Best Windows Settings & Hardware Upgrades for Smoother PC Gaming

For smoother PC gaming, the top pick combines two things: enabling Hardware-Accelerated GPU Scheduling and Resizable BAR in Windows, and upgrading to a PCIe 4.0 NVMe SSD. These two changes reduce stutter and load times more noticeably than any other single setting or component for the money. They work on most modern systems and cost nothing if your hardware already supports them.

What to Look For

Before spending money, focus on the bottlenecks that actually cause stutter and low frame rates. The main criteria are:

Storage speed: Games stream textures from the drive; a slow HDD or SATA SSD causes pop-in and long load times. NVMe drives with PCIe 3.0 or 4.0 are the baseline.
RAM capacity and speed: 16GB is the minimum for modern titles, 32GB is safer for heavy multitasking. Faster RAM (3200MHz or higher) helps CPUs that are sensitive to memory bandwidth.
GPU utilization: If your GPU is not at 95-100% in games, you are CPU or RAM limited. Settings like Game Mode and Hardware-Accelerated GPU Scheduling can help.
Power plan: The High Performance or Ultimate Performance plan prevents the CPU from downclocking, which reduces frame hitches.
Driver updates: Outdated GPU drivers cause crashes and poor optimization. Always update from the manufacturer’s site.

1. Enable Hardware-Accelerated GPU Scheduling (HAGS)

This Windows setting offloads some memory management from the CPU to the GPU’s scheduling processor. It can reduce input lag and improve frame pacing on systems with a modern GPU (NVIDIA 10-series or newer, AMD RX 5000 or newer).

Strengths: Free, easy to toggle, and can reduce stutter in CPU-bound games. It is especially helpful with high-refresh-rate monitors (144Hz+).

Trade-offs: On some older GPUs or games, it may cause slight instability. If you notice crashes, turn it off.

Who it suits: Anyone with a GPU from the last 5 years who plays competitive shooters or fast-paced action games.

2. Turn On Game Mode and Disable Fullscreen Optimizations

Game Mode (Windows 10/11) prioritizes your game’s CPU and GPU resources. For older games, disabling Fullscreen Optimizations (right-click the .exe, Properties, Compatibility tab) forces true exclusive fullscreen, which can improve performance.

Strengths: No cost, and can improve performance on older titles that do not handle borderless windowed well.

Trade-offs: Game Mode sometimes interferes with overlays (Discord, GeForce Experience). Disable it if you see issues.

Who it suits: Gamers with mid-range PCs that need every bit of performance, and those who play older games.

3. Upgrade to an NVMe SSD (e.g., Samsung 980 Pro, WD Black SN850X)

Swapping your game drive from a HDD or SATA SSD to a PCIe 4.0 NVMe drive cuts load times by up to 70% and eliminates texture pop-in in open-world games. DirectStorage on Windows 11 can also offload decompression from the CPU.

Strengths: Massive improvement in load times and asset streaming. Affordable per GB compared to a few years ago.

Trade-offs: Requires an M.2 slot on your motherboard (check if it supports PCIe 4.0). Not all games benefit equally; older titles may not see a difference.

Who it suits: Anyone with an HDD or SATA SSD, especially players of large open-world games like Cyberpunk 2077 or Starfield.

4. Add More RAM or Faster RAM (16GB to 32GB)

If you have 8GB or 16GB of slow RAM (2400MHz), upgrading to 32GB at 3200MHz or higher can eliminate stutter in memory-hungry games and when multitasking (Discord, browser, game).

Strengths: Reduces hitches and crashes in newer titles. Enables smoother background tasks.

Trade-offs: Diminishing returns past 32GB for gaming. Check your motherboard’s supported speeds; enabling XMP/DOCP is required to get rated speeds.

Who it suits: Gamers who notice stutter when alt-tabbing, or who play simulation/strategy games that use lots of RAM.

5. Update GPU Drivers and Use NVIDIA/AMD Control Panel Settings

Always install the latest Game Ready drivers (NVIDIA) or Adrenalin drivers (AMD). In the control panel, set Power Management Mode to Prefer Maximum Performance, and enable Low Latency Mode (NVIDIA) or Radeon Anti-Lag.

Strengths: Free, and can boost FPS by 5-15% in some titles. Fixes bugs and adds optimizations for new games.

Trade-offs: Sometimes new drivers introduce regressions; if you see issues, roll back. The control panel settings can increase power draw and heat.

Who it suits: Every PC gamer, but especially those with mid-range GPUs that need every frame.

6. Set Windows Power Plan to High Performance

In Control Panel > Power Options, choose High Performance (or Ultimate Performance if available). This prevents the CPU from downclocking during short bursts, which reduces frame time spikes.

Strengths: Simple, free, and helps with CPU-bound games.

Trade-offs: Slightly higher idle power draw and heat. Laptops will see reduced battery life.

Who it suits: Desktop users with a stable power supply, and laptop users who prioritize performance over battery.

How to Choose

Start with the free Windows settings (HAGS, Game Mode, power plan, driver updates) – they cost nothing and can fix many stutter issues. If you still have slow load times, upgrade to an NVMe SSD first; it is the most noticeable hardware change for the money. If you have 16GB of RAM and play modern AAA titles, consider going to 32GB, especially if you multitask. For GPU upgrades, that is a bigger budget decision – a mid-range card like an RTX 4060 or RX 7600 is fine for 1080p, while a high-end card is needed for 4K or high refresh rates. Always check your CPU to avoid bottlenecking a new GPU.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Will enabling HAGS cause crashes?
A: Rarely, but on some older GPUs or games it can. If you experience crashes, disable it and check if the issue persists.

Q: Does Game Mode actually help?
A: For most modern games, it gives a small boost (1-5% FPS) by prioritizing resources. It is free, so there is no reason not to enable it.

Q: Is 16GB of RAM enough for gaming?
A: Yes for most games, but 32GB is becoming the sweet spot for heavy titles and multitasking. If you see stutter when alt-tabbing, upgrade.

Q: How do I know if my SSD is the bottleneck?
A: If load times are over 30 seconds or textures pop in during movement, an NVMe upgrade will help. Check your task manager’s disk usage during game loading.

Q: Should I upgrade my GPU or CPU first?
A: Check your GPU utilization in games. If it is below 90%, your CPU is likely the bottleneck, so upgrade that first. If it is at 99%, upgrade the GPU.

Q: Does Resizable BAR help?
A: Yes, it can improve performance by allowing the CPU to access the full GPU memory. Enable it in BIOS if you have a compatible system (AMD 5000 series or Intel 10th gen+ with a compatible GPU).

Bottom Line

Start with the free Windows settings: enable HAGS, Game Mode, High Performance power plan, and update your drivers. If you have a budget, upgrade to an NVMe SSD first – it is the most impactful hardware change for smoothness. Then consider more RAM if you multitask. A GPU upgrade is the biggest performance leap but costs the most; only do it if your CPU can keep up. These steps will make your gaming noticeably smoother without overspending.

General steps for current mainstream versions; menus can differ by device and version. See the disclaimer or report an error.

More in this bed

The whole Tech How-To bed →