Your gaming laptop once felt unstoppable, the fans hummed softly, frames were buttery smooth, and every new title loaded in a blink. But over time, little things start to creep in, slowing performance. If you’ve ever wondered how to optimize gaming laptop performance without buying a new one, this guide has you covered.
Dust clogs the vents, old updates weigh down Windows, and suddenly the same machine that carried you through boss fights now struggles to keep up. The good news? That power is still in there. It just needs a bit of care, a tune-up that doesn’t require an engineering degree. With a few smart tweaks, you can take your laptop from sluggish to sharp, ready to face every battle with the same edge it had on day one.
How to optimize gaming laptop with regular cleaning and updates
Your laptop is like a workspace: when it’s tidy, everything flows smoothly, but when it’s cluttered, performance suffers. Over time, unused software, leftover files, and even dust inside the machine start to drag things down. Keeping your laptop clean means taking care of both the software side and the hardware side.
Clean up unnecessary software and files
- Uninstall unused programs: Trial software, OEM bloatware, and apps you never use can run in the background and hog memory. Tools like Revo Uninstaller or CCleaner can completely remove them, including hidden leftover files.
- Manage startup apps: Open Task Manager and check the Startup tab. Disable programs that launch automatically but aren’t needed for gaming, like chat apps or updaters. This frees up RAM for your games.
- Free up storage space: Games run best when your drives have at least 15–20% free space. Use Windows’ built-in Disk Cleanup or Storage Sense to clear temporary files, old update data, and cached files.
Stay current with updates
- Windows updates: These often include important performance and security fixes. They also ensure you’re running the latest DirectX version, which many modern games rely on.
- Driver updates (beyond GPU): While GPU drivers matter most for gaming, don’t forget sound, chipset, and network drivers. Updated drivers can reduce crashes and improve stability.
Maintain physical health
- Dust management: Dust acts like a blanket over your fans and heatsinks. Every few months, use compressed air to clear vents. This lowers internal temperatures and prevents thermal throttling.
- Safe usage habits: Place your laptop on a hard surface, not on a bed or couch. Soft materials block airflow and trap heat, leading to poor performance.
Check for malware
Even if you’re careful, malware or adware can sneak in and quietly consume CPU and memory in the background. Run a quick scan with Windows Security or another trusted antivirus to ensure nothing suspicious is draining resources. By combining these steps, you’re essentially giving your laptop a fresh start, more memory available, smoother boot-ups, fewer background processes, and a cooler system overall. This is one of the simplest methods for anyone learning how to optimize gaming laptop performance.
Update graphics drivers and game clients
If your GPU is the engine of your gaming laptop, then drivers are the fine-tuning that keep it running at peak efficiency. Without updates, even the strongest hardware can stumble, giving you lower FPS, crashes, or odd glitches in your favourite games.
Why driver updates matter
Graphics drivers aren’t static as NVIDIA, AMD, and Intel constantly release new versions that:
- Optimise performance for the latest game releases.
- Fix visual bugs, crashes, and stability issues.
- Improve compatibility with new Windows updates or DirectX versions.
- Sometimes deliver noticeable FPS boosts driver updates have been known to increase performance in specific titles by 10–20%.
Tools for easy updates
- NVIDIA users: Install GeForce Experience. It automatically checks for new Game Ready drivers and installs them with one click. It can also optimise in-game settings for you.
- AMD users: Use the Adrenalin software suite, which provides driver updates, performance tuning, and even live performance monitoring.
- Intel users: If you’re gaming on Intel Arc or Iris GPUs, download drivers from the Intel Driver & Support Assistant.
Don’t forget your game platforms
Drivers aren’t the only things that need refreshing. Game platforms like Steam, Epic Games Launcher, Origin, or Battle.net regularly push updates that patch bugs, improve matchmaking, and even enhance performance. Keeping them updated means:
- Your games launch more smoothly.
- Multiplayer features (like crossplay or anti-cheat) work correctly.
- You don’t miss out on hotfixes or performance tweaks developers release after launch.
Extra step for stability
- DirectX & Visual C++ libraries: These system-level frameworks power most modern games. They usually update through Windows Update, but occasionally a game will install the latest version itself. Having the newest versions ensures better performance and fewer crashes.
- Firmware or BIOS updates: These are for advanced users. Occasionally, laptop makers release BIOS updates that improve thermal management or compatibility with newer GPUs. Only install these if recommended by your laptop manufacturer.
Keeping drivers and clients updated is like refuelling your car with premium fuel instead of letting it run on empty. It doesn’t cost you anything, but it can unlock hidden performance, fix annoying bugs, and make sure every new game you buy runs as smoothly as possible.
Optimise in-game settings for performance
Game settings can look intimidating, but you don’t need to change everything to see improvements. A few targeted tweaks can free up FPS without making your games look ugly.
- Start with the big hitters: Lower or disable shadows, anti-aliasing, and motion blur. These settings look nice but drain performance quickly.
- Resolution matters: If your laptop is struggling, dropping resolution slightly (e.g. from 1080p to 900p) can give a noticeable FPS boost.
- Enable Windows Game Mode: Found under Settings > Gaming, this helps Windows allocate resources to your game and mute background interruptions.
- Tweak GPU control panel: NVIDIA and AMD control panels let you prioritise performance over visuals globally. This ensures your games always default to smoother play.
- Cap your FPS if overheating: Running games uncapped may overwork your GPU and raise temps. Capping at 60 FPS often results in a smoother, more consistent experience with less heat and fan noise.
These adjustments take minutes and can transform gameplay from choppy to fluid without extra hardware, another key step if you’re learning how to optimize gaming laptop performance. If you’d like a deeper dive into setup essentials, check out the PC Gaming Buying Guide for recommendations on gear and accessories that can take your experience even further.
Power and performance settings in Windows
Windows is designed to balance performance with battery life, but when gaming, you want every bit of power your laptop can give. Adjusting these settings ensures your hardware isn’t being held back.
- Switch to High Performance (or Ultimate Performance): In Power Options, select a plan that prioritises speed. This stops Windows from downclocking your CPU to save energy.
- Manage startup programs: Many apps run at boot and keep consuming resources. Open Task Manager > Startup tab, and disable anything you don’t need during gaming.
- Turn on hardware-accelerated GPU scheduling: In Display > Graphics settings, enabling this lets the GPU manage its workload more efficiently, reducing latency and overhead.
- Always game plugged in: On battery, most gaming laptops throttle CPU and GPU performance heavily to extend battery life. For full performance and stable FPS, keep your charger connected.
These settings act as a “green light” for your laptop to unleash its full potential whenever you launch a game.
Improve thermal management
Heat is the silent enemy of every gaming laptop. When your CPU or GPU reaches high temperatures, the system automatically slows down (called thermal throttling) to prevent damage. The result? Lower FPS, stuttering, and shorter hardware life. Managing heat well means more consistent performance and a healthier laptop.
- Choose the right surface: Always game on a flat, hard surface like a desk or cooling stand. Soft beds, pillows, or couches block the vents, trapping heat inside.
- Invest in a cooling pad: A good cooling pad, with fans that blow air directly into your laptop’s intake vents, can reduce temperatures by 6–10°C. That might be the difference between smooth play and sudden slowdowns.
- Clean vents regularly: Dust acts like insulation inside your laptop, clogging fans and heatsinks. Every few months, use a can of compressed air to clear vents and fans. Short bursts of air are enough, avoid spinning the fans too fast.
- Monitor your temps: Use tools like MSI Afterburner, HWMonitor, or your laptop brand’s software to keep an eye on CPU and GPU temperatures. If you’re consistently hitting 90°C+, it’s a sign to clean, cool, or adjust your settings.
- Adjust fan profiles if available: Many gaming laptops include performance software that lets you run fans faster. While noisier, higher fan speeds help prevent throttling during long sessions.
By keeping your system cool, you ensure it maintains peak performance longer and extends the lifespan of your components.
Upgrade hardware where possible
While software tweaks and maintenance go a long way, sometimes your laptop simply needs more muscle. A few upgrades can dramatically improve your gaming experience, though options depend on how upgrade-friendly your model is.
- RAM upgrades: If your system has only 8GB, upgrading to 16GB is often the biggest performance boost for modern games. More RAM reduces stutters and ensures smoother multitasking while gaming (like streaming or running voice chat).
- SSD or NVMe drives: If you’re still relying on a hard drive, moving to an SSD is game-changing. Load times can drop from nearly a minute to under 10 seconds. Even upgrading from a SATA SSD to a faster NVMe drive can make Windows and games feel more responsive.
- External GPU (eGPU): For laptops with a Thunderbolt port, eGPUs let you connect a full desktop graphics card. It’s a niche solution, expensive and less portable, but it can transform a weaker laptop into a powerful gaming rig when docked at home.
- Professional installation: Not all laptops allow easy upgrades, especially thin models with soldered memory. Check your laptop’s specs before buying parts. If you’re unsure, Best Buy’s Geek Squad can install compatible upgrades for you safely and quickly.
Even a small upgrade like doubling your RAM or switching to an SSD can breathe new life into an older laptop, making games feel smoother and snappier. Hardware upgrades are often the most impactful part of how to optimize gaming laptop performance long-term.
Use game booster tools (with caution)
Game booster apps often advertise themselves as magic buttons for instant speed. In reality, what they do is close background apps, clear memory, and sometimes adjust GPU/CPU settings, things you could already do yourself.
- When they help: If your laptop is cluttered with background processes, a booster like Razer Cortex or MSI Dragon Center can be convenient. With one click, they free up resources so your game has more breathing room.
- When they don’t: On a well-maintained system, they add little to no benefit. They can even eat resources if left running.
- What to avoid: Stay away from shady “registry optimisers” or unknown performance tools. At best, they’re useless; at worst, they can harm your system. Stick with trusted software, especially those made by your laptop manufacturer.
Think of boosters as shortcuts, not miracles. They’re handy if you want quick clean-up before gaming, but the real performance gains come from the basics: cleaning, updating, and proper settings.
Optimise your network for multiplayer
No matter how powerful your laptop is, a poor connection will ruin the experience. Lag spikes and rubber-banding are every gamer’s nightmare, but a few simple steps can keep your online sessions stable.
- Use Ethernet when possible: A wired connection is more stable and gives lower ping than Wi-Fi. Perfect for competitive play.
- Switch to 5GHz Wi-Fi: If cables aren’t an option, connect to your router’s 5GHz band. It’s faster and less crowded than 2.4GHz.
- Cut background usage: Pause cloud backups, downloads, or streaming apps while gaming. Even an update running in the background can cause lag.
- Explore router settings: Many routers have Quality of Service (QoS) options. Enabling this can prioritise gaming traffic, giving your matches smoother performance.
Network optimisation won’t raise FPS, but it ensures your skills, not your connection, decide the outcome of a match.
Regular maintenance matters
Big fixes help, but the small habits keep your laptop in shape long term. Think of it as routine training for your machine.
- Free up space regularly: Use Disk Cleanup or Storage Sense to clear junk and keep 15–20% of your drive free.
- Run security scans: Malware or cryptominers can secretly hog resources. A quick antivirus scan keeps your system safe and smooth.
- Update all drivers: Beyond graphics, keep sound, chipset, and network drivers current for stability.
- Benchmark after changes: Use built-in FPS counters (like Steam overlay) or tools like MSI Afterburner to measure improvements. It’s motivating to see progress in numbers.
A little consistency goes a long way these small steps prevent problems from piling up and keep performance steady. Building this routine into your habits is one of the smartest ways to approach how to optimize gaming laptop performance every day.
Bonus tips for better visuals and experience
Optimisation isn’t just about speed, it’s also about how games feel and look. A few extras can elevate your sessions:
- Silence distractions: Use Windows Focus Assist (Do Not Disturb) to block notifications while you’re in game.
- Stay plugged in: Playing on battery reduces performance and wears the battery faster. Plugging in gives stable, full power.
- Calibrate your display: Adjust brightness, contrast, and colour balance for sharper visuals. Dark areas become clearer, making it easier to spot details.
- Upgrade the experience: An external monitor with a high refresh rate (144Hz or above) lets you enjoy every extra frame your GPU produces. Pair it with a quality gaming headset for immersive soundscapes and directional audio cues.
These touches don’t increase raw FPS, but they transform how smooth, immersive, and enjoyable your gaming feels. It’s a reminder that how to optimize gaming laptop performance isn’t only about speed, it’s about the overall experience.
Bring your gaming laptop back to life
Every gaming session tells a story your squad’s last-minute win, the perfect sniper shot, or the campaign mission you’ll never forget. But none of those moments feel the same when your laptop is stuttering, lagging, or overheating. Learning how to optimize gaming laptop performance isn’t about chasing numbers it’s about unlocking those moments again.
The small steps, cleaning, updating, tweaking settings bring your machine back to life. And when you’re ready, upgrades like RAM, SSDs, or cooling pads from Best Buy Canada’s PC Gaming collection add a new chapter to that story. In the end, you don’t need a brand-new rig to enjoy peak performance. You just need to give your laptop the care it deserves. And when you do, the story continues smoother, faster, and more immersive than before.
