Optimising FPS: How to Enhance Your PC Gaming Experience
September 24, 2024
For UK gamers, nothing quite compares to the thrill of seamless gameplay, whether you’re exploring the rolling hills of the virtual English countryside or engaging in intense multiplayer battles. However, when your game starts to lag or slow down, it can quickly dampen the experience. This is where understanding and optimising your frames per second (FPS) becomes crucial.
In this article, we’ll explore what FPS means for gaming and how you can optimise your PC to enhance your gaming experience, with a focus on solutions tailored for UK gamers.
What is FPS?
FPS, or frames per second, refers to the number of images displayed on your screen every second during gameplay. For instance, when you’re getting 30 FPS, your game is showing 30 different images each second. Higher FPS results in smoother, more fluid gameplay, while lower FPS can lead to choppy or stuttering visuals.
What is the optimum FPS?
While 60 FPS is often considered the gold standard in gaming, the optimal FPS actually depends on your monitor’s refresh rate, measured in hertz (Hz). For example, if you have a 60 Hz monitor, it can only display up to 60 FPS, even if your game is capable of producing more.
Many UK gamers are now opting for monitors with higher refresh rates, such as 144 Hz or even 240 Hz, to take advantage of higher frame rates in fast-paced games.
What is considered low FPS and what are the reasons behind it?
Low FPS occurs when your computer struggles to meet the demands of the game, resulting in lag, stuttering, or screen tearing. For most modern games, anything below 30 FPS is considered low.
Common reasons for low FPS include:
Outdated graphics cards
Insufficient RAM
Underpowered processors
Slow hard drives
Overly demanding in-game settings
How to optimise your PC for gaming and increase FPS
Let’s explore some effective ways to boost your FPS and enhance your gaming experience.
1. Update graphics card drivers
Keeping your graphics card drivers up to date is crucial for optimal gaming performance. Here’s how to do it:
If new updates are available, install them from the driver & software section.
2. Adjust in-game settings
Modern games often default to high graphics settings, which can be taxing on your system. Here are some key settings to adjust:
V-Sync: Consider turning this off to improve FPS, but be aware it may cause screen tearing.
Anti-aliasing: Reduce or disable this to boost performance.
Draw Distance: Lowering this can significantly improve FPS in open-world games.
Graphics Quality: Reduce shadows, lighting, textures, and reflections for better performance.
3. Enable Game Mode in Windows 10
Windows 10’s Game Mode can help prioritise system resources for gaming:
Search for “Game Mode” in the Start Menu.
Open Game Mode Settings.
Toggle the switch to enable Game Mode.
4. Lower the resolution
While it may affect visual clarity, lowering your game’s resolution can significantly boost FPS. This can be particularly helpful for competitive multiplayer games where performance is crucial.
5. Manage power options
For laptop gamers, ensure your power mode is set to “Best performance” when plugged in. This will ensure your laptop isn’t limiting its performance to save battery life.
Hardware-based optimisations
6. Overclock your graphics card
Overclocking can squeeze extra performance from your graphics card. Both NVIDIA and AMD offer user-friendly overclocking tools, but be cautious not to push your hardware too far.
7. Increase RAM
Upgrading your RAM can have a significant impact on gaming performance. Most modern games benefit from at least 8GB of RAM, with 16GB becoming increasingly common for high-end gaming.
8. Replace the graphics card
If your graphics card is struggling to keep up with modern games, it might be time for an upgrade. Consider a card that pairs well with your current processor or plan for a future CPU upgrade as well.
9. Add an SSD to your PC
Solid State Drives (SSDs) can dramatically reduce load times and improve overall system responsiveness. While they may not directly affect FPS, they can help eliminate stuttering caused by slow data access.
The OMEN 45L GT22-1006na Gaming Desktop PC is a powerhouse designed for high FPS gaming. With its top-tier components and efficient cooling system, it’s perfect for UK gamers seeking the ultimate performance.
Intel® Core™ i9 processor
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32 GB DDR5 RAM
2 TB PCIe® NVMe™ TLC M.2 SSD
This desktop’s robust configuration ensures smooth gameplay even in the most demanding titles, making it an excellent choice for serious UK gamers who want to maximise their FPS.
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Intel® Core™ i5 processor
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16 GB DDR5 RAM
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This laptop provides smooth gameplay for most modern titles at medium to high settings, making it a great choice for gamers who want to enjoy high FPS gaming on the go.
Summary
Optimising your PC for gaming and increasing FPS doesn’t always require a complete system overhaul. By implementing a combination of software tweaks and strategic hardware upgrades, UK gamers can significantly enhance their gaming experience.
Remember to start with the software-based solutions before considering hardware upgrades. And if you’re in the market for a new gaming system, consider HP’s range of gaming PCs and laptops designed to deliver high FPS performance right out of the box.
Whether you’re battling it out in esports tournaments or exploring vast open worlds, a well-optimised gaming PC can make all the difference in your gaming adventures. Happy gaming!
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