Hz at 1080p as an example starting point for competitive play and 165 Hz at 1440p as a common balance; these are illustrations, not required targets or tested performance gains. Read Microsoft’s Windows gaming hardware guidance.
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17. Upgrade a component only after finding the limit
Use the symptom and tests above to identify the likely constraint before spending money. If GPU rendering is the limit, compare a graphics card with the resolution and frame rate you want; if memory is consistently exhausted, check compatible RAM capacity; if heat is limiting performance, address the system’s cooling design. A component upgrade cannot be justified from a general “low FPS” complaint alone.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.When should you stop changing settings?
Stop when the game is stable at the image quality, frame rate, and responsiveness you find acceptable. If a change makes no discernible difference, revert it before testing another. If the same problem persists, record the game, settings, system specifications, and when the slowdown occurs; those details are more useful for targeted support than applying multiple “boost” tweaks at once.
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