Why is my gaming PC suddenly acting slow? It is a question every gamer eventually will encounter, and there could be a multitude of reasons behind it. Frequently, this issue may be attributable to your system’s hardware, outdated software, corrupted files, or the computer has been contaminated with a virus. Below, we’ll discuss a few techniques that could help you speed up your gaming PC.
Check Your Hard Drive Space
The most common reason why a gaming PC may be acting slow could have something to do with its hard drive space. Everytime you complete a download or install a new game, it uses up a certain amount of memory – and if the hard drive is already at its maximum capacity, your system’s performance will suffer. Therefore, it is essential to regularly go through the inappropriate files stored in the hard drive, and delete them to free up some space.
Also, if you have a large amount of data stored in your computer’s memory, it may cause an increased usage of your system’s resources. If this is the case, you should consider transferring some of the data onto an external hard drive or a cloud-based storage system like Dropbox or OneDrive.
Update Your Operating System
Another issue that could be preventing your gaming PC from running at its optimum speed is due to an outdated system. Operating systems need to be updated regularly in order to ensure that your gaming system is running the latest software and secure from any security threats. Therefore, you should make sure to regularly download and install the latest updates.
You can either check manually, or enable the option in your computer’s settings so that the latest updates are automatically downloaded. Also, consider upgrading your system to the latest operating systems available, such as Windows 10, macOS Big Sur, and Linux.
Scan For Viruses And Malware
Another reason why your gaming PC may be acting slow is because it has been infected with a virus or malware. If you haven’t already, it is important to always install an antivirus program to protect your computer from malicious software and viruses.
After the initial installation, you should make sure to perform a full system scan on a regular basis in order to ensure that your system is not compromised. Additionally, it is important to also update your antivirus software regularly, in order to ensure that it is running the latest virus definitions.
Clear Out Temporary Files
Sometimes your PC might be acting slow due to a bunch of superfluous temporary files that have continued to accumulate in your system. Due to this, it is crucial to regularly clean out these files. The best way to do so, is by utilising the Disk Cleanup tool that is built-in to most computer systems.
The tool will scan your system, identify files that are no longer being used, and delete them to free up the much-needed space. Furthermore, you should also consider deleting the web browser cache and emptying the recycle bin.
Upgrade Your Hardware
If your system is quite old and still running on outdated hardware, this could very well be the source of your performance issues. As technology continues to progress, game specifications also tend to increase, so upgrading your processor and RAM will take your gaming PC to the next level.
If your gaming PC is more than five years old, it might be time for an upgrade. Newer models will be more capable of running the latest games and in the long run more cost effective than simply replacing major components of your current system.
Uninstall Unnecessary Applications
If you’ve installed too many unnecessary programs, this could also be a major factor behind your gaming PC’s poor performance. Unused programs will stay active in the background and make use of your system’s resources, leading to a slowdown in performance.
Therefore, before you start trying to troubleshoot the issue, it is important to take the time to regularly check for any applications that you no longer need and uninstall them. This should also help in freeing up some more space on your system.
Update Your Drivers
Outdated drivers can cause compatibility issues, so it is essential to ensure that they are always up-to-date. It is recommended to visit the website of your computer’s manufacturer and look for the latest device drivers available. Download and install them and you may see a noticeable increase in performance.
Additionally, you can also consider enabling the “Automatic Updates” feature in your gaming PC’s settings so that the system automatically downloads any new updates as soon as they become available. However, keep in mind that driver updates can lead to new issues or incompatibilities, so make sure to back up all your important files beforehand.
Disable Unnecessary Background Processes
Finally, if the background processes on your gaming PC are taking up too much of your system’s resources, it could be causing a decrease in performance. It is therefore important to regularly check for any applications or processes running in the background and disable them if they are not being used.
You can utilise the Task Manager tool to quickly identify any unnecessary processes and stop them. Furthermore, by temporarily disabling startup applications, you can also make sure that unnecessary programs are not running in the background when your computer is powered on.
