In this guide, I’ve compiled essential tips to boost your computer’s gaming performance.
Most of these settings apply to Windows 10 and 11, with several still relevant for Windows 7.
Even if you aren’t a gamer, these tweaks help free up system resources (CPU and RAM) for daily tasks.
BEFORE YOU START: Create a system restore point. If anything goes wrong, you can easily revert these changes.
1. Power Plan and Performance
Search for “Choose a power plan” in the start menu and select High Performance. Additionally, click on “Choose what the power buttons do” and uncheck Turn on fast startup and Hibernate.
This ensures the system utilizes maximum hardware capacity and saves disk space.
2. Gaming and Background App Optimization
Under Settings > Gaming, disable the Xbox Game Bar and automatic audio captures. Also, check “Startup Apps” and disable anything non-essential.
The fewer apps running in the background, the more RAM and CPU are available for your game.
3. Advanced Debloating (Extreme Tweaks)
For those seeking a deep clean of telemetry and useless services, run PowerShell as an administrator and execute the following code:
iwr -useb https://christitus.com/win | iexWhat happens “under the hood” when you run a Debloat script?
As an IT professional, I never recommend running scripts without understanding their impact.
Tools like Windows10Debloater work on three main fronts to transform your system performance:
- Telemetry Removal: The script disables services that constantly send usage data to Microsoft. This reduces network overhead and prevents the “100% Disk Usage” bug that often plagues older hardware.
- Start Menu Cleanup: It removes pre-installed “junk” (bloatware like Disney+ or third-party trials) that Windows tries to sneak into your installation.
- Service Optimization: By disabling non-essential features like Cortana or OneDrive (if unused), you can free up over 500MB of RAM right at boot time.
🛠️ Network Admin Tip
If you manage multiple machines (like I do in my HomeLab), I suggest using the “Custom Blocklist” option. This allows you to keep essential apps (like the Calculator or Photo Viewer) while stripping away the corporate clutter. Remember: fewer running services mean a smaller attack surface for potential threats.
4. Network Bandwidth (Steam Tweak)
In Steam, go to Settings > Downloads and uncheck “Allow downloads during gameplay.” This prevents high ping and lag spikes during your online matches.
Don’t forget that hardware upgrades like adding an extra RAM stick for Dual Channel or swapping your HDD for an SSD are the most effective ways to modernize an old machine.
Need to backup your files before upgrading?
Don’t risk losing data—use Robocopy for high-performance backups. Check out my guide on essential Robocopy switches here.