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Gaming on a PC is enjoyable, not just for the games but for the control over the interface and settings. However, identical PCs can still differ in performance. Optimizing BIOS settings can enhance gaming, offering a smoother experience

Imagine this: you kicked back, took out that special gaming keyboard and mouse, and launched the game on your computer, only to find that everything is running a little different from when you played it on your friend’s PC. 

The thing is, the same game on two different PCs of the exact same model and specs can be slower or glitchy on one. 

You can fix these problems by tweaking your RAM or SSD BIOS settings or just optimizing your PC BIOS for better performance and gaming. In this article, we highlight a few things you must know and do if you want a better gaming experience by optimizing your Windows BIOS settings.

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What Is BIOS?

BIOS is short for “Basic Input/Output System.” It is not quite the engine of your computer, but it comes really close. It is the first code to kick in whenever you boot up your computer. Thus, once you have a good handle on it, you can determine how your PC runs every time you turn it on.

How to Get into the BIOS Settings

You will not find the BIOS settings within the normal Windows-running interface. These settings can only be assessed when your PC is booting up. In other words, that small interval of time between your PC coming on and launching your default drivers and services is when you can intercept it and get into the BIOS settings.

Also interesting: What is BIOS Whitelist and should I remove it from my PC?

Tips for accessing the BIOS settings on Windows computers

To access the BIOS settings on your Windows PC, follow the steps outlined below:

  1. Restart your computer. This is so you can get the PC into that aforementioned phase between its initial bootup and loading of drivers and services. You can do this by closing every program you have running in the background and then clicking Windows key + D to get to your desktop. Next, use Alt + F4 to get the shutdown options, and scroll down until you get to Restart.
  2. After the computer goes off, start clicking the hotkeys. The hotkeys on your Windows keyboard include the F1 to F12 keys. Continue to click on the F2 key once your PC comes on. Don’t allow it to load up the OS (operating system)—so if you see your PC showing the Windows logo, you were a second too late. Restart the process.
Getting access to your Gigabyte BIOS settings might be a little different in terms of the hotkeys that you use. However, the process is generally the same.

Also interesting: How to Perform a Clean Boot in Windows 10?

What if you can’t get into the BIOS settings even after clicking on hotkeys during Windows startup?

If you click on F2 multiple times and you still can’t get into the BIOS settings, something is wrong with your Windows startup procedure. Usually, this means you have the fast startup protocol in operation, and you might need to remove this before you can use the BIOS settings.

To fix this problem, follow the steps below:

  • Use Windows key + S to search for “Control Panel.”
  • Enter the Control Panel page and search for Power Options.
Control Panel>Power Options
  • Select the Change what the power buttons do option under Power Options.
Change what the power buttons do
  • Click on Change settings that are currently unavailable at the top of your screen.
Change settings that are currently unavailable
  • Uncheck the Turn on fast startup (recommended) option.
Turn on fast startup (recommended)
  • Restart your computer and try to get into the BIOS settings again.

Hotkeys for getting into the BIOS settings on different computer models

Different Windows computer models generally require you to use specific hotkeys to get into the BIOS settings. We have mentioned F2, which is what many of these models have configured the BIOS settings with. Others use the Delete key, the Esc key, any other hotkey, or a combination of these:

  • Acer, ASUS, Dell, Lenovo, Origin PC, Samsung, Sony, and Toshiba require you to click F2 to access the BIOS settings.
  • F10 is the primary hotkey for opening BIOS settings on HP. You can also use Esc, similar to how Dell computers allow the use of F12.
If you use some of the hotkeys for your PC and still can’t get into the BIOS settings, try using a combination of these hotkeys with the Fn key.
  • For Lenovo PCs, for example, Fn + F2 should get you into the BIOS settings. 
  • All in all, clicking at least one of these keys—Esc, Delete, F1, F2, F10, or F12—at the point of PC bootup should get you into BIOS settings.

Also read: How to Disable the F1 Key

How to Optimize the BIOS for Gaming

Now that you know how to enter the settings page, it’s time to find out the best BIOS settings for gaming.Any dedicated gamer knows that fixing speed and accuracy is the key to enjoying video games on a PC. The basic Windows computer is factory configured so that it offers the best mix of speed and performance at default settings. Even so, the user can go the extra mile and tweak BIOS to eke out further performance gains.

There is no one-size-fits-all rule to improve gaming performance via BIOS. For example, the best Asus BIOS settings for gaming might be different from the MSI BIOS settings for gaming or even the ASRock BIOS TPM settings. This is because the motherboards were made by different people. Even so, the effects are similar.

To optimize BIOS for gaming (rather than just PC performance), there are a number of settings you can tweak. These include fan settings, drive settings, or even your RAM settings.

Of course, the steps to doing these are different from machine to machine. For example, the BIOS PCIE settings for HP computers might vary from the ASUS BIOS PCIE settings, even though both settings options have to do with influencing the PC’s video graphics for gaming.

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What are the best BIOS settings for gaming?

So, how do you enable high BIOS performance?

Boosting PC performance via BIOS settings generally has to do with tweaking the PC’s CPU clock speed, CPU frequency, or CPU voltage. Once these features have been adjusted to a reasonable limit, your PC will follow up by operating at a higher or lower ceiling, depending on whether you increased or reduced the numbers on these features. The result is your PC running faster or slower.

But that’s not all. Let’s see what you can do with your BIOS settings for a gaming performance boost:

  1. Overclock your CPU: Overclocking is by far the leader among the best BIOS settings for gaming out there. However, with great power comes great responsibility, and too much overclocking can lead to overheating.
    To overclock your PC in BIOS, go to (surprise!) the Overclocking section and increase the CPU multiplier little by little. Test your system after each change, keeping an eye on the temperature and overall stability. Before you start, make sure to read our article on how to safely overclock a CPU. 
  2. Enable XMP (Extreme Memory Profile): This setting allows your RAM to run at its highest rated speed. To enable XMP, enter the BIOS setup during startup, go to the AI Tweaker or Overclocking section, and set XMP to Enabled.

Also read: How to Stress Test RAM Right

  1. Activate Game Mode or Performance Mode: Many modern motherboards have a dedicated Game Mode or Performance Mode that automatically optimizes settings for gaming. Check if you have one by going to the BIOS, finding the appropriate option, and enabling it.
  2. Enable Smart Access Memory (SAM): AMD’s SAM (or ReBar) allows the CPU to access all the GPU memory. In the BIOS, find the option under Advanced Settings and enable it.
  3. Enable AMD Precision Boost: This feature is one of the most important BIOS settings for gaming. It automatically boosts the CPU’s performance based on the workload. You can find and enable it in the BIOS’s Overclocking section.
  4. Remove power limits: For Intel CPUs, if you remove power limits, it can substantially improve performance. In the BIOS, go to the AI Tweaker section and remove the power limits.
  5. Optimize RAM timings: Lower the timings (e.g., CAS latency) to improve memory performance. This is a more advanced tweak and requires manual adjustment in the BIOS, typically found in the Memory Settings section.

Additional BIOS settings for gaming

  • Fan settings in BIOS

To put it simply, increasing the cooling system of your PC will give you better gaming performance. It allows the PC to increase the number of times the built-in fan comes on to reduce the heat from your gaming. So, yes, if you’re seeking the best BIOS settings and want a better gaming experience, turn up the PC fan speed.

To turn up the fan speed inside your PC for a better gaming experience, you can use the BIOS settings.

  1. Enter BIOS using any of the dedicated hotkeys on your keyboard.
  2. Find the Cooling menu or Fan Settings (or something similar) menu.
  3. Tweak the options to boost fan activity.
  4. Save the changes and exit the BIOS settings page before restarting your PC.
This change will put pressure on your PC’s power. So, if you don’t have a steady power source or your battery drains quickly whenever you play video games, your best bet is to leave the cooling system as it is.

Related: Battery Saving Tips: How to Make Your Laptop Battery Last Longer

  • SSD BIOS settings

Sometimes, the reason your gaming sessions are made up of slow, glitchy graphics is that the SSD BIOS settings are not properly configured. This could happen for any number of reasons, including improper SSD drive placement or outdated drivers.

If you want to fix this issue and ensure that your gaming sessions are backed by the speed of your SSD drive, you need to get into the BIOS settings. So, follow the steps as outlined below:

  1. Restart your PC.
  2. Click on the F2 key once your PC comes on and do so until the BIOS interface is launched.
  3. Choose the Config option and hit Enter.
  4. Navigate to Serial ATA (or SATA) and tap the Enter key on your keyboard.
  5. Choose IDE Compatibility Mode from the list of options.
  6. Save changes and exit the BIOS settings.
  7. Restart your PC to implement the changes you just set up.
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Best BIOS Settings for Gaming: Explained

There you have it. Now you have a comprehensive list of the best BIOS settings. To conclude on using the BIOS settings on Windows PCs for better performance or gaming, note that each of the highlighted methods puts pressure on your PC. Any one of them might increase the power drain or even crash your motherboard.

As a result, you need to be careful when attempting to tweak your CPU clock speed or the RAM BIOS settings for a better gaming experience.
Was this article helpful? Don’t hesitate to drop a comment below and share your own tips with the others!

FAQ

Can you damage hardware by changing the BIOS settings?
In theory, yes, especially if you mess them up. For instance, if you overclock your CPU or RAM, it can lead to overheating and potentially cause permanent damage. To avoid that, don’t forget to take a look inside your motherboard’s manual or get to know the manufacturer’s guidelines before making changes.
How often should you update the BIOS?
You shouldn’t update the BIOS unless it’s specifically recommended by your hardware manufacturer or if it’s necessary, for instance, when resolving hardware compatibility issues.
What is the difference between UEFI and the BIOS?
The BIOS and UEFI (Unified Extensible Firmware Interface) are both firmware interfaces for computers, but UEFI is the modern successor to the BIOS that boots faster, supports drives over 2 TB, and has more advanced features. One of those is a secure boot that helps protect against malware.
How to optimize RAM timings in the BIOS for gaming?
You need to lower the CAS latency (indicated as CL), RAS to CAS delay (tRCD), and other timing parameters. You need to know that this process can be complex and risky, so unless you know what you’re doing, think about consulting with an expert first.
What is the best boot order for a gaming PC?
Unless you need to boot from an external device, your first boot option should be the primary drive where your OS is stored. This way, you’ll help your system boot and access essential system files quicker.
How to enable XMP in the BIOS for better gaming performance?
To enable XMP in the BIOS, follow these steps: Enter the BIOS and go to the AI Tweaker or Overclocking section (or something similar). Find and enable the XMP option. Save the changes and exit the BIOS.