10 Steps to Minimize Game Lags in Windows 10

The concept of gaming lags is familiar to every gamer, but they can appear for completely different reasons. If your goal is to provide a perfectly smooth gaming experience, you need to ensure that your computer is fast enough, the game is properly optimized for your PC, and you need to configure the Internet.

Here are our tips on how you can optimize your gaming experience and beat lag. By the way, some of the tips listed below also work on consoles.

How to Fix Lags in Games on Windows 10?

#1 Go to SSD

Your hard drive’s speed directly affects loading times. When playing demanding games on a computer with a traditional mechanical hard disk, you may experience lags and even freezing.

To resolve these issues, we recommend upgrading to an SSD. Windows runs noticeably slower on an HDD compared to an SSD. By properly configuring the SSD, gaming speed can be dramatically improved.

#2: Set up the Internet

Ensure a stable internet connection with consistent speed and minimal latency (signal delay). Access a comprehensive speed testing service like speedtest.net or dslreports.com using your web browser.

Verify that the internet speed is sufficient (most games function well with 10 Mbit/s, while video streaming requires 50-100 Mbit/s) and has minimal delay (also known as ping).

Modern fiber optic channels usually offer a ping of 5-50 ms, which is suitable for most games. A delay in the range of hundreds of milliseconds could significantly hinder your chances of winning a battle royale.

To resolve this issue, you might need to experiment with the Wi-Fi settings on your router, relocate it closer to your gaming computer, switch to a wired connection (note that professional players only use wired connections), or consider changing your internet service provider.

You can also use a VPN for gaming, which protects against the throttling of your Internet channel. A good gaming VPN can also optimize the traffic route, helping you switch to other servers with lower ping that are not available in your region by default.

One of the interesting software in the market is VeePN, it is recommended by gamers themselves for smooth gaming sessions.

#3: Optimize your game’s settings

If your game consumes too many resources and your graphics card lacks sufficient processing power, you may end up having a frustrating gaming experience.

To alleviate this, consider adjusting the detail level and resolution in the game settings. Prioritize reducing unnecessary visual effects while keeping important elements like viewing distance intact to enhance your chances of winning.

If available, enable an FPS indicator and fine-tune the settings until you consistently achieve a frame rate of 30-60 frames per second on your system.

Having a higher frame rate is generally advantageous as it allows room for graphics enhancements, while frame rates below this range are often considered unplayable for dynamic games like shooters.

#4: Monitor equipment temperature

As the CPU temperature increases, it initiates performance throttling to reduce power consumption and heat generation.

While this safeguard prevents long-term hardware damage, it can result in decreased processing speed and occasional gameplay stuttering.

To determine if your PC is suffering from overheating, utilize third-party tools like Core Temp to monitor the CPU temperature during intensive gaming. If the temperature exceeds the 80℃ threshold, throttling may occur.

If overheating is indeed the issue, the solution varies depending on the type of system. For desktop computers, applying fresh thermal paste and upgrading the cooling fan usually resolves the problem.

Conversely, laptops typically require appropriate ventilation and regular cleaning of dust particles to maintain optimal temperature regulation.

#5: Find the correct power plan

By default, laptops prioritize power usage and battery life by employing the Balanced power plan in Windows 10. However, this setting may not provide enough power for gaming purposes.

To ensure optimal performance, it is recommended to switch to a performance-focused power plan while gaming. This configuration allows your hardware to operate at its maximum potential.

You can easily switch back to a power-efficient plan. Access the Power Options in the Control Panel to set your power plan to Best Performance.

#6: Free up PC resources

To prevent lag in your game, close any browser windows, chat apps, and other non-system and non-game-related applications that compete for resources. This simple trick can resolve lag issues.

For a better understanding of memory and processing power consumption, utilize the Windows Task Manager app. Click on the “More Details” button at the bottom of the window to access detailed information on all running processes.

Sort the table by the “Memory” and “CPU” columns and consider closing the most resource-intensive processes. You may discover additional hidden app offenders, such as a background messenger client or other inconspicuous applications.

#7: Update your drivers

Outdated drivers on Windows 10/8/7 computers often lead to hardware or software problems, causing PC lag. The solution is updating drivers to reduce lag and improve performance.

#8: Update yourself promptly

Turning off Windows Updates is a common practice for many users. Whether it’s to avoid constant installations or conserve bandwidth, the choice to disable updates may seem inconsequential.

However, when it comes to gaming, it’s crucial to consider the resource-intensive nature of this activity on your computer. Without essential updates, various components may operate below their full potential.

Every update, whether it’s the latest drivers or bug fixes, brings optimization improvements. Microsoft strongly advises staying up-to-date with updates, especially if you enjoy gaming on your computer.

#9: Get rid of trash

When you buy a new computer, it probably comes with a bunch of pre-installed programs. Over time, these can accumulate on older PCs. However, most of these applications are never used, and some can run in the background without your knowledge.

Running multiple programs simultaneously, even on a computer with sufficient memory, can slow it down and cause lag. Therefore, it is essential to manually close these programs or use Task Manager to identify and terminate any running processes.

Optimizing your hard drive’s efficiency is a great way to improve performance. To do this, right-click on the C drive in My Computer or This PC, select Properties, and go to the Tools tab. From there, choose the Optimize option to start optimizing your computer’s drive for better efficiency.

#10: Increase your RAM

Compare the game requirements and the specifications of your PC. Perhaps it’s time to add RAM. For smooth performance, a maximum of 16 GB of RAM suffices, considering the operating system’s needs as well.

Memory speed plays a crucial role, with newer generation RAM surpassing older sticks in terms of access speeds. Opting for a dual-channel configuration, consisting of two 8 GB sticks, proves superior to a single 16 GB module.