How to Optimise Windows for Gaming (UK Guide) | Increase FPS & Performance

Learn how to optimise Windows 10 and Windows 11 for gaming. Improve FPS, reduce lag, and boost performance with our UK gaming PC optimisation guide.

3 min read

How to Optimise Windows for Gaming

Increase FPS & Improve Gaming Performance (UK Guide)

Even the most powerful gaming PC can lose performance if Windows isn’t configured properly.

Whether you're running Windows 10 or Windows 11, this guide explains how to optimise Windows for gaming, increase FPS, reduce input lag, and ensure your system runs at its full potential.

These steps are safe, simple, and suitable for all UK gamers.

Why Optimising Windows Matters

Windows runs many background processes by default. While most are harmless, some can:

  • Reduce gaming performance

  • Increase CPU usage

  • Cause micro-stuttering

  • Increase input delay

Optimising your system ensures your hardware focuses on what matters.

Step 1: Enable Windows Game Mode

Windows includes a built-in feature designed specifically for gaming.

How to enable Game Mode:

  1. Open Settings

  2. Click “Gaming”

  3. Select “Game Mode”

  4. Toggle it ON

Game Mode prioritises system resources for gaming and limits background activity.

Step 2: Set Your Power Plan to High Performance

Many systems default to Balanced mode.

For gaming, High Performance ensures your CPU doesn’t throttle unnecessarily.

How to change it:

  1. Open Control Panel

  2. Go to “Power Options”

  3. Select “High Performance”

On some systems, you may need to click “Show additional plans”.

This prevents Windows from limiting your hardware under load.

Step 3: Update Your Graphics Drivers (Very Important)

Your GPU drivers directly affect:

  • FPS performance

  • Stability

  • Game compatibility

  • Ray tracing support

For NVIDIA Graphics Cards:

  • Open Nvidia App

  • Click Drivers

  • Check for updates

Or download directly from the official NVIDIA website.

For AMD Graphics Cards:

  • Open AMD Adrenalin

  • Navigate to Updates

  • Install latest driver

Keeping drivers updated can increase FPS in newer games.

Step 4: Disable Unnecessary Startup Programs

Many applications launch automatically when Windows starts.

These use memory and CPU resources in the background.

To manage startup apps:

  1. Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc

  2. Open Task Manager

  3. Click the “Startup” tab

  4. Disable unnecessary apps

Keep essential items such as security software enabled.

Step 5: Adjust Windows Visual Effects

Windows includes animations that are not needed for gaming.

To reduce visual effects:

  1. Search “Advanced system settings”

  2. Click “Performance Settings”

  3. Select “Adjust for best performance”

This slightly reduces background graphical effects and can improve responsiveness.

Step 6: Enable Hardware-Accelerated GPU Scheduling

Available in Windows 10 (2004+) and Windows 11.

To enable:

  1. Open Settings

  2. Go to System > Display

  3. Click Graphics

  4. Enable “Hardware-accelerated GPU scheduling”

This can reduce latency in some games.

Step 7: Optimise NVIDIA Control Panel Settings (NVIDIA Users)

Right-click desktop → NVIDIA Control Panel → Manage 3D Settings.

Recommended global settings:

  • Power Management Mode: Prefer Maximum Performance

  • Low Latency Mode: On

  • Texture Filtering – Quality: High Performance

Avoid changing settings you don’t understand - global over-tuning can cause instability.

Step 8: Optimise AMD Adrenalin Settings (AMD Users)

Open AMD Adrenalin → Gaming → Graphics.

Recommended:

  • Radeon Anti-Lag: Enabled

  • Radeon Boost: Optional

  • Surface Format Optimisation: Enabled

Again, avoid extreme changes unless testing per-game.

Step 9: Keep Windows Updated

Windows updates often include:

  • Security improvements

  • Stability fixes

  • Performance enhancements

Check monthly:

Settings → Windows Update → Check for Updates

Optional Advanced Tweaks (For Experienced Users)

Only consider these if you are comfortable adjusting system settings:

  • Disable Xbox Game Bar (if unused)

  • Disable background recording

  • Check BIOS for XMP profile (ensures RAM runs at full speed)

  • Ensure Resizable BAR is enabled (if supported)

If unsure, do not modify BIOS settings without guidance. Your Obsidian PC will already have the BIOS Properly configured out of the box.

Common Mistakes That Reduce FPS

  • Installing “FPS booster” software

  • Downloading unofficial driver tools

  • Disabling essential Windows services

  • Using registry tweaks found on forums

Most “gaming optimisation tools” cause more harm than good.

How Much FPS Can You Gain?

Results vary depending on system condition.

Typical improvements after proper optimisation:

  • Smoother frame pacing

  • Reduced input delay

  • Fewer background spikes

  • 5–15% performance improvement in some scenarios

High-quality systems that are already well-configured may see smaller gains.

Final Thoughts

Optimising Windows for gaming ensures your PC performs exactly as intended.

With the right power settings, updated drivers, and controlled background processes, your gaming PC can deliver smoother gameplay, lower latency, and maximum FPS.

If you own an Obsidian PC system, your PC is already stress-tested and configured for performance. But these steps help maintain that edge over time.