When you build your own PC, you get the chance to create a machine tailored to your specific needs. However, even after that, you need to ensure that you squeeze every ounce of performance out of it or simply push the PC to its full potential. This can help speed up your gaming rig, boost your video editing performance, or simply get the most value for your expenditure.
Knowing a few optimization tricks can make all the difference, and we’ll take you through several.
Optimize the Cooling
Using resource-intensive programs makes your CPU and GPU get too hot. And when they do, they automatically slow down to prevent damage. Slowing down is not in your interest, so you need to regulate the temperatures.
The first thing you need to do is invest in high-quality fans or liquid cooling when building the PC. A Good cooling mechanism will help lower temperatures depending on the tasks.
Apart from that, ensure you have good airflow inside your case by positioning it well and organizing your cables. You can also regularly dust off your PC, as dust buildup can end up clogging fans and heat sinks.
Overclock Your GPU and CPU
Your GPU and CPU come with various specifications. However, their performance can actually go beyond the factory settings. Unlocking that extra performance is what is known as overclocking, and it can help significantly increase the performance of your PC and handle tasks like gaming, video editing, and 3D rendering smoothly.
The process is a bit technical, but you’ll essentially need an overclocking kit and another one to test the performance. Increasing the speed should be done gradually while testing to ensure stability after each adjustment.
However, keep in mind that the extra performance also means extra heat is generated, so ensure you have an efficient cooling system. If the heat gets too high, the GPU and CPU will automatically slow down and wipe out the benefits.
Upgrade to an SSD
It’s simple, but it’s one of the most effective upgrades you can do. If you use a traditional hard drive (HDD), it’s time to upgrade it to a solid-state drive (SSD). These newer drives use flash memory instead of spinning disks, which makes them much faster. You will immediately get faster boot rates, your programs will load faster, and data access will be faster, significantly boosting your overall PC performance.
Besides the speed, you will also benefit from increased reliability. If you use your PC for long hours with an HDD, the moving parts mean that your hard disk is prone to physical damage, and you can easily lose your data.
Fine-Tune Power Settings
Boosting performance isn’t all about the hardware. In fact, one of the simplest things you can do to increase speed is tinkering with the power settings. PCs are built to balance performance and energy efficiency, with a balanced option as the default.
Whenever you want to use resource-intensive programs, you can switch from ‘Balanced’ to ‘High Performance.’ This will allow your PC to prioritize speed over power saving, so your programs will perform much better. If you want even more control, you can customize CPU power management to ensure that it always stays at its peak.
Keep Drivers and BIOS Updated
Drivers are the software that allows your hardware – like the GPU, motherboard, and peripherals – to communicate with the operating system. If they are outdated, this usually leads to reduced performance or even instability in the system.
Driver updates usually come as part of operating system updates, so ensure you install them when they come. For BIOS, which controls the basic functions of your PC, the updates are less frequent. However, they can improve hardware compatibility, especially if you’ve set up new parts.
Updating both types of software will ensure you optimize performance and enjoy new features.
