If you are seeking to enhance your gaming experience. There are a variety of methods to optimize laptop performance that do not require a substantial investment. To achieve maximum frame rates and an enjoyable gaming experience, follow these 20 straightforward steps, teaching you how to improve gaming performance on laptop.
With my guidance, you can ensure you get the most out of your new gaming laptop and not leave any performance on the table. Without further ado, let’s dive in.
How To Improve Gaming Performance On A Laptop?
In my guide, you will discover easy-to-follow tips for optimizing Windows 11 and 10 laptops for gaming. By implementing these strategies, you can squeeze the maximum potential from your laptop’s hardware and enjoy uninterrupted gameplay without any lag.
As a laptop gamer, I understand the frustration with experiencing sluggish performance, slow loading times, and subpar graphics while gaming. With the help of this guide, you can mitigate these concerns and elevate your overall gaming experience.
Tip#1: Use a Laptop Cooling Pad
Employing a cooling pad beneath your laptop is a practical and cost-effective approach to enhancing airflow and avoiding overheating, thereby elevating performance. This accessory is perfect for gamers seeking optimal functionality from their laptops.
The Thermaltake 20 RGB cooler is one of the most reliable cooling pads I have used for the Razer Blade 15, which is a powerful gaming laptop. By utilizing the Thermaltake cooler, I can reduce core temperatures by up to 10°C (50°F), making it an indispensable accessory for gamers looking to maximize their laptop’s performance.
How to Keep Your Laptop Cool
- Use a laptop cooling pad
- Elevate your laptop, to allow for airflow
- Keep the vents and exhausts clear
- Clean your gaming laptop regularly
- Keep your laptop out of direct sunlight
- Reduce unnecessary graphics settings
- Close unnecessary programmes & apps
- Clean out your files & folders regularly
- Keep your laptop of your bed or carpet
More Helpful Content: See The Best Cooling Pad for The Razer Blade 15 Here
Tip#2 Connect With Charger Plugged In
One simple and convenient method to enhance the performance of your gaming laptop is to connect the laptop to a power source while gaming. By plugging in your gaming laptop, you reduce the strain on the battery, resulting in less demand on your processors.
This increased power availability translates to more efficient and faster performance compared to draining the battery due to extensive usage. Furthermore, connecting your charger ensures that your hardware components, such as the CPU and graphics card, operate at peak performance by receiving the necessary voltage to function optimally.
Tip#3 Update Your System Drivers
Updating your gaming laptop drivers is crucial for optimizing gaming performance and addressing any problems such as lagging gameplay, or security breaches that may arise. Frequent driver updates are released by developers to improve performance, fix bugs, and enhance security and overall functionality. Therefore, you must ensure that the drivers are up-to-date.
Start by checking for any updates in Windows, as outdated Windows drivers can cause a multitude of performance issues. Next, ensure that your hardware drivers, especially graphics cards drivers such as AMD and NVidia, are up-to-date, as this will result in a smoother gaming experience.
Some updates may be included when updating the operating system. But it is also advisable to install software such as Intel’s Driver & Support Assistant, AMD Radeon, or NVidia GeForce Experience to stay on top of the most critical drivers.
Tip#4 Disable Start-up Apps & Programmes
Closing unnecessary background applications can free up system resources and improve gaming performance. Gaming laptops often come shipped with a large amount of pre-installed software. By default, many of these programs will run when you boot up your laptop.
The good thing is that you can disable the programs you do not use, or need. By disabling apps from starting up each time you boot the laptop will free up much needed resources when gaming, such as RAM, and processing power.
How to Disable Start Up Programmes?
- Press CTRL + ALT + DELETE to launch the Task Manager
- Navigate to the Start Up Apps Tab
- Scan through the list of programmes, Right Click & Select Disable
- Then Restart Your Laptop for the changes to take effect.
Looking for a new Laptop? Check out the best gaming laptops for Call of Duty Warzone to enjoy the highest FPS in this fast-paced first-person shooter.
Tip#5 Remove Unwanted Bloatware
Removing unwanted bloatware from your gaming laptop is an excellent way to free up resources and help optimize laptop for gaming. Bloatware includes news, weather, music apps, personal assistant software, and system applications. Most of the apps will never be used.
Also, too much bloatware running in the background can reduce gaming performance, use up battery power and take away your much needed memory (RAM) capacity.
To remove bloatware. You can install a clean-up tool, like CCleaner and then run the software to find the bloatware installed on your device. Unfortunately, the free version of CCleaner will not remove all bloatware only that is possible with the paid version.
Alternatively, you can attempt to remove the bloatware yourself. But this can be a time-consuming task. However, it is worth it if you want a better optimized gaming laptop.
Remove Bloatware Using Windows Settings
- Press Windows Key
- Type Settings select Apps
- Sift through the Applications
- Click three dots Click Uninstall
- Next, Restart Your Laptop
Remove Bloatware Using Windows Command Line
- Press Windows Key + X
- Select Terminal (Admin)
- Select YES
- To open Windows PowerShell window
Next, paste the highlighted line of code below into Windows PowerShell and press Enter. You should see a sheet that shows all the programmes installed on the gaming laptop.
Copy this Code: DISM /Online /Get-ProvisionedAppxPackages | select-string Packagename
Look through the lines of code to see which programmes you do not need. Then highlight and copy the line of code. (See image below as an example)
Next, paste the code at the end of the line of code below. Replacing the words AppPackageName with the programme code you have just copied from the step above.
Use Microsoft Word or Notepad to copy and paste the codes.
Code: DISM /Online /Remove-ProvisionedAppxPackage /PackageName:AppPackageName
Finally, paste the full line of code at the bottom of the PowerShell Window. (See image above) And then, press enter. You should see Operation Completed Successfully. Repeat the steps until you have removed as much bloatware as needed. Then, restart your laptop.
Tip#6 Close Background Apps for Programmes
Improved gaming performance can be achieved by closing background programs that are using up system resources. Gaming laptops often have numerous programs installed that are occasionally necessary but not frequently used, particularly while playing video games.
Rather than uninstalling the programs, you can use the Windows Task Manager to prevent them from running in the background during gameplay. This can free up RAM, processing power, and disk space, and it can also lead to better battery life.
How to Close Background Apps
- Press CTRL + ALT + DELETE to launch the Task Manager
- Navigate to the Processes Tab
- Scan through the programmes, Right Click & Select Disable
- The changes will take effect immediately.
Tip#7 Clean Your Gaming Laptop
Keeping your gaming laptop clean is one of the best ways to improve your laptop’s gaming performance. This involves removing dust and debris that is clogging up the cooling system, preventing it from effectively dissipating the heat generated by the GPU and CPU.
Regular maintenance is crucial. If you do not keep your gaming laptop clean. It can cause issues, including poor gaming performance, a shorter lifespan, and overheating.
How to Easily Clean Your Gaming Laptop?
- Turn off your laptop and remove any devices that are connected to it.
- Lightly wet a lint-free microfiber cloth with an alcohol-based cleaning solution
- Gently wipe the surface of your laptop with the cloth. (DO NOT LET MOISTURE INTO OPENINGS)
- Hold your gaming laptop on its side and use compressed air to blow dust off the vents
- Hold your gaming laptop upside down and use compressed air to blow dust off the keys
- Clean the screen by using a cleaning solution made specifically for laptop displays
- Before switching on your gaming laptop, ensure the laptop is dry and clean
Tip#8 Use Lighter Apps and Programmes
Gaming laptops come equipped with many default programmes and applications that the manufacturer’s assumes users will love. This is not always the case. So, you should replace many of the programmes and apps with lighter alternatives.
A great option is to use the website Ninite.com, a useful online one-stop-shop for hundreds of computer applications. This laptop software is free and extremely simple to use.
Ninite.com offers a variety of Windows applications, with many superb alternatives to the standard Windows programmes you may already have installed on your gaming laptop.
To download an application, check the box next to the app and click the download button. It will then the download app. The best thing is this website will keep your apps up to date. Saving you precious time, energy, and system resources.
Tip#9 Optimize Windows to Improve Gaming Performance
Microsoft Windows is optimized better for gamers with the introduction of DirectX 12. DX12 has enabled game developers to add advanced features to Windows based PC computers. Such as, variable rate shading and ray tracing that improves gaming experiences.
Microsoft has also added Windows Game Mode, and GPU scheduling both designed to increase FPS in-games and deliver a more consistent experience. Windows Game Mode is especially helpful for laptop users with lower-end hardware.
How to Enable Windows Game Mode
- Press Windows Key
- Type Turn on Game Mode press Enter
- Toggle Game Mode On
You can enable GPU scheduling by clicking on the graphics settings tab. Then toggle GPU scheduling on to help reduce latency and improve your laptop’s gaming performance.
How to Enable GPU Scheduling
- Press Windows Key
- Click Change Default Graphics Settings
- Toggle Hardware Accelerated GPU Scheduling On
- Then, Restart Your Laptop
How to Enable Window Storage Sense
Microsoft Windows storage sense will automatically free up space, by removing file you do not need including temporary files and file storage on your cloud apps such as OneDrive.
- Press Windows Key
- Type Settings then Enter
- Scroll Down Click Storage
- Enable Storage Sense
Tip#10: Clean Up Laptop Storage Space
Over time, gaming laptops can fill up with junk files and temporary files which can drag down performance. It is essential to carry out a disk clean up and remove these files completely.
Open the Start Menu or press the Windows key and type Disk Clean-up. Then select the drive or drives you want to clean up and then OK.
You can also press the Clean Up System Files button to remove more files. Then delete anything that looks unnecessary; this will help speed up your gaming laptop in general.
Tip#11: Turn off Windows Notifications
Another way to optimize performance is to turn off or pick and choose which notifications you want to receive when your laptop computer is in operation. Reducing notifications will use fewer resources and improve performance and keep you focused on the task at hand.
How to Turn off Notifications
- Press Windows Key
- Type Settings and the press Enter
- Select Notifications and then Toggle Off
Tip#12: Manage and Reduce Page File Size
As a fellow gamer, I understand how a gaming laptop with insufficient RAM can feel laggy, frustrating, and fail to run as intended. There’s good news: there’s a hidden feature on the system drive called the Page File that can help improve performance.
The Page File stores data that cannot be accommodated by your physical RAM, a process known as paging. It functions as a secondary memory or, more commonly, virtual memory.
All Windows laptops have a setting that allows users to adjust the Page File to accept more data. So if you are struggling with RAM, follow these steps to increase the Page File size.
How to Change Page File Size
- Press Windows Key, type Settings
- Click on System, Scroll Down Click About
- Click Advanced System Settings
For Windows 11 laptop users, you can select Windows to manage the page file size automatically by keeping the Auto Manage Page File Size box ticked.
- In the Performance tab click Settings
- Click the Advanced Tab
- In Virtual Memory Box Click Change
- Untick Auto Manage Page File Size
- Select Custom Size
- Change maximum size (MBs)
- Click OK then OK again
- Then, Restart Your Laptop
Please note: Only increase the page file size between 1.5 times and a maximum of 3 times the size of the physical RAM. Never increase the page file size to the max of what your system has.
How To Calculate Virtual Memory
The following calculation is for laptops with 8 GB or RAM, your Virtual Memory should be….
- Minimum should be 1024x8x1.5 = 12288 MB
- Maximum should be 1024x8x3 = 24576 MB
Tip#13: Adjust Windows Appearance
Windows operating system has many visual effects in action. Things like animations, shadow effects, thumbnails, and icons. All using up system resources and slowing it down.
For laptops with a small amount of RAM installed disabling visual effects will save RAM, and free up other resources for what matter most, the improved performance of your games.
How to Disable Animations on Windows
- Press Windows Key type Settings
- Select Accessibility then Visual Effects
- Toggle off Animation Effect
Tip#14: Adjust Performance of Windows
You can also adjust the appearance and performance of Windows to better suit your needs. Adjusting these settings will free up resources. However, adjusting the appearance of Windows does affect how saved images may look and Windows itself may look a little choppy.
This option should be considered if you have less than 8GB of RAM.
How to Adjust Visual Effects in Windows
- Press Windows Key, Type Performance
- Select Adjust Appearance & Performance of Windows
- Select Adjust for Best Performance
- Next, Restart Your Laptop Computer
Tip#15: Adjust Power Settings
Optimizing power settings is one of the most effective ways to boost gaming performance on a laptop. By changing the battery power mode to “Best Performance” when connected to a power source, users can enhance their gaming experience.
Particularly when playing high-fidelity games such as Call of Duty Warzone or running resource-intensive applications like Adobe Photoshop. Furthermore, adjusting the processor state can not only improve performance but also prevent overheating, ensuring the laptop runs smoothly and efficiently.
How to Adjust Processor State
- Press Windows key, type Control Panel
- And then select System and Security
- Select Power Options, then Change Plan Settings
- Click Change Advanced Power Settings
- Scroll Down Click Processor Power Management
- Change Both Min Processor State to 5%
- Change Both Max Processor State to 95%
- Click Apply then click OK
Tip#16: Edit Custom Power Plan & Disable Boost Mode
One of the best ways to optimize a laptop for gaming is by creating a customized power plan and then disabling the processor performance boost mode. This can improve gaming experience without compromising on performance. This process involves adjusting a value in the Windows Registry Editor, while keeping the default power plan intact.
After creating a new power plan, users can utilize the customized power plan specifically for gaming, and switch back to the default plan when improved performance is not necessary. This step can be particularly useful for reducing high CPU temperatures, without sacrificing performance.
How to Create a Power Plan
- Press Windows type Control Panel Enter
- Select Hardware & Sound then Power Options
- Select Create a Power Plan
- Name You Power Plan Gaming
- Click Next then Create
- You have created a custom power plan
Next, you need to add a field in the advanced power plan settings to be able to reduce processor boost mode.
See the image below with the Processor Performance Boost Mode visible. However, the boost mode option is not available by default. Check for yourself by following the steps below.
Windows Power Options
- Press Windows Key
- Type Edit Power Plan, then “Enter
- Select your new custom power plan
- Click Change Advanced Settings
- Click Processor Power Management
- Is the option there?
- Don’t worry we will create it
Processor Boost Mode Visible
How to Disable Processor Boost Mode
- Press Windows Key type Registry Editor Press Enter
- Select Yes to allow changes to your device
- Click the folder HKey Local Machine
- Select the System folder then Current Control Set
- Click Control then scroll down and click Power
- Then the Power Settings folder
You should now see a sheet that looks like the image below.
- Next, click on the folder starting with 54533251-82be-4824
- Next click on the folder starting with be337238-od82
- Double click on the Attributes file on the right panel
- Change the file data from 1 to 2 and Click OK
Shut down the sheets and go back to your custom power plan.
- Press Windows type Control Panel Enter
- Select Hardware & Sound then Power Options
- Select Create Custom Power Plan
- Select Change Plan Settings
- Select Change Advanced Settings
- The select Processor Power Management
You will now see the option Processor Performance Mode. You can now decide to disable it, or change the settings to the settings I often use with all my gaming laptops. However, play around with the settings to see which works best .
My Custom Power Settings
- Min Processor State: Both 5%
- Max Processor State: Both 95%
- Processor Performance Mode: Disabled
- Best Performance: Set to Aggressive
Tip#17: Install a Performance Booster
Another superb way to to optimize your laptop for gaming is to install an additional game booster. This will help unleash your laptop’s full potential. I recommend the Razer Cortex Booster, this software is designed to help increase FPS by freeing up system resources.
The Razer Cortex Booster uses two core modes, enabling the processor to prioritize gaming and one that disables CPU sleep mode, again to increase system performance.
To use the Razer Cortex software you need to register an account with Razer and then downloaded and install the software on your gaming laptop. Razer Cortex is compatible with many popular game titles, such as Fortnite, Call of Duty Warzone, and Valorant.
Helpful Content: Do cooling Pads Really Work for laptops I tested two to see they are worth your investment.
Install WTfast Game Booster
The WTfast software will help improve latency and deliver lower ping for a smoother gaming experience. Unlike Razer Cortex, which improves your laptop processors. WTfast works on the outside and aims to deliver the best internet connection to the game server possible.
Tip#18: Overclock Your Graphics Card
Overclocking your CPU, GPU, or RAM can provide a significant laptop gaming performance boost. But this process can increase heat and reduce stability for your gaming notebook.
For this task, the MSI Afterburner software is highly recommended. With this software you have complete control over your clock speeds, and the best part is that it is entirely free to use. This software offers a straightforward and efficient way to overclock your graphics card, providing a performance boost without risking any damage.
Even if you push the overclock too far, there’s no need to worry since dedicated GPUs are designed to shut down the device to prevent any unrepairable damage from occurring.
Overclocking Tips
- Overclock your laptops hardware in safe and cool environment
- Download the Benchmarking tool Unique valley or other software
- Set the fan speed to maximum, with the MSI app or use your system software
- Run the benchmarking software for about 15 mins to find max temperature
- Proceed to overclock your gaming laptop to find the max performance
Helpful Content: Learn how to keep your gaming laptop cool, an easy-to-follow guide. I use myself to keep my new Razer Blade 15 running optimally.
Tip#19: Undervolt the Processor
For gamers with Intel-based gaming laptops, have the option to Undervolted the processor. Which is also a great way to improve laptop gaming performance. Undervolting is the process of reducing the voltage sent to your CPU and also helps to reduce the heat.
Undervolting your CPU can be more effective than using a laptop cooling pad. However, the results can vary depending on the processor and other factors. Done correctly, you could reduce CPU temps by as much as 30ºC, although this does depend on your system.
Tip#20: Add More RAM
Adding more RAM is relatively inexpensive and easy to do. But it is also one of the best ways to improve system responsiveness. Just ensure you get compatible RAM modules for your specific laptop model. Most gaming laptops come with at least 8GB of RAM, but if it only has 4GB RAM, adding another 4GB could make a big difference when playing games.
How to Add More RAM
- Turn off your laptop, and let the laptop cool down.
- Disconnect all cords, cables, and peripherals.
- Put your gaming laptop upside-down on clean, flat surface.
- Unscrew and remove the bottom of the laptop
- Remove static discharge from yourself by touching metal surface
- Remove your existing memory modules by gently pushing aside the clips
- Be careful, and do not touch the gold connectors on top of the module
- Insert your new RAM sticks and press down until the stick clicks in place.
- Replace the bottom casing and turn your laptop back on.
PRO TIP: Ensure the new RAM sticks are the same speed, size, and the same brand.
Conclusion
Learning how to improve gaming performance on a laptop will help get the most out of your gaming system. By following the steps above you will see a notable difference. You will have a well optimized gaming laptop and be well on your way to the next victory, or first dub.
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Thanks for reading, Cya Next Time!
One response to “20 Tips How To Improve Gaming Performance On Laptop (Boost FPS)”
[…] Besides, why spend all that money on a decent gaming laptop and not take the time to keep it cool? And cooling your laptop will also improve your laptops performance. […]