Optimising computer for games/performance

mrapoc · Jul 19, 2006, 19:11:21

Right to start, remove all programs that you do not use or plan to use in the future as this uses hard drive space and is unnecessary. Once you have cleared any programs you do not use, I recommend using a registry cleaner. I use http://www.ccleaner.com/ as it is a free tool and it provides a cleaning tool too for clearing cache and history etc. Be careful while using the registry cleaner (if you are not sure, MAKE A BACKUP!) I would also recommend http://www.tune-up.com/products/tuneup-utilities/, it costs money but try it free (and decide to buy if you like). It provides a registry cleaner (finds what ccleaner misses), a cleanup service (also like ccleaner) but comes with many optimisation tools such as registry defrag, performance/appearance tweaks, checks settings that may slow your computer down and helps change them. It also allows you to modify the xp theme

Also get a better defragger as this makes significant performance difference! http://www.raxco.com/products/perfectdisk2k/ this is the best out so far as it provides the most in depth defragment. Many people overlook this but, GET A GOOD ANTIVIRUS! www.bitdefender.com yields the best results for me so far (after going through a phase testing av programs

. Go to start > run and type msconfig and go to startup, remove any programs not needed (this can be achieved a LOT easier with tuneup utilities as it advises you which program to keep / remove 8) which is cool)
Scandisk quite often too as this fixes problems with your computers registry (start > my computer > right click drive you want to scan > tools > scandisk > check both boxes and restart

If i can think of anything else i'll add it, but if none of it works, overclock

or buy new hardware

i accept no responsibility for nawbs messing with their registry

peace out

Jeff · Jul 19, 2006, 20:54:54

Nice tips man

VaderDSL · Aug 07, 2006, 16:20:26

Indeed nice post

I personally use :

mrapoc · Aug 07, 2006, 16:44:09

O yea...use spybot search and destroy and lavasoft adaware se personal for free, spyware free, totally pwnage computer usage 8)

maxping · Aug 07, 2006, 17:52:04

Vader you don't run both the anti virus progs at the same time do you?

To the list you should add :- (you can run them at the same time with no problems)

Spywareblaster -- http://www.softpedia.com/get/Internet/Popup-Ad-Spyware-Blockers/SpywareBlaster.shtml

Spywareguard -- http://www.softpedia.com/get/Internet/Popup-Ad-Spyware-Blockers/SpywareGuard.shtml

VaderDSL · Aug 07, 2006, 18:05:58

No

I run Kaspersky on my main PC, Avast on my dads PC

I run NOD32 on my second PC, but I hate it .. (the computer that is, can't seem to find a use for it yet)

spiral · Aug 07, 2006, 19:35:42

I use NOD32 on my main pc, it use's a small amount of memory which i find good and it also scans nice and fast.

Thanks for the tips mrapoc i got a copy of perfeck disk, it seems to work well.

William · Aug 07, 2006, 21:53:08

Quote from: spiral on Aug 07, 2006, 19:35:42
I use NOD32 on my main pc, it use's a small amount of memory which i find good and it also scans nice and fast.

Me too - nothing to touch it after six years of continuous use. I know I'm going to regret saying this but not one infection in all that time.

mrapoc · Aug 08, 2006, 13:38:57

How do you know? It could be missing them

mrapoc · Aug 08, 2006, 13:41:43

If you want total - and i mean total spyware protection check out hitman pro...it combines all the popular spyware (and antivirus if you want) into one big automatic scan. it also adds on a load of security stuff but i dont use it, it locks down too many things i use.

William · Aug 24, 2006, 19:38:46

Quote from: mrapoc on Aug 08, 2006, 13:38:57
How do you know? It could be missing them

True, but if so it's missing them seamlessly and with no perceptible system slowdown! What more could you want?

Sorry for the late reply - just got back from two sun-drenched weeks in Istanbul.

mrapoc · Aug 26, 2006, 15:09:10

cool hope a had a gd 1

William · Aug 26, 2006, 21:07:13

Quote from: mrapoc on Aug 26, 2006, 15:09:10
cool hope a had a gd 1

Certainly did!

zimmerframe · Oct 20, 2006, 11:29:18

Maybe not quite games optimisation but in addition to these, a natty little utility for seeing what is running on your PC is Process explorer http://www.sysinternals.com/Utilities/ProcessExplorer.html

Another useful utility is Belarc Adviser. http://www.belarc.com/free_download.html. very useful for seeing what is installed on your PC and version numbers etc. It also give licence numbers for software/OS too

Nerval · Oct 20, 2006, 11:35:16

yes, when I first ran Belarc, I was amazed at all the stuff on my machine. It was worse than my attic.

drummer · Oct 22, 2006, 02:26:56

At the risk of teaching grandmothers to suck eggs, http://tweakguides.com/ is a really useful site for tips and tweaks.

mrapoc · Oct 22, 2006, 13:52:39

Good site drummer

sallyandjames · Oct 23, 2006, 16:20:17

Bunging some extra RAM in is often a good way to boost performance.
Getting cheaper by the days too, and not difficult.

Check out www.crucial.com for an easy to follow ordering process.

Nerval · Oct 23, 2006, 16:21:31

Quote from: sallyandjames on Oct 23, 2006, 16:20:17
Bunging

You a football manager then?

sallyandjames · Oct 23, 2006, 16:42:52

LOL, I don't have the cash to give bungs (happy to receive them if somebody has one they need shut of)

mrapoc · Oct 24, 2006, 18:16:08

OK, now we're talking hardware, i could go on with loads of recommendations but to make myself an easier job, ill recommend you to my friends over at www.overclock3d.net for all your computing needs

jsut say hi in the introductions part of the forum and say mrapoc sent ya

If it wasn't for Jeff I wouldn't have gone on there

Willie · Nov 01, 2006, 20:03:15

Hi all,

just thought i would throw in my 2 cents....i have been building/configuring/tweaking pc's for years, unfortunately it's my job and hobby....a couple of things spring to mind when offering advice on configuring a gaming rig, firstly PSU PSU PSU....a good power supply is paramount to a stable system, many call-outs i attend for flaky mid to high end systems are built around a cheap case with thrown in PSU....not good....personnally i have a £80 Seasonic which moves with my different pc's, now i'm not advocating spending big money on PSU but when u consider that you can spend £100 on a mobo, £200-300 on VGA, £100-200 on memory and £100 on a HDD it always amazes me to see a £20 power supply....also plenty of memory for office systems 512/1024mb is good, for gaming 2gb's is nearly a necessity these days....honestly on an average specced system memory takes precedence over CPU....not always but if i had a choice of upgrading either my mem or CPU (unless the CPU is really piss poor) i'll go for mem every time

on the software side all the above is good advice....defrag often, clean out old clutter, keep ur OS & AV up-todate and always always watch out for virus and spam emails/programs....now if you are already competent and wanting to go to the next level of overclocking most look at the hardware and forget about the OS/software, check this link for tweaking services on XP....i've been tweaking servers for years and can vouch for the benefits....http://www.technobabble.com.au/technobabble/html/gaming/gaming2.htmweaking , read carefully and go into it with eyes wide open....backup backup backup....but have fun and i hope it helps in some small way....

Willie

William · Nov 02, 2006, 07:26:32

http://www.technobabble.com.au/technobabble/html/gaming/gaming2.htmweaking

took me here.

Nerval · Nov 02, 2006, 07:43:18

Perhaps Australian Web Hosting comes and does the tweaking for you

Willie · Nov 02, 2006, 17:41:18

Hi peeps,

silly Willie, many many apologies dunno what happened....it was working a couple of days ago....ah well never mind try this link, it basically talks about the same stuff and some other good tips as well....

http://forums.guide2games.org/index.php?showtopic=2716

hope this helps....

Willie