PC GUIDE

HERE are the main things I do with every PC to maximize my performance in Windows.

UPDATED: 03.04.2022

IMPORTANT: You tweak at your own risk.

NOTE: The following document show my personal options which I play with and use every day. Everyone can have different requirements, hardware, system, same with desirable experience, so please take it to consideration and configure them your own way. Some things are not listed here because after testing they do not affect the overall performance, at least in my system. The guide is prepared for WINDOWS 10 (21h2). the main rule: you do not need to disable everything or even anything until it changes your performance.

1. Mouse set on your preferable HZ setting (I set 1000HZ).
2. Monitor on highest possible refresh rate.
3. Set OSD of the monitor (Personal preference, depends on the model).
4. V-sync, G-sync, and Fast-Sync disabled (OFF).
5. Configurate and calibrate mousepad in your mouse' s software (if applicable).
6. Disable all audio extensions in Windows Audio.
7. Fullscreen mode always ON.
8. You can try to disable mouse acceleration. Personal preference as most of the games and program clients disable this option automatically. Sometimes it can be turned on in the mouse drivers software as well. (Point enhancement option in Windows) (6/11) I set it to OFF.
9. Windows multitasking options: snap "windows" OFF, Timeline (Show suggestions OFF).
10. Audio set to 24-bit (48 000 HZ) (Studio quality) (Personal preference). I use 3.5 mm jack front panel HD audio.

I choose this setting with onboard audio device and Windows Audio Drivers. You can set it to 16-bit (48 000 HZ) but with 24-bit you will recieve more data and better sound. This setting, when set to higher value can affect your CPU performance, depends on your build.

11. Turn off Intel Virtualization Technology in BIOS (If applicable).
12. Turn NKRO on your keyboard.
13. Turn off devices in "Device Manager" which you don't use.
14. Update all drivers to the newest version (Personal preference).
15. Install firmware to all devices (GPU, mouse, headphones, keyboard, etc.).
16. Set correct audio devices in clients and programs like Battle.net, Steam, Discord, etc.
17. Set all programs you use on your computer to "Open as Administrator".
18. Turn off "Fullscreen optimizations" for programs and games in Windows.
19. Turn off all not used applications in regedit.
20. Install GPU BIOS (GPU BIOS Utility).
21. Turn on HYPER - THREADING in BIOS.
22. Disable unused applications in services.msc
23. Turn off Windows animations (Personal preference, OS feels more snappy for me).
24. Use high priority slots for RAM.
25. Set options in msconfig.
26. Clean your temp files folders (be sure to check if needed).
27. Turn off One Drive (Personal preference).
28. Defrag your drives.
29. Turn on "High DPI support" and "Use hardware acceleration" in Battle.net
30. Change the HPET (After all these years, I guess this setting depends on the system).
31. Use "Turn on fast startup (recommended)" in Windows (I tested it only on the setup with one operating system. It is recommended, when you dual booting to two different operation systems to disable this option).



NVIDIA (My settings):

32. Set rendering processor Phys X to your current GPU.
33. Set resolution and position of the monitor (Fullscreen, scaling "Monitor").
34. Turn on developer options (Desktop > Turn on developer options) and allow all users.
35. Set all NVIDIA settings, main and for particular programs, clients.
36. USE NVIDIA color range (ON).
37. Telecine OFF
38. DSR OFF (Personal preference).
39. NVIDIA Reflex ON.
40. Use full color tonal range (0-255).

CHANGELOG

03.04.2022

03.04.2022

UPDATED

Before:

DISCLAIMER: Audio settings are specific. They can work this way with my system but different with yours. These days we have a lot of sound drivers installed at once, which sometimes can collide for no reason with each other and make your PC less responsive. They overlap your settings anyway and you can't disable them if the developer wants or need you to use a specific one. At least this is what I noticed with Windows 10.

These are the ones you can have on your PC for example:

- WINDOWS audio driver
- Your headset drivers
- Graphics card audio drivers
- Sometimes even programs and games have their own (Overwatch has DOLBY ATMOS).

6. Set in-game audio options to 100% (Found PC most responsive in Windows 10 with this setting) (Don't use overall system sound to 100% in the same time in "Windows sound mixer", most of the time I set it to around 90).

11. Audio set to 16-bit (48 000 HZ) (DVD) (Personal preference).


Now:

10. Audio set to 24-bit (48 000 HZ) (Studio quality) (Personal preference). I use 3.5 mm jack front panel HD audio.

I choose this setting with onboard audio device and Windows Audio Drivers. You can set it to 16-bit (48 000 HZ) but with 24-bit you will recieve more data and better sound. This setting, when set to higher value can affect your CPU performance, depends on your build.

NOTE: This change was implemented as I switched from bulit in audio jack input in my monitor (which received audio trough DisplayPort cable), to my onboard audio device and front panel 3.5 mm jack.

22.02.2022

22.02.2022

NEW

31. Use "Turn on fast startup (recommended)" in Windows (I tested it only on the setup with one operating system. It is recommended, when you dual booting to two different operation systems to disable this option).
40. Use full color tonal range (0-255).

UPDATED

DSR:
Before: 38. DSR 4.0x (Personal preference)
Now: 38. DSR OFF (Personal preference)

NOTE: The following document show my personal options which I play with and use every day. Everyone can have different requirements, hardware, system, same with desirable experience, so please take it to consideration and configure them your own way. Some things are not listed here because after testing they do not affect the overall performance, at least in my system. The guide is prepared for WINDOWS 10 (21h2). the main rule: you do not need to disable everything or even anything until it changes your performance.

1. Mouse set on your preferable HZ setting (I set 1000HZ).
2. Monitor on highest possible refresh rate.
3. Set OSD of the monitor (Personal preference, depends on the model).
4. V-sync, G-sync, and Fast-Sync disabled (OFF).
5. Configurate and calibrate mousepad in your mouse' s software (if applicable).
6. Disable all audio extensions in Windows Audio.
7. Fullscreen mode always ON.
8. You can try to disable mouse acceleration (Personal preference as most of the games and program clients disable this option automatically. Sometimes it can be turned on in mouse drivers software as well) (Point enhancement option in Windows)(I have it OFF) (6/11).
9. Windows multitasking options: snap "windows" OFF, Timeline (Show suggestions OFF).
10. Audio set to 24-bit (48 000 HZ) (Studio quality) (Personal preference). I use 3.5 mm jack front panel HD audio.

I choose this setting with onboard audio device and Windows Audio Drivers. You can set it to 16-bit (48 000 HZ) but with 24-bit you will recieve more data and better sound. This setting, when set to higher value can affect your CPU performance, depends on your build.

11. Turn off Intel Virtualization Technology in BIOS (If applicable).
12. Turn NKRO on your keyboard.
13. Turn off devices in "Device Manager" which you don't use.
14. Update all drivers to the newest version (Personal preference).
15. Install firmware to all devices (GPU, mouse, headphones, keyboard, etc.).
16. Set correct audio devices in clients and programs like Battle.net, Steam, Discord, etc.
17. Set all programs you use on your computer to "Open as Administrator".
18. Turn off "Fullscreen optimizations" for programs and games in Windows.
19. Turn off all not used applications in regedit.
20. Install GPU BIOS (GPU BIOS Utility).
21. Turn on HYPER - THREADING in BIOS.
22. Disable unused applications in services.msc
23. Turn off Windows animations (Personal preference, OS feels more snappy for me).
24. Use high priority slots for RAM.
25. Set options in msconfig.
26. Clean your temp files folders (be sure to check if needed).
27. Turn off One Drive (Personal preference).
28. Defrag your drives.
29. Turn on "High DPI support" and "Use hardware acceleration" in Battle.net
30. Change the HPET (After all these years, I guess this setting depends on the system).
31. Use "Turn on fast startup (recommended)" in Windows (I tested it only on the setup with one operating system. It is recommended, when you dual booting to two different operation systems to disable this option).



NVIDIA (My settings):

32. Set rendering processor Phys X to your current GPU.
33. Set resolution and position of the monitor (Fullscreen, scaling "Monitor").
34. Turn on developer options (Desktop > Turn on developer options) and allow all users.
35. Set all NVIDIA settings, main and for particular programs, clients.
36. USE NVIDIA color range (ON).
37. Telecine OFF
38. DSR OFF (Personal preference).
39. NVIDIA Reflex ON.
40. Use full color tonal range (0-255).

03.04.2022

22.02.2022

CHANGELOG

03.04.2022

UPDATED

Before:

DISCLAIMER: Audio settings are specific. They can work this way with my system but different with yours. These days we have a lot of sound drivers installed at once, which sometimes can collide for no reason with each other and make your PC less responsive. They overlap your settings anyway and you can't disable them if the developer wants or need you to use a specific one. At least this is what I noticed with Windows 10.

These are the ones you can have on your PC for example:

- WINDOWS audio driver
- Your headset drivers
- Graphics card audio drivers
- Sometimes even programs and games have their own (Overwatch has DOLBY ATMOS).

6. Set in-game audio options to 100% (Found PC most responsive in Windows 10 with this setting) (Don't use overall system sound to 100% in the same time in "Windows sound mixer", most of the time I set it to around 90).

11. Audio set to 16-bit (48 000 HZ) (DVD) (Personal preference).

Now:

10. Audio set to 24-bit (48 000 HZ) (Studio quality) (Personal preference). I use 3.5 mm jack front panel HD audio.

I choose this setting with onboard audio device and Windows Audio Drivers. You can set it to 16-bit (48 000 HZ) but with 24-bit you will recieve more data and better sound. This setting, when set to higher value can affect your CPU performance, depends on your build.

NOTE: This change was implemented as I switched from bulit in audio jack input in my monitor (which received audio trough DisplayPort cable), to my onboard audio device and front panel 3.5 mm jack.

22.02.2022

NEW

31. Use "Turn on fast startup (recommended)" in Windows (I tested it only on the setup with one operating system. It is recommended, when you dual booting to two different operation systems to disable this option).
40. Use full color tonal range (0-255).

UPDATED

DSR:
Before: 38. DSR 4.0x (Personal preference)
Now: 38. DSR OFF (Personal preference)

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