10 'tricks' improve gaming performance on laptops

A top gaming laptop will never achieve the performance of a similarly priced gaming desktop. But that doesn't mean you can't play the latest games on laptops. Instead, just a little 'trick' to ensure the laptop is optimized for games.

With desktop computers, users can upgrade the hardware but with a laptop it may only be possible to upgrade the memory (and possibly the hard drive). So, how to play favorite games on a laptop? The article will give you 10 tips (primarily for Windows 10) to improve gaming performance on laptops.

1. How to reduce lag, jerk game play on Windows 10?

1. Always keep your laptop clean and dust-free

The first thing is to always maintain the computer. Dirt is the 'enemy' of performance. These dirt will reduce air flow, causing the computer to become hot. As the heat rises, the processor, GPU and most other components will slow down.

The best way to solve this problem is to remove dust. Obviously, this is not a simple task. Removing the computer may invalidate the warranty and damage the device if you are not an expert. So bring it to a professional repairer to clean the computer and always keep the keyboard free of dust, food or other substances.

2. Update the driver

Today, computers running Windows, macOS and Linux operating systems are mostly based on the same hardware and architecture. This means that any operating system driver is very important. Thankfully this process is no longer as complicated as it used to be, most computer drivers are updated through standard operating system updates.

However, graphics drivers will need a more realistic way to update and Intel graphics will update drivers through Windows Update, third-party graphics providers do not provide that option. An important thing to note is that ensuring management software (such as Nvidia GeForce or AMD Gaming Evolved) is set up to automatically update.

3. Install the latest DirectX version

DirectX is an important program for playing games on Windows (and even on Xbox consoles). There are many versions of DirectX that have been released over the years. For example, the latest version of DirectX running on Windows XP is DirectX 9.0. If you are looking for ways to improve performance on a laptop, you should not run this version.

Launched in 2015, DirectX 12 is the latest version and users should install it on the computer. However, very few documents guide how to install this program but usually DirectX version will automatically install when a new game requires. Sometimes, DirectX is updated via Windows Update.

To check the current version of DirectX on your computer, press WIN + R to open the Run menu and enter dxdiag . Wait for the DirectX Diagnostic Tool (DXDiag) to load, then open the Render tab. Here, you will find information about the graphics card. In the Drivers pane, find Direct3D DDI , numbered according to the latest version of DirectX.

Besides upgrading the graphics driver, make sure that the audio drivers are appropriate for the game. You can check the audio driver in the Sound tab of DXDiag to see the date the driver was installed. Note that the input device drivers are also summarized here. In addition, DXDiag is a good way to check for missing drivers for gaming-related hardware. If you are not sure you can perform Windows Update and manually update the device driver.

4. Overclocking the GPU

Overclocking will increase computer performance but is a bit difficult for beginners. The tools are available for both AMD and Nvidia GPUs, so you won't have much trouble doing overclocking.

The main problem when overclocking is electricity and heat. Overclocking uses more power, so it is necessary to adjust the computer's power settings appropriately. However, overclocking also increases GPU heat. Typically, heat reduction is handled by a cooling system built into the laptop. Radiators and fans must be cleaned regularly. Otherwise, the laptop will automatically turn off - as a safety precaution - when overheated. Looking for a GPU overclocking tool? The most popular today is MSI Afterburner, suitable for Nvidia and AMD graphics cards.

1. 5 ways to cool the laptop simple and effective

5. Adjust the power use settings of the computer

There are very few devices that have a great performance experience when not adjusting energy usage. And with laptops - devices designed to "stay away" from a fixed power source, energy management is a difficult problem. Windows offers a number of detailed energy management options, but laptop users often ignore it. This makes sense, but for a powerful gaming experience, you should plug the laptop into the power outlet.

Then, consider the computer's power settings. In Windows 10, open Settings> System> Power and sleep> Additional power settings and select the High performance option. Click Change plan settings> Change advanced power settings to change the settings as you like.

6. Use Game Mode in Windows 10

Windows 10 is equipped with an Xbox application (if it has been removed, can be downloaded from the Windows Store) including some features. In addition to screen recording and playback, the Xbox application also has Game Mode.

To enable this feature, press WIN + G after starting the game (preferably with the game menu on the screen) and click Settings . On the General tab, select Use Game Mode for this game .

Windows 10 Game Mode will ensure that the operating system runs the game with optimal settings, which can close or pause some background tasks.

7. Close the background application

If you are not running Windows 10 and there is no Game Mode, you can perform background application shutdown by manual method before starting the game. Before the Play button in Steam, or double-click the icon on the screen, make sure all other applications (even games) are closed.

Then look at the system tray. This part of the Windows taskbar lists applications running in the background. Right click on each icon and close it.

8. Online gamers: Check network speed

Gaming performance for laptops is mainly determined by hardware, drivers and computer configurations. But if you're playing an online game, there's another factor to keep in mind: the speed of Internet connection.

If playing online games is slow, it may be due to an Internet connection problem, usually due to a slow connection between the laptop and the router. Typically, the wireless network card will be updated via Windows Update or any system that updates the operating system. If the driver has been updated but is still slow, consider wired Ethernet connection with the router.

9. Manage automatic updates

Automatic updating sometimes also brings many problems. For example, Windows Update can download updates in the background, before prompting to install the update. However, it is not only downloaded updates that affect performance but so are the reminders. Unfortunately, you cannot disable Windows Updates permanently, so consider the following options:

1. Leave the computer in offline mode.
2. Install the update as soon as prompted.

With the first way it seems difficult to disconnect from the Internet while using a gaming laptop, so installing the update as soon as possible is the best method.

However, not only does the operating system announce updates, so are Digital Delivery systems. To avoid this, open Steam and go to Settings . On the Downloads tab, uncheck Allow downloads during gameplay, then click OK to confirm the changes.

You can also manage update rules for each game. Right-click the game in the Steam menu, select Properties > Updates and check the options of Automatic updates and Background downloads .

10. Adjust the Texture and Shader settings

Finally, check the graphics card settings. Here, you will find settings for Texture and Shader, affecting the "appearance" of the game. Available memory for the GPU of the laptop limits the options, so choose a configuration that provides more performance than looks. In short, high-resolution texture consumes RAM, affecting frame rates.

Note, you can also install Texture and Shader for each game. This is useful if an older game is capable of running with high settings. In addition, you can still adjust the video settings of each game from the video settings screen.

This process will take a while to find the optimal video settings for the game. However, once you have established a balance of performance quality, you will find that it is worthwhile.