Playing PC games has long been an incredibly popular activity. As technology progresses and new, graphically stunning games are released, it’s only natural that desire to have a gaming PC that can do justice to them has grown. But is your gaming PC any good?
Your gaming PC is only as good as its components, with the crux of the matter being whether or not the hardware you have can perform in-game tasks quickly and without lag. To assess the effectiveness of your hardware, it is best to install a benchmark program to test your system against other machines. This will tell you if your gaming PC is powerful enough to meet the demands of the game. If your PC is not up to snuff, consider upgrading it.
The next thing you should consider is the quality of your gaming experience. If you notice that your games are corrupt or have inadequate graphics, your gaming PC may not be up to the task. It is also important to note how the game responds to commands and if your PC can keep up with your playthroughs. If the game is glitchy or the frames per second are subpar, it’s likely your PC isn’t strong enough.
The amount of RAM plays a major role in gaming performance as well. Too little RAM and your PC will struggle to keep up with tasks, resulting in slower loading times, low frame rates and constant stuttering. The recommended amount of RAM for gaming is 8GB, but 16GB is best. If you are experiencing gaming related issues, considering adding more RAM to your set up.
The processor and GPU are the two most vital components for gaming on PCs. The processor needs to be powerful enough to handle the calculation workload of the game, while the GPU will handle the visual aspect of the game. Upgrade if you notice your graphics are poor or if the game does not respond as quickly as it should.
Finally, the software you are running can also affect the quality of your gaming experience. Some games require specific configuration settings, so make sure to adjust these accordingly. Furthermore, update your video card drivers often to stay up to date with the best performance.
Monitoring Performance
Performance monitoring plays a crucial role in ensuring your gaming PC remains competitive. Keeping track of your in-game performance, such as frames per second, can help you pinpoint problems and troubleshoot them quickly. In addition, application and driver crashes should be analyzed and rectified.
The effects of overclocking should also be monitored as these can affect overall system performance. Overclocking is the process of increasing a component’s clockspeed beyond its factory recommended level. While it can yield performance gains, it can also lead to serious issues such as hardware overuse and crashing. Furthermore, overclocking should always be done within the limits of the hardware.
High temperatures from overclocking can also damage hardware and cause hardware shutdowns. To avoid this, make sure to install a reliable cooling system and monitor the temperatures of your components regularly. Additionally, you should be familiar with your games’ system requirements, as this will help you to better allocate your tasks and performance within your gaming experience.
Gaming Preferences
Your gaming PC will only be truly suited to you if it meets your preferences. As such, it is important to pay attention to such details when building or upgrading the system. Factors such as the color and design of the PC, the type of storage, the look of the monitor, and the gaming mouse are all important when creating the perfect gaming experience.
The settings in the game itself can also play a role in tailoring your gaming PC to your needs. Set the graphic settings according to your preference, as different games require different settings for the best experience. Similarly, ensure that the resolution of your monitor and graphic card are on par with one another.
Selecting a sound system that is compatible with your PC is also important. Research the best sound systems available and decide which one is suitable for your PC. Different settings may come with better audio, but they may also require powerful components that can handle such settings.
Finally, gaming pads and joysticks are also personal, tactile components that often define the entire gaming experience. Many games, like racing or fighting games, require vibration and precision, thus a gaming pad or joystick is often the best way to go.
Maintaining Your PC
The last thing to consider when assessing the performance of your gaming PC is maintenance. It’s important to keep your PC in top-notch condition to get the best gaming experience. Clean all of your components on a regular basis with compressed air, as dust can cause overheating and hardware failure. Furthermore, the software of your PC should also be updated regularly with the latest driver updates.
Optimizations can be made to improve performance. Setting power options to performance rather than balanced or power efficiency is one such optimization. Additionally, scan and repair any corrupted files and inspect whether any apps are running in the background that could be decreasing performance.
Backup your operating system and game files regularly to prevent any data loss. Furthermore, look into overlays or recording software that can be used during gameplay. If a problem arises, you can check the recordings and use them to identify the source of the issue.
Finding The Right PC
If your gaming PC is not good enough, there are a number of ways to go about finding the right one. Buying pre-built machines is an option if you cannot build one from scratch. When selecting a pre-built system, make sure to look at the specs in detail and compare them to the system requirements of the game. It is also important to look for any deals or discounts for the parts.
Alternatively, you can always choose to build the gaming PC yourself. This will usually require more knowledge about hardware, but the upside of this is that you can tailor the components to your exact specifications and preferences. Again, make sure to look at the specs and compare them to the system requirements of the game.
It is also important to take into account factors such as cost and energy consumption. If buying individual parts, make sure you get components with the right specs and that offer competitive performance per watt. Be aware of any certification or warranty programs, as these may come in handy if something goes wrong with the PC.
Finally, it is important to note that buying the right PC or upgrading yours doesn’t mean you will automatically experience the best gaming performance. You need to ensure that the PC is adequately maintained and that the settings are optimized to reach maximum performance.
Testing The PC
Once you have a gaming PC that meets your specifications, it is time to test it. Try a few trials runs with the games you typically play and monitor the frames per second, loading times, and temperature of the components. Doing so will allow you to adjust the settings of the game according to your PC’s performance.
If the game does not have a benchmarking program, you can always use specialized software to measure the performance of the gaming PC. There are a number of testing tools that you can use to test the various components and measure the performance of the PC.
In addition, use different settings to see how the PC performs in a variety of configurations. This also helps you to identify the optimum balance of settings that will yield the best performance. You may also want to try different programs or apps to test the PC’s response time under load.
Finally, keep track of your performance. Keep track of how your gaming PC handles different games and how the standings change over time. If a game suddenly takes too long to load or frame rates drop, troubleshoot and adjust if necessary.
