How to Get the Most Out of Your Gaming Laptop

Across South Africa, millions of people enjoy nothing more than a spot of gaming. If you’re one of them, you will want to have a device that aligns with your needs and provides plenty of fun-filled entertainment. Gaming laptops, in particular, are a core component of this. However, they don’t normally deliver the same performance when compared to desktops. With that said, you’ll need to make sure your laptop is set up to provide the ultimate gaming experience. 

Regardless of what types of games you enjoy playing, there are easy steps and suggestions you can take on board to boost your gaming laptop’s performance. Here are just a few of them to get you started. 

Keep Your Laptop Plugged in While Playing 

If there is one thing many gamers don’t realise, it’s that the plug of their laptop doesn’t only charge the device. In fact, the energy source can actually determine how a laptop operates. In some models, the absence of a charger means the laptop has to throttle performance in order to save power. However, in other laptops, the device GPU does not have full functionality unless it’s plugged in. You may notice a huge boost in performance simply by plugging your gaming laptop into a wall socket. 

Avoid Clogging the Ventilation System 

Like with any digital device, gaming laptops begin losing performance power when they overheat. If you find your gaming laptop is housed on a soft surface, it’s time to move it! This is because you may be blocking the vents. Before long, lagging can occur, which can be a nuisance to deal with. Even if it’s just temporary, you need to avoid clogging your gaming laptop’s ventilation system. Where this is located will depend on the gaming laptop you’ve got. For example, some devices have the vents at the bottom, whereas others are on the side. Take some time to pinpoint where they are and do your best to avoid blocking them. You’ll thank us for it! 

Close Unused Background Apps 

If you’re the type of gamer who has an array of programs and apps running in the background, you can’t be surprised if your gaming laptop isn’t operating as quickly as normal. This is true for all kinds of PCs, including those running on Mac, Windows, and open-source operating systems. To have a seamless gaming experience, it’s wise to close any unused background apps. Whether it’s web browsers or other gaming apps, closing them before playing is essential. 

Use a Gaming Mouse 

While some gamers are more than happy with their touchpad, others find they get better accuracy and control using a gaming mouse. If you’ve never used one before, what are you waiting for? There are plenty of affordable gaming mouses on the market, so consider investing in one if you’re serious about taking your gaming to the next level. Once you do, you can play on exciting titles like fortune mouse or monopoly live. Play Live Casino have a wide selection of game reviews you can check out to help you find the best titles to play on.  

Upgrade Your Cybersecurity 

You may wonder why cybersecurity is important to gaming performance. The answer is simple- hard-to-notice frauds like ad injection can slow down your gaming laptop substantially. Other types of pesky software, like ransomware, can wreak havoc on your whole machine and render it useless. Thankfully, there are lots of steps you can take, like installing a VPN on your gaming laptop to enhance your cybersecurity. Other cybersecurity tactics to try include creating strong passwords, never sharing credentials, and using multi-factor authentication where you can.  

Check Connection Speed 

Here’s a fact you may not know – the minimum connection speed to online game is 5 Mbps. Should you find your internet is slower than this, you’re at a higher risk of experiencing lag when you game. The stability of your connection includes the smoothness of the graphics and gameplay as a whole. Because of this, you need to take time to identify your internet speed and ensure your connection meets the minimum requirements.  

Adjust Settings for Performance 

It doesn’t matter what kind of gaming laptop you’ve got, they all come with an extensive list of settings. Some are related to screen quality, while others are linked to performance. In most cases, you’ve got a choice to either toggle the settings for performance or energy efficiency. Adjusting your settings and ensuring they are attuned for performance will make sure your gaming laptop runs as fast as can be.  

Invest In a Laptop Cooling Pad 

When you settle down for a spot of gaming, you may not realise how much time passes before your very eyes. As you can imagine, the longer your gaming laptop is switched on and in use, the more power and performance it’ll use. Therefore, it’s wise to invest in gadgets like a laptop cooling pad. These are essentially large base-like podiums that feature several fans. Such fans improve ventilation and help distribute cool air. This is designed to reduce heat and boost your gaming laptop’s performance. For a cooling pad to work, the fans must align with some of your laptop vents.  

Invest In Good-Quality Headphones 

Using headphones is key for elevating your gaming experience. They can provide better sound quality and immersion, helping you to stay focused on your play. A good set of gaming headphones will make all the difference and, most importantly, keep anyone you live with happy! Gaming headphones come attached with a variety of price tags, so take your time to research into the different products on the market. 

Gaming laptops are a solid option for PC gaming. Simply pick the right gaming laptop for you, and you’ll enjoy many years of happy gaming. Whether you’ve invested in a brand new device or want to get the most out of your existing gaming laptop, using our advice above can completely transform how you game. In fact, you’ll wonder why you didn’t make changes sooner!