The 'How to get BETTER gaming performance' thread

[Lozza]

Post your personal ideas and tips if you have any here : )

I've had a lot of problems with my computer lately with heaps of lag in many games. So I looked all over the internet and found some things that worked for me Doing these actions will give you a minor change but this is mostly for people that are experiencing problems.

So here it is!

1. If you have had to wait a long time to load up games I suggest you run a defrag. Your computer should already come with a program called Disk Defragmenter. Defrag writes all of your changed files into the same strip to make it easier for your computer to locate and process. De-fragmenting can take up to HOURS. So do it before you go to bed. (Defrag is not needed regularly, you may only need to do it once a year. It probably won't give you a bigger frame rate. But just do it, its good for your computer anyway.)


2. If you disable hyper-threading, you should get a better rate of texture processing. Sometimes turning it off can be bad for your computer. To turn it off, restart your computer, hold down delete on startup and enter the BIOS. You can turn it off through there. If you don't know if you should turn it off or on, read this -http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hyper-threading

NOTE: Turning hyper-threading off is great if you have the game GTA IV, because GTA IV needs a big memory benchmark, you can get a high benchmark by turning it off.


3. Most new motherboards come with a program that you can install (from your motherboard support disc) called 'Turbo Key', basically it overclocks your CPU to the max at a safe rate. So turn it on if you have one : D


4. If you have 'lots' of games you don't use, uninstall them, makes your computer easier to deal with. Try set a limit to how many games you have, or put them on a portable hard disk and play them from there.


5. If you have portable USB thats not in use, put it in your computer, rick click on the usb from computer. Some usbs come with a program called 'readyboost', it boost's your memory processing by storing memory files on the usb instead of in the computer. (I think thats what it does, but its still good to do).

Mswf addon

Readyboost is only useful if you're using hardware that's fairly old, so that Vista can't run on it's full speed (like old hardware that meets the speed and memory specs, but not the reading times). If you've got an okay set-up of hardware, Readyboost may probably slow down you're computer more than speed it up.



Using ReadyBoost-capable flash memory (NAND memory devices) for caching allows Windows 7 and Vista to service random disk reads with performance that is typically 80-100 times faster than random reads from traditional hard drives.


6. Before you start a computer game- Do control+alt+delete. Then go task manager, then go to processes. If there are any unwanted programs in use, such as MSN/bluetooth/itunesupdate, just end the process. By doing this you while have more free RAM.


7. This is a very SERIOUS solution so you must know what you are doing or your computer could explode... literally. If you have a really low end graphics card you can overclock it.

Watch this video if you like. But make sure you know what your doing!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m9wWSBzZ2x8

I heard by doing this you can play Crysis full graphics on an Nvidia Geforce 8600 GT (which is a bad gfx card).


8. Check for updates of your video card driver.

To do this, use one of the following methods:

Contact the manufacturer of your video adapter to obtain and install the latest version of the driver for your video adapter.

Contact the manufacturer of the sound card to obtain and install the latest version of the driver for the sound card.


9. Adjust your computers visuals to get better graphics and processing.

Click Start, right-click Computer, click Properties, and then click Advanced system settings. On the Advanced tab, click Settings under Performance. On the Visual Effects tab, click Adjust for best performance, and then click OK.

NOTE: This will make your computer task bar look bad, but who cares, you have no one to impress.

10. Last but not least, Do a disk cleanup.

Click Start, right click Computer, click properties, and then click disk cleanup.
Wait for it to calculate your disc.
Then tick every single box. (or what ever ones you want)

For Vista go to more options, then clean up you system restore and shadow copies. (
For Windows 7 click on 'clean up system files', more options, then clean up you system restore and shadow copies.
Now you should have more Hard drive space.

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Top 5 things that affect Framerate.

1. Anti Aliasing
2. Ambient Occlusion (SSAO, HBAO)
3. Shaders
4. Lighting
5. Depth of Field, other Post-Processing effects

(added my Vf501)

Most of these tips were from what I knew at the top of my brain, for more go to-

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/815069

Thanks for reading, this took me a while

Hope this helps. Especially for the people who play Grand Theft Auto IV.

[501st_commander]

(This is sort-of a revise of a few things)

@all overclock items.
you have to make sure you have a very good power supply to support that type of thing. Or you computer will explode (or overheat and crash).

8. You can also go to the manufacturers website. For NVIDIA graphics, got to http://nvidia.com

10. open Computer and right-click the main hard drive (normaly C) and click properties.
In Windows XP, you do the same thing. But Computer is named My Computer. At the moment, i dont think you cant right-click computer and do it there.


11.
The final thing you can do is get another harddrive to put the games on. Make sure you have a multi-hard drive compatible motherboard (search this). Then go find a 7200RPM+ HD. Dont get this at wal-mart.. go look at Best Buy or Office Depot. You must know What you have to be doing before you start this setp.

Edit:
fixed major typing fail

[mswf]

May I "ad" something to your list too?
5. Readyboost
Readyboost is only useful if you're using hardware that's fairly old, so that Vista can't run on it's full speed (like old hardware that meets the speed and memory specs, but not the reading times). If you've got an okay set-up of hardware, Readyboost may probably slow down you're computer more than speed it up.

[Twilight_Warrior]

There's also a free program called "Game Booster" that automatically shuts down unnecessary tasks with one click (don't worry, not your firewall. You can pick and choose which ones it shuts down before hand), defrags individual games (so you don't spend hours waiting for an improvement), and intensifies processor performance (that's what the program said, not me, I can't prove that statement).

Using it alone, I was able to up the graphics a bit on all of my games that weren't already maxed out, and it improved my multiplayer performance, too.

[Lozza]

There's also a free program called "Game Booster" that automatically shuts down unnecessary tasks with one click (don't worry, not your firewall. You can pick and choose which ones it shuts down before hand), defrags individual games (so you don't spend hours waiting for an improvement), and intensifies processor performance (that's what the program said, not me, I can't prove that statement).

Using it alone, I was able to up the graphics a bit on all of my games that weren't already maxed out, and it improved my multiplayer performance, too.

Thats almost like PC Booster.... but does it opimize your HD and memory settings aswell?

[Twilight_Warrior]

There's also a free program called "Game Booster" that automatically shuts down unnecessary tasks with one click (don't worry, not your firewall. You can pick and choose which ones it shuts down before hand), defrags individual games (so you don't spend hours waiting for an improvement), and intensifies processor performance (that's what the program said, not me, I can't prove that statement).

Using it alone, I was able to up the graphics a bit on all of my games that weren't already maxed out, and it improved my multiplayer performance, too.

Thats almost like PC Booster.... but does it opimize your HD and memory settings aswell?

According to the website, while its running, it closes down "unnecessary Windows services," and directs more CPU and RAM to the game. It's not like PC Booster in the fact that you run it every time before you start your game, then turn it off when you are done gaming. It doesn't overclock any hardware, it's just a simple tool for PC beginners to improve gaming performance and speed.

[fasty]

I use it every time I play a game. It usually lowers my RAM by about 100 mb.

[Lozza]

If you want me to add something to this list feel free to comment and ill edit my post, I really do hope this is helpful to some people (I'm obsessed with that nodding smiley)

[Teancum]

Defragging is seriously overrated. I defrag maybe once a year... maybe once. And it's terribly inefficient now. Drives are too large to not have to leave your PC alone for 12-24 hours, and even then file access is the only increase you get. Long story short your game *might* load faster but you don't get a framerate increase. And if you uninstall/reinstall stuff all the time logic would say you need to defrag often to line up your files in the most efficient way. (Which I do a lot, and yet get no increase on a defrag)

HERE is a great article on the reality of a Defrag. Unless you're running a third-party defrag program (I.E. not part of Windows) you'll get MAYBE a 10% performance increase at best.

Defrag is not worth it -- Ever -- unless you use a third party app built solely for that purpose. I've been tech support 10+ years, and it's the most overrated "solution" I've ever seen.

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As for suggestions, I have two:

1-Don't expect to get off clean on pirated games/software. Make no mistake, the vast majority of crack or serial programs have malware - be it a keylogger, trojan, virus, spyware in general, they've got em'. Just ask yourself - do I need it? If so is there a free alternative program I can use?

2-That being said, when you need an app, go to http://www.freewaregenius.com/ FIRST. This is by far the best site I've found for quality, clean software. Music players, disc utilities, conversion tools, all sorts of crazy stuff that's awesome. I check in on it every couple'a weeks just to see what's new.

[Lozza]

Defragging is seriously overrated. I defrag maybe once a year... maybe once. And it's terribly inefficient now. Drives are too large to not have to leave your PC alone for 12-24 hours, and even then file access is the only increase you get. Long story short your game *might* load faster but you don't get a framerate increase. And if you uninstall/reinstall stuff all the time logic would say you need to defrag often to line up your files in the most efficient way. (Which I do a lot, and yet get no increase on a defrag)


What really irks me about Defrag is that someone who knows nothing about computers (but thinks they do) feel like Defrag should give a performance increase.

I know but it is good if people had no idea about defrag, if they have had their computer for a long time and never did it, then this could be useful, I'd add what you just said though... Its not only good for games, but for your computer aswell.

[CodaRez]

In-game options:

1. Compromise resolution. Lower monitor resolution on games that allow it. Especially (I believe) on PlayStation-port-to-PC games such as TFU:USE or Assassin's Creed, lowering the resolution from max (say laptop 1280 x 900-ish) to something slightly smaller (1024 x 769 or for a HUGE compromise, 800 x 600) will overall produce amazing performance (or free up power to increase other ingame settings), at the cost of what; edgier font? smaller view? You can still clearly see all within the image (maybe even better if it does free up RAM for the other graphic options, where it normally does)

2. Anti-aliasing is a no-no most of the time. Disabling will result in massive performance freedom.

[Twilight_Warrior]

Actually, my experience with screen resolution isn't pretty.
It might have just been too extreme of a jump, but whenever I use 800x600 on my 1920x1080 moniter, the game crashes.
But yes, turning down your settings will improve performance greatly. Especially in multiplayer. I'd rather my computer focus entirely on retrieving client data so I'm not lagging instead of attempting to perfectly render light bloom and grass effect for my own veiwing purposes. Give yourself SOME luxury in single player (if your computer can handle it with minimal effort), but put everything lower for multiplayer.

[VF501]

Few tips on game settings

Game Render Resolution is tied to your Graphics Card framebuffer, the amount of dedicated memory (VRAM) that the Graphics card has. The framebuffer also affects your texture settings. A large framebuffer of 796MB-1GB will allow you to max textures and run at 1920x1080. This is because Frames that are finished rendering are stored in the VRAM until passed through the RAMDAC and to your screen.

Most new games ported from Console to PC have barely any graphics options now days and there isn't much difference between High and Low settings except for Lighting/Shaders/Textures. These kind of ports tend to be CPU bound. So you might as well play on Med-High, Battlefield Bad Company 2 is an example of this.

Unless your hardware is pretty outdated or just plain crap for games, there is no reason to disable Windows Visual effects, the RAM/CPU overhead is barely noticeable.

If you have 4GB or more RAM, Gamebooster is pointless. The game will only address 2GB max (unless it is coded otherwise) and the other RAM will go towards the OS, so the game won't care if you freeup 100MB of the system RAM.


Top 5 things that affect Framerate.

1. Anti Aliasing
2. Ambient Occlusion (SSAO, HBAO)
3. Shaders
4. Lighting
5. Depth of Field, other Post-Processing effects

Turning any one of these available lower or off can net you increases in the 10-40 FPS range which is worth it. Model/Texture based settings only have major effects on lower end systems.

[Lozza]

Few tips on game settings

Game Render Resolution is tied to your Graphics Card framebuffer, the amount of dedicated memory (VRAM) that the Graphics card has. The framebuffer also affects your texture settings. A large framebuffer of 796MB-1GB will allow you to max textures and run at 1920x1080. This is because Frames that are finished rendering are stored in the VRAM until passed through the RAMDAC and to your screen.

Most new games ported from Console to PC have barely any graphics options now days and there isn't much difference between High and Low settings except for Lighting/Shaders/Textures. These kind of ports tend to be CPU bound. So you might as well play on Med-High, Battlefield Bad Company 2 is an example of this.

Unless your hardware is pretty outdated or just plain crap for games, there is no reason to disable Windows Visual effects, the RAM/CPU overhead is barely noticeable.

If you have 4GB or more RAM, Gamebooster is pointless. The game will only address 2GB max (unless it is coded otherwise) and the other RAM will go towards the OS, so the game won't care if you freeup 100MB of the system RAM.


Top 5 things that affect Framerate.

1. Anti Aliasing
2. Ambient Occlusion (SSAO, HBAO)
3. Shaders
4. Lighting
5. Depth of Field, other Post-Processing effects

Turning any one of these available lower or off can net you increases in the 10-40 FPS range which is worth it. Model/Texture based settings only have major effects on lower end systems.

HBAO is my worst enemy, I was playing bad company 2 with it on and I completed the campaign dealing with so much lag, then I turned it off... looked no different and I had about 45 fps.

[[Padawan]Helkaan]

Boost your RAM using software;

RAM Saver/RamBoost XP (in french only)/RAMBooster 2/Mz RAMBooster/...