How to improve computer performance for gaming. How to increase processor performance on a computer? Methods
Even if you have a powerful computer, you are not at all immune from the fact that your games will not slow down. Very often, in order to speed up the game, it is enough to perform a small optimization of the OS - and the games start to “fly”!
In this article I would like to focus on the simplest and most effective ways to speed things up. It is worth noting that the article will not cover the topic of “overclocking” and purchasing new PC components. Because the first is a rather dangerous thing for the computer’s performance, and the second requires money...
1. System requirements and settings in the game
Well, firstly, system requirements are indicated for any game. Many users believe that if the game satisfies what they read on the disc box, then everything is great. Meanwhile, minimum requirements are most often written on disks. Therefore, it is worth paying attention to a small variety of requirements:
- minimum- game requirements necessary to run it at the lowest performance settings;
So, if your PC meets only the minimum system requirements, then set the game settings to the minimum values: low resolution, graphics quality to minimum, etc. It is practically impossible to replace the performance of a piece of hardware with a program!
2. Removing programs that load your computer
It often happens that the game slows down not because there are not enough system requirements for its normal operation, but because another program is running simultaneously with it, heavily loading your system. For example, the anti-virus program on the hard drive is checking (by the way, sometimes such a scan runs automatically on a schedule if you have configured it). Naturally, the computer cannot cope with the tasks and begins to slow down.
If this happens during the game, press the “Win” button (or Cntrl+Tab) - in general, minimize the game and go to the desktop. Then launch the task manager (Cntrl+Alt+Del or Cntrl+Shift+Esc) and see what process or program is loading your PC.
The same applies to the hard drive, on which a large number of temporary files can accumulate. It is recommended to clean the hard drive: .
By the way, many people will also find this post about Windows acceleration useful: .
4. Defragment your hard drive
All files that you copy to your hard drive are written scattered in “pieces”* (the concept is simplified). So, over time, there are more and more of these scattered pieces, and in order to put them together, the computer needs more time. Because of which you may experience decreased performance.
The easiest way is to use the standard Windows feature. Go to “my computer”, right-click on the desired drive, and select “properties”.
Thirdly, for many users it can significantly slow down the work. I recommend disabling it and checking the game's functionality.
Fourth, disable any effects in the OS, for example, Aero: .
Fifth, choose a simple theme, like a classic one. For information on how to change Windows themes and design, see
You also need to go into the hidden settings of the Windows OS. There are many checkboxes that affect the speed of work and which the developers have removed away from prying eyes. To change these settings, special programs are used. They are called tweakers(). By the way, each OS has its own tweaker!
6. Setting up the video card
In this section of the article, we will change the settings of the video card, making it work at maximum performance. We will operate in the “native” drivers without any additional utilities.
As you know, default settings do not always provide optimal settings for each user. Naturally, if you have a new powerful PC, then there is no point in changing anything, because... the games will still “fly” for you. But for the rest, it’s worth looking at what the video card driver developers are offering us to change...
6.1 Ati Radeon
For some reason, it is believed that these cards are better suited for videos and documents, but not for games. Perhaps this was earlier, today they work quite well with games, and they do not have the problem that some old games are no longer supported (a similar effect was observed on some models of Nvidia cards).
Go to settings (it’s best to open them using the “start” menu).
Next, go to the tab 3D(the name may be slightly different in different versions). Here you need to set Direct 3D and OpenLG performance to maximum (just move the slider towards speed)!
It would be a good idea to look into the “special settings”.
This function will allow you to configure many parameters of the Nvidia video card for maximum operating speed. The quality of the picture, of course, will decrease, but games will slow down less, or even stop altogether. For many dynamic games, the number of frames (FPS) is more important than the clarity of the picture itself, which most players will not even have time to pay attention to...
Conclusion
In the article, we looked at the simplest and fastest ways to optimize your computer to speed up games. Of course, no settings or programs can replace new hardware. If you have the opportunity, then, of course, it’s worth upgrading your computer components.
If you know any other ways to speed up games, please share in the comments, I will be very grateful.
Every user has probably noticed that immediately after the first installation the operating system, as they say, flies, but over time it begins to slow down quite a lot. What this is connected with and how to increase it, read on. There are quite a lot of ways to carry out such actions, but we will focus on the most significant ones.
How to test your computer's performance?
First, let's look at how to look at overall performance. You can visually track the load on system resources in the most common “Task Manager”, using the performance tab.
You can also simply sort active processes by maximum load on the central processor or RAM. But the system has another tool that allows you to perform a computer performance test, which, so to speak, will give your device a score. To do this, you need to log into the “Control Panel”, go to the system section and use the corresponding assessment launch item. The results will show multiple scores for the major equipment, but the overall score will be based on the lowest score. If you see that your CPU or RAM scores higher than your hard drive, you might want to consider replacing it.
How to improve computer performance: main directions of action
Now let's see what actions can be taken to make your computer work much faster than it currently does. Among the priority areas, the following can be particularly highlighted:
- installation of more modern hardware;
- reset settings or update BIOS;
- transition to a newer operating system;
- disabling unnecessary services, processes and components;
- installing the latest driver versions;
- use of third party programs.
Replacing hardware and resetting BIOS
Let's start with the hardware components. It is believed that computer performance depends on the type of processor, amount of RAM, graphics accelerator and hard drive access speed.
But you shouldn’t thoughtlessly replace components. For example, if you are going to install a new processor, it should have a speed that is at least 30% faster than the one installed in the system. With lower values, you will not get a noticeable increase in performance, and the computer performance rating will remain at the same level.
You can also add RAM, but you should take into account its type and volume, since the installed memory sticks and their volumes may simply not be supported by the motherboard.
To a lesser extent, computer performance depends on the speed of the hard drive. If you have a hard drive with a rotation speed of 5400 rpm, it is worth replacing it with a disk with 7200 rpm. Even better is to install an SSD drive (provided that the motherboard supports its connection).
The most desperate users, called overlockers, can overclock the processor (fortunately, this can now be done in software rather than physically). But this doesn’t make much sense, since newer generations of CPUs are relatively inexpensive.
Finally, you can install a modern video card, but you will definitely have to fork out money for such equipment, and on laptops it is almost impossible to do this (meaning discrete accelerators).
Another problem may be related to incorrect settings of the primary BIOS input/output system. Among users there are many who like to experiment with such parameters, but due to ignorance, you can set such options that all the hardware will not work correctly. Therefore, as one of the solutions, you can apply a full factory reset.
Installing a new operating system
When it comes to how to improve computer performance, one option may be to change the operating system. If, for example, you are working with Windows XP on a more or less modern PC, you should install at least “seven”. If it works fine, you can switch to Windows 10, since the system requirements are not particularly different.
On computers with 2-core processors in the budget category and 2 GB of RAM, the “ten” works absolutely fine. But immediately after installation, your computer's performance rating will increase.
Disabling unnecessary processes at startup
Now let's talk directly about what tools can be used in Windows systems themselves. You can increase the performance of a computer running Windows 7, for example, quite simply by disabling all unnecessary processes that run along with the system.
To do this, you need to enter the msconfig command in the Run console, and in the configurator itself, go to the startup tab and uncheck all unnecessary processes. You can only leave ctfmon (if it is in the list) - the process responsible for displaying the language bar and changing languages.
In Windows 10, this tab has been moved to the “Task Manager”; there are no checkmarks on processes, but you can disable them using the corresponding button.
Deactivating unused system components
Another solution to how to increase computer performance (the speed of performing any type of operation) is to completely deactivate unused system components. For example, if you are not going to use virtual machines, you do not need to keep the Hyper-V module active; if there is no printer, then the print service can be disabled.
To do this, go to the Programs and Features section of the Control Panel, go to system components, and then deselect unnecessary services in the list. After a restart, performance will increase quite noticeably.
Actions with the hard drive
There may also be something wrong with the hard drive in the system, although there are no obvious irregularities in its operation. But the occurrence of errors can indirectly affect the overall health of the operating system or applications used. Checking and cleaning should be done at least once a week.
Another point is defragmentation. This is the process of organizing files in order to move the most frequently used program files to the fastest areas of the hard drive for faster access. After performing this operation, the time spent on launching programs will be significantly reduced. It is recommended to carry out this procedure at least once a month.
Drivers
When it comes to how to improve your computer's performance, you cannot ignore the issue of updating device drivers. Doing such things manually is absolutely pointless and time-consuming. Therefore, the easiest way is to use automated programs to search for and install updates.
The Driver Booster and DriverPack Solution utilities are recognized as the best. At startup, they scan all installed hardware and then automatically update drivers by going directly to the resources of software developers or device manufacturers. All user participation in this case comes down only to agreeing with the installation.
Using optimizer programs
Finally, specially developed applications can be used to optimize the system. Some programs for testing computer performance can only give scores, others offer online optimization after the test, others are installed on the PC and monitor its condition, accelerating it either automatically in the background or on demand.
Basically, using any type of application will help identify system problems and fix them. But standard programs for checking computer performance are too limited in capabilities, while optimizers can even clean or defragment the system registry (and its size and the presence of incorrect or outdated keys significantly increases the startup of the operating system itself).
Hello dear blog readers. Nowadays, probably every second person has quad-core processors. Of course, if earlier two cores were good, today 4 cores in the system are generally excellent.
But the more cores in the processor, the worse its work with the tasks that we perform on the computer is organized, which means the optimization of the processor leaves much to be desired.
This is mainly due to the fact that not all programs are well designed for multi-core processors, that is, in some applications, programs and games, the main productive power of your processor may simply not be used and is in idle mode.
I think few people are happy with this state of affairs, especially when a demanding game or program slows down on a powerful quad-core processor.
Today we will talk about effective processor optimization using a simple but useful programCPU Control .
To optimize the processor viaCPU Control , we don’t have to overclock it as we did in the article -. By the way, I recommend reading it.
Download the programCPU Control ( ) and launch it. The program is very simple, free and in Russian.
After installation, you will see a shortcut, launch the program and see this window.
Let's start optimizing the processor withCPU Control . By default, the program is turned off. First, go to settings and select Russian language.
Next, select the second processor optimization itemCPU Control — manual .
To select a processor core for a specific task, right-click on the process and select one of the processor cores.
Also, you can select several processes for one core or one process for several cores.
We configure the second (third and fourth) kernel for all other processes.
If a game or some application is slow or performance is clearly not enough.
Try to independently assign all processes except the one that is slowing down to the fourth or second core for processing. And let all the other processor cores take care of one of your tasks.
If you don’t want to dig around and understand the settings, you can simply select the modeauto and see productivity gains.
CPU optimization withCPU Control This is a vital manipulation for all multi-core computers, especially quad-core ones. Of course, after all, the performance increase due to processor optimization withCPU Control can reach one and a half times. On dual-core computers, the increase will also be noticeable, but perhaps less than with 4 cores.
In the case of single-core processorsCPU Control will not be able to do anything, since the program is designed to optimize at least two processor cores.
Does your computer have a single-core processor? Then I recommend that you read this powerful article -. After completing 7 simple steps you will be able toCPU Control will make working on your computer more convenient and faster :)
Now you know how to optimize the processor withCPU Control and get a productivity boost for free, in no more than 5 minutes. By the way, to speed up your multi-core computer as much as possible, I recommend this one. This way you will make your computer work even faster. Also don't forget to subscribe to. This is the only way you can be the first to know about new articles on the blog. That's all for me. I wish you to smile more often and look at the world more positively 😉
Instructions
If the cooling system is efficient enough, you can proceed to overclocking. To do this, go to the BIOS (press the DEL, F2 or F1 key during boot, depending on the board model). Find the characteristics tab. It can be called differently, you can read exactly what it is in the instructions for it.
Final frequency processor is the result of multiplying the bus frequency by the so-called multiplier processor. Accordingly, acceleration processor you can implement by simply increasing the multiplier. However, in most modern ones it is. The exceptions are AMD's Black series and Intel's Extreme series processors, in which the multiplier value can be changed.
Please note
The operation of increasing processor performance beyond that stated by the manufacturer is called “overclocking.” This should be done with caution, since overclocking the processor leads to increased heat generation and increased load on many computer systems. Before you start overclocking, make sure that the cooling fans are working properly and providing the required level of cooling. If the processor temperature in normal mode exceeds 50 degrees, overclocking it without upgrading the cooling system is contraindicated.
In most cases, you should not increase the processor frequency by more than 20 percent of the nominal frequency.
When purchased, your personal computer is not running at maximum power. But you can independently, without the help of a professional programmer, increase performance your PC.
Instructions
To increase performance computer, you need to “overclock” the processor. You can perform this operation through the BIOS. Restart the operating system and click the “Delete” button. In the menu that appears, you need to find the option that is responsible for the memory frequency. Most often, this section is called Advanced Chipset Features or POWER BIOS Features; if your PC does not have this name, then check the instructions for the name of the section responsible for memory timings.
Set the minimum value. This is necessary in order to avoid failure when overclocking the processor. Now find the AGP/PCI Clock option in the BIOS of your personal computer and set the value to 66/33 MHz.
Open POWER BIOS Features. It is responsible for the FSB frequency (for the speed of the processor). Start increasing the value by 10 MHz. Save the settings and reboot the system. Using the CPU-Z program, check the stability of the processor. If everything is functioning normally, then increase the frequency by another 10 MHz. Perform this procedure until the normal operation of the processor is disrupted. After that, reduce the value by 10 MHz and save.
To increase performance your personal computer, you need to defragment the disk. Go to “Start” - “All Programs” - “Accessories” - “System Tools” and select the “File Defragmenter” application. Specify the required virtual disk partition and click the “Defragment” button.
You can improve the quality of your computer by using Disk Cleanup. Go to “My Computer”, right-click on the desired virtual disk and open “Properties”. Click on the “Disk Cleanup” link.
Video on the topic
When working on a computer, users often encounter situations where the processor is overloaded. The image on the screen is redrawn extremely slowly, programs work very slowly. To make work comfortable again, it is necessary to find and eliminate the causes of excessive processor load.
Instructions
Increased processor load can be caused by a variety of reasons, ranging from autoloading of unnecessary programs to errors in the operating system. To identify the cause of incorrect computer operation, open the Task Manager (Ctrl + Alt + Del), look at the overall processor load and its load on specific processes.
More often than not, one process is causing the overload. Determine which program it belongs to, and if the process is not needed, close it. The operating system itself will not stop critical processes, so don’t be afraid of ruining anything. As a last resort, you will simply have to restart your computer.
If you cannot understand from the name of the process which program or service it belongs to, use the AnVir Task Manager or Everest (Aida64) programs. Open the list of processes in one of these programs, find the one that is loading the processor and look at the path to the executable file. Having determined what it is, you can already decide what to do with it - leave it, replace it, or delete it.
Increased processor load can be caused by a large number of programs loaded when the computer starts. Many installed programs tend to register themselves in startup without the user's permission, so regularly check the startup list and remove unused programs. To uninstall, use the Everest program: launch it, open the “Startup” section and remove unnecessary programs.
To remove programs from startup, you can use the standard msconfig utility. In Windows XP, open: “Start - Run”, enter the msconfig command and click “OK”. In Windows 7, open: Start and type msconfig into the search bar. In the window that opens, select the “Startup” tab and uncheck unnecessary programs and save the changes.
In order to speed up the operating system, disable unnecessary services: “Start - Control Panel - Administrative Tools - Services”. Find information on which services can be disabled in your OS version on the Internet.
One of the most annoying causes of excessive CPU usage is an operating system error. In this case, in the Task Manager, the main processor load falls on the System line. This sometimes happens with unlicensed versions of the OS and their “modified” assemblies. After starting, such a system can work normally, but at some point the processor load jumps to 100% and does not decrease. The best option in this case is to replace the defective OS with its working version.
Sometimes the antivirus program causes high CPU usage. If this happens temporarily, with peak load up to 80-90%, then everything is fine. But if your antivirus constantly and excessively loads your system, replace it with another one.
A slow-running computer can irritate even a very calm person. It is not necessary to replace a slow machine with a new one - just find out which component is reducing its performance and carry out the upgrade.
Instructions
There are two reasons for poor performance computer: Insufficient processing power of the processor and too little random access memory (RAM). The second of these reasons reduces speed work indirectly: when a resource-intensive application that is not running is running, it begins to use the hard drive for temporary data storage. This process is called swapping. Data exchange with a hard drive is much slower than with RAM. To determine what exactly needs to be upgraded, pay attention to the hard drive activity indicator. If the “braking” of the machine is accompanied by active access to the drive, it is necessary to increase the amount of RAM, and if not, replace the processor.
Do not resort to increasing productivity using methods that are harmful to the equipment. If the processor is overclocked, it will overheat. This does not mean that it will fail immediately, but its reliability will be significantly reduced. Often overclocked processors fail users within one to two years. Also, do not create swap partitions (on Linux) or swap files (on Windows) on a flash drive. It works faster than a hard drive, but is still slower than RAM, and active rewriting of information in the same cells causes intense wear on the drive.
Before going to the store or market, carefully write down the name of the motherboard. Tell it to the seller, then say what exactly you want to buy: memory modules (DIMMs) or a processor. In the second case, also buy high-quality thermal paste. Before upgrading, unplug the machine. Simply switching it to standby mode is not enough: some nodes, in particular memory modules, can be supplied with power in this mode. To remove a memory module, move the latches to the side, and to install it, insert it with the correct side into the grooves in the latches and press it. The latches will close automatically. Replace the processor, if you have never done it before, entrust it to a specialist. A misaligned heatsink or incorrect application of thermal paste can damage an expensive component. If you changed or added RAM modules, check them for errors using Memtest.
Inexperienced users may mistake the low speed of data exchange with the global network as “slowing down” the computer itself. To increase it, change your provider or upgrade to a more expensive tariff plan (within your capabilities). It must be unlimited. Sometimes equipment can also be a limiting factor; for example, replacing an EDGE modem with a 3G modem if there are base stations of the appropriate standard will significantly increase the data transfer speed.
So that he? File fragmentation is a very common occurrence when working with the Windows operating system, especially if there is a frequent process of writing to or deleting files from the disk. As a result of this process, different parts of the same file may end up in different places on the hard drive, and the operating system spends more time accessing the file, which affects overall performance.
The process of defragmentation - organizing the structure of files into - helps speed up the computer's performance in terms of reading information. Defragmentation can be performed either by standard operating system programs or by third-party programs.
A less common problem, but one that does occur, is registry defragmentation. The Windows registry is the place where programs and the operating system itself store important data, various settings, and so on. The registry is essentially several operating system files. Registry defragmentation comes down to organizing the structure of these files on the hard drive in such a way that the computer cannot read the information.
The operating system has a master file table (MFT). This table stores information about all files on the hard drive. MFT has a fixed size, and there can be a lot of files on the disk. If you frequently delete files and then add them again, a situation arises where the MFT becomes fragmented. If such a problem occurs, the computer begins to slow down due to difficult access to the main file table. In these cases, it is recommended to delete unnecessary files. These files include:
1. Temporary Internet files (cache, cookies, log, history)
2. Various temporary program files
3. Operating system temporary files
You need to delete such files with an understanding of what is at stake. Accidentally deleting an important file may prevent Windows from booting the next time. Most often, in this case, they resort to the help of special programs.
Computer performance may be reduced due to viruses. To fix this problem, it is recommended to use any antivirus program.
If you notice that yours is, then begin measures to improve its performance. Competent and timely implementation of the actions described above is the key to normal and fast operation of your computer.
Video on the topic
Today we will look at a hot topic - how to increase PC speed. How can a computer drive any person crazy at the moment of an incomprehensible freezing or slowdown? It would seem that nothing significant is running, but the computer begins to think and think. And then all sorts of thoughts arise: “after all, I don’t do anything like that, why such brakes?” It can also happen when the computer freezes even in browsers, or in office applications that have never loaded the computer.
So, let’s move on to ways that will help you increase your computer’s performance.
1. Replacement of components
One of the easiest ways is to replace parts of your computer. First, you need to figure out which part or group of parts (components) should be replaced to obtain maximum PC performance.
1.1. CPU You need to change it if the frequency of the new one is 30 percent higher. Otherwise, you will not experience a significant increase in productivity. There are people like extreme sports enthusiasts who try to overclock their processor. This method, of course, is not suitable for everyone, but, nevertheless, by following it, the frequency can be increased, thereby increasing the performance and speed of the computer. Overclocking is possible if the motherboard and processor have overclocking potential. However, it must be remembered that a part that is overclocked will last less than it would in its normal state. In general, the topic of overclocking is very broad, and we will dwell on this for now.
1.2. Hard drive, or also called a hard drive. Here we focus on the speed of hard drives, not their capacity. If you have a hard drive from an economical series with a low spindle speed of about 5400 rps, then it would be advisable to replace it with a hard drive with a speed of 7200 rps. Such a replacement will definitely increase the performance of your computer. You can also replace your hard drive with an SSD drive, believe me, the speed will increase tenfold.
1.3. RAM. When almost all of the RAM is loaded while working at the computer, it definitely needs to be added or replaced. The RAM load can be seen in the Task Manager; if the memory is approximately 80% full, then I recommend increasing it by 50-100%.
1.4. Video card. Here we think everything is clear. If you choose for games, we advise you to find a powerful video card, not forgetting about compatibility with the central processor.
Which part is exactly pulling your computer down can be seen in the system configuration. To do this, go to Start - Control Panel - System, find “Rate performance” and click. The overall performance of your computer is determined by the smallest indicator, thanks to which you can determine the weak part of the computer. For example, if the evaluation of the processor differs significantly from the evaluation of the hard drive and RAM, then you need to think about replacing such a part with a newer one, and therefore more productive.
2. Computer cleaning, repair
The computer may freeze and slow down due to some kind of malfunction. Naturally, routine repairs can help increase the performance of your computer. For example, poor cooling of critical PC parts will lead to a drop in the performance of the entire computer. In this case, thoroughly clean the entire system unit from dust and other things.
3. Defragmentation
If you haven’t done defragmentation for a long time, then you definitely need to do it, because it greatly affects the performance of the computer and the boot speed of the system. During defragmentation, all scattered fragments of various files on the disk are collected into one whole, thereby reducing the strain on the read head in the hard disk. After you do defragmentation, performance will increase to some extent. By the way, to carry out defragmentation you need to have about 30% of free space on your local disk. Also, do not forget to monitor your system disk: if there is less than 1 GB of free space left on it, then do not wonder why your computer is slowing down so much. Do not save large files (movies, games, etc.) to your desktop, as this will clog up the C:\ drive.
4. Viruses
Viruses can also affect system performance, and this is a fact. They can slow down your PC, or even stop it altogether. If your computer spontaneously takes a significant amount of time to boot, then you must first scan it with antiviruses or scanners, for example DrWeb CureIt!. However, of course, it is better to initially have a good antivirus, for example Nod 32 or DrWeb. We scanned the system, found the virus and removed it!
5. Use of special optimizer programs
Using programs designed to optimize the operating system, you can significantly increase system performance. There are a lot of programs, however, having tried many optimizers, we would recommend AeroTweak, PCMedic, Auslogics BoostSpeed or Ccleaner. All these programs are functional and effective, which is the most important thing in our case.
I also want to note that almost all of these software have the function of disabling certain programs during loading. So, it is better to remove programs that you practically do not use from startup for faster operation of your PC.
Remember, before each dubious manipulation, be sure to create a system restore point.
In Windows 7, you can also increase performance on your own by changing the graphical interface. Go to Start - Control Panel - System - Advanced - Settings. Here we find “Ensure the best performance” and select.
6. Selecting an operating system
Do you really like Windows XP? However, I can say one thing - it’s time to switch to seven, believe me, it’s worth it. If, of course, your computer settings allow it. If you have 2 Gigabytes of RAM, then don’t hesitate to change the operating system to Windows 7. If the RAM is 4 GB or more, then install Windows 7 64-bit version. In this case, the system speed will increase, provided that you work in 64-bit programs.
I do not recommend using various Windows builds for your computer, such as Beast or different Pandas. They are loaded with tons of unnecessary programs, which, as time-tested, glitch and freeze, as a result of which PC performance drops.
7. Reinstalling Windows XP/7
Reinstalling the operating system is like a drastic decision. After reinstallation, performance will definitely increase significantly. The more dirty the old system was, the faster the computer with the new system will work. It’s just that the operating system is designed in such a way that it needs to be reinstalled over time. There are people, even friends, who reinstall their system several times a month. Everyone has their own needs, but we would recommend reinstalling Windows at least once every six months. In short, reinstalling the operating system will increase the speed and performance of your computer.
In this article, we tried to explain as clearly as possible what methods can be used increase computer speed. We believe this article will save you time.