Optimising Your System For Games

[Sven2157]

How to Properly Configure Your Computer for GAMES/PROGRAMS

Hello everyone,

I am constantly seeing people, all over the internet, with problems running their programs/games on their computers. They ALL are experiencing slow boot times, in game lag, freezing, OOM Errors (Out of Memory), low FPS and numerous other "issues". They are also, consuming A LOT of database space asking the same questions. I will try and consolidate those questions and answers here.

So I am writing this "CHECK LIST GUIDE" of common problems and solutions. It contains basic/mandatory system configurations, as well as advanced techniques; thus improving your game play, software development/designing and overall computer performance. All while maintaining the best possible visual experience.

***PLEASE REMEMBER THAT THIS IS A GUIDE! NOT A MUST! ANY CHANGES YOU MAKE TO YOUR SYSTEM, ARE SOLELY YOUR CHOICE AND RESPONSIBILITY! I, NOR THE MODERATORS OF THESE FORUMS, CAN, AND WILL NOT, BE HELD LIABLE FOR YOUR OWN ACTIONS!***


So let's begin...

First and Foremost!

Please update your Motherboard, BIOS, SMBus/USB/Memory/Video/Audio/Storage Controllers (<--System), Video, Sound, Human Interface Device (HID) Controllers (<--Your Joystick/Gamepad), Mouse and other such drivers. Also run a system Defrag, to defragment your hard drive. This should be done at least monthly; as all of the afore mentioned will resolve 99.9% of the issues experienced by users!

Also clear your Temporary files

1. - Click Start..>.."Run.." (Vista Users may not have this enabled <by default>, so the shortcut is "Windows Key+'R')

2. - In the "Run" Box type: %Temp% Your Temporary File Folder will come up. Select ALL, and delete them. Don't worry, they are TEMPORARY FILES. Some programs do not clear these when they are finished, so you have to go manually delete them. This then makes it easier for other programs to store temporary files needed for execution.


Getting rid of the stuff you didn't even know was there... O.O(<--BTW I am writing this in notepad and transferring it to the forums; so my smilies my not show up -.-)

When you download and install commercial products - Adobe Flash, Adobe Reader, Google Earth, etc, etc - , you have to be mindful what the installer is asking you...



This is a common mistake by users. They want the program, but either don't realize that there are other programs "Piggy Backing" in, or don't care. This is where problems begin.

"Well, what's wrong with the Google Toolbar?" 8-/ The answer to that is simple: EVERYTHING!

These programs seem harmless, and have a very small file size: .4 - 2.5MB. But that is not where the problem lies. Programs like this, and Toolbars especially, are constantly TRANSMITTING data to their prospective authors. This includes where you surf, what you buy, where you live, what time you access the internet, who is logged into the Operating System (<-- BETTER BELIEVE IT! >:-{ ), your ISP, etc, etc. Consequently, this is not only eating up the processing power and RAM of your computer, but now you are losing crucial bandwidth.

Ever wonder how "that guy" can come around the corner and just kill you, in FPS games? Because he has a CLEAR connection to the server, and saw you LONG before you knew he was there!

"But I like my Toolbar (Google, or other)!" Why? IE7 and FireFox has a Google Search built right into them. They have Pop-Up Blockers, and Auto Complete, as well. Why have redundant software running?

So let's get rid of ALL that crap, and free up some drive space!

1. - Click start..>..Control Panel..>..Add/Remove Programs(XP)/Programs and Features(Vista).

2. - Go through the list, when it populates, and remove ANY "extra" programs that you do not use. If you accidently remove something you need, you can certainly get it back.

What you are looking for: (not in any particular order)

Adobe.com
Adobe Updater *Nothing like losing bandwidth, then getting kick out of game because Abode thinks it's more important!
Apple Updater
Google Chrome *Transmits data continuosly
Google Desktop *I would love to slap the guy who invented this! ;-)
Google Updater *Big process eater! Transmits data constantly!
Google Toolbar
MY SEARCH - ANYTHING! *Big process eater! Also Installs Viruses and Malware automatically!
Java Updater
Yahoo Search
Yahoo Mail
Yahoo Toolbar
Windows Live Installer
Windows Live SkyDrive
Windows Live Photos
MyWeb - ANYTHING! *Big process eater! Continuosly running.
HP/Lexmark/Cannon/Kodak - Anything you don't use. As long as you don't delete the driver, your printer/camera/scanner will still function!
Dell/Acer/HP/Gateway/eMachines, etc, etc Pre-Installed Manufacturer Programs *These programs are "extra" and cause your system to run slow. Most of them duplicate Windows built in features!

Also, look for anything that you don't use or that looks suspicious. Once again, if you remove it, and find you need it, you can get it back! So don't be afraid; Don't be overzealous, either!

Now for the real stuff! Processes and Services!

These are the real KILLERS! When programs install, they generally write their own rules; as most users don't really know how to respond even when asked! The problem with this is they ALL FIGHT to be NUMERO UNO! They ALL think they are the greatest thing since crawling out of the sea, and growing lungs and legs! :-D

So we have to go tell them ALL who the real boss is! YOU, the user!

1. - Click Start..>.."Run..." (Vista Users may not have this enabled <by default>, so the shortcut is "Windows Key+'R')

2. - When the "Run..." Box opens, type: MSCONFIG (<--not case sensative)



3. - When the "System Configuration" window appears, click "Selective startup".



4. - Click the "Services Tab".



5. - ***THIS IS AN IMPORTANT STEP! PAY ATTENTION TO WHAT YOU ARE DOING HERE!*** Click ONLY the "Hide all Microsoft Services" box!



6. - Now the window will only show you 3rd party services that start when Windows starts. However you NEED some of these! Like your Norton/McAffee/AVG Anti-Virus and Internet Security services. Display Drivers/Software, Storage Drivers (i.e. RAID), etc, etc. Trial an error may be the best approach on this tab. Turn a couple off, see where that gets you, then try a couple more.

7. - Now click the "Startup" Tab. You can turn ALL of these off if you want. Once again, READ what you are doing! In the picture below, I leave my RAID, VIDEO and Sidebar on, because I use that to monitor my system. (Vista Users - In the picture below, the 2 "Microsoft® Windows® Operating System" items you see, are for the Sidebar; they are not crucial!)



8. - When you have finished, click "Apply", then "Ok". ***IF YOU DO NOT WANT THE CHANGES TO TAKE AFFECT OR HAVE MADE A MISTAKE, CLICK "CANCEL"!*** The configuaration utility will then prompt you with the following image:



9. - Press "Restart" (Pressing "Exit without Restart" will not reboot your computer. However, when you manually reboot the system changes will take affect!), when the system starts back up, YOU WILL RECIEVE A "SYSTEM CONFIGURATION MESSAGE". Just Check the, "Don't show this again" box and click "Ok".

***IF YOU ARE EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS, REPEAT STEPS 1 AND 2. THIS TIME SELECTING "NORMAL STARTUP"*** Then click "Apply", "Ok", "Restart". This will return all Services and Startup options back to the original settings!



OK... Almost there... O.o Now let's get some memory back....

1. - Right-click My Computer(XP)/Computer(Vista)..>..Choose properties.

VISTA USERS ONLY: The "System Properties" Window appears. Click "Advanced system settings".



XP USERS: Click "Advanced" Tab.



2. - Click the "Settings" button in the Performance row, to open the "Performance Options" Window.



3. - Select the "Advanced" tab, then click the "Change..." button in the Virtual memory row.



4. - Uncheck the box for "Automatically manage paging file size for all drives" if it is checked. ***The next step requires a judgment on your part. In the above image, I have my "Intial Size" set to 4096MB (<--That's 4 GigaBytes!), and my Maximum size is set to 6114 (<--That's 6 GigaBytes!). HOWEVER! I have a 400GB in RAID 0 "C:\" drive! In other words, I HAVE ROOM TO SPARE! Most of you will want to set this to approximately 2048 Init/3072MB Max; ROUGHLY!

***NOTE: XP Users can only set a MAXIMUM of 4096MB for their Paging Files!***

5. - Now click "Set". You will be prompted, after clicking "Ok", that you have to reboot, so... Reboot.

What did I just do!?!? O.O Good question! You are very smart! ;-)

In simple terms...

This is going to expand your "Paging File". Windows uses the "Paging File" as "secondary memory", by writing "chunks" of data to the Hard Drive. This way it can recall information faster than searching the rest of the drive. This data is not permanent and is constantly changing.

Ever wonder why your hard drive light flashes, even when Windows is idle? Windows allocates (or reserves) RAM and Virtual Memory (<--Paging File) for it's own greedy use; whether or not it actually needs it. This reserve is for system processes and what not. When the size of this is SET by the user, you free up the constant size changing, increasing or reducing, that windows can and will do to make more or less available; consequently allowing more room to write to the drive = freeing up valuable processing threads and RAM. In turn increasing performance.

...and, Lastly... Is the DREADED OOM!!!!

This next tweak will prevent the Out Of Memory (OOM) Error. This is EXTREMELY effective when working with Adobe CS Series, AutoDesk Products and Games (Microsoft Flight Simulator Pilots, I am looking in your direction!) that are both Graphic and Processor/RAM intensive.

Before I begin, let me briefly descibe what happens here:

Windows thinks its the greatest thing since fire! So, on your PC it will block ALL programs from accessing what it thinks, is it's! I.E MEMORY; both RAM and Virtual!

Once again, you need to go into the OS and tell it who's BOSS, and only give it what it NEEDS; NOT WHAT IT WANTS! XP needs roughly 512MB, while Vista needs about 1GB to function flawlessly with RAM! About 256MB - 512MB of Virtual for BOTH. It has a "Safe Guard" that will flag programs that try to use more than 2GB of either. When this happens, it sends an error message, "Out of Memory...".

To prevent this from happening, and crashing your programs, you need to set this limiter to a higher value. Here is how you do it:

On VISTA: (You have to run the command prompt with elevated privlages)

1. Click the Start..>..All Programs..>..Accessories..>..Right-Click the "Command Prompt" and choose "Run as Administrator".

2. At the command line type the following:

BCDEDIT(SPACE)/Set(SPACE)IncreaseUserVA(SPACE)nnnn (nnnn = the amount you want to increases by! I have mine set for 4096MB)

3. Hit enter, and get the confirmation.

4. REBOOT

5. Confirm that it worked by running the command prompt, typing: BCDEDIT, hit enter and you will see the /userva switch now.... It will be under the "Windows Boot Loader" as increaseuserva = {value you set}

On XP:

1. Right-Click the My Computer..>..Choose "Properties".

2. Click the "Advanced Tab".

3. Click the "Settings" button in the "Startup and Recovery row.

4. click the "Edit" button in the "System startup" row. Now you'll see the boot config. At the very end type /3GB so it looks like this:

*** Do Not Copy as your own Boot file

[boot loader]
timeout=3
default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(2)\WINDOWS
[operating systems]
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(2)\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition" /fastdetect /NoExecute=OptIn /3GB

5. - Reboot

Well Folks, there you go! It will take most of you longer to read this than it will to actually complete these tasks! O.O I hope that this helps!

***IF YOU ARE UNSURE ABOUT ANY OF THE ABOVE, THEN DO NOT PREFORM THESE ACTIONS! ASK HERE FIRST! I, AND THE MODERATORS OF THIS FORUM, ASSUME NO RESPONSIBILITY FOR ANY DAMAGE, LOSS OF DATA/SOFTWARE/HARDWARE, OR OTHER LOSS FOR THE ACTIONS YOU PERSONALLY TAKE!***

Please feel free to ask questions here, if I was not clear on something...

Happy Gaming/Programming

Sven2157