Gaming PC Fixes
It’s that time of year again! We have witnessed nearly 100-degree weather this summer, and the heat is enough to melt your computer’s parts. If you have ever left your computer in your car in this weather, then you know exactly what I’m talking about. This summer’s heat can leave you needing PC repairs at least once.
Gaming PC Fix #1: Update Your Computer’s Drivers
The first gaming PC fix is extremely important. If your drivers are out of date or not working properly, then your computer might begin experiencing problems. These issues might include problems with video, random FPS drops, lagging or freezing. The most important driver to update is the video driver. GeForce video cards are especially finicky with their drivers. In some cases, when the driver is out of date, the video cards can malfunction in unexpected ways. Always be sure to use the graphics card’s software to update your video software. For example, NVIDIA has GeForce which can aid in updating your video card’s software. Unfortunately, video drivers do not always install properly, and you might need the help of a gaming computer technician. Be sure to use a gaming technician who is familiar with video drivers. The wrong computer technician can make your computer worse or render your video card useless. Before performing this gaming PC fix, I would highly recommend seeking the advice of a gaming computer technician. They may have specific steps for you to follow before you install your driver. In fact, they may ask you to take your computer into their shop if the issue is overly complicated.
Gaming PC Fix #2: Update Your BIOS
For gaming PC fix number two I would like to talk about updating your BIOS. It’s true that some computer technicians would warn you heavily against updating your BIOS. As a matter of fact, I must add the following disclaimer: updating your BIOS could cause irreversible damage to your computer and may render it useless. With that said, in 1% of cases, the BIOS is somehow damaged, and the motherboard needs to be replaced. If you have a gaming computer technician perform this task there is much less of a risk of losing your motherboard. In fact, most people who lock themselves out of their BIOS, typically did something incorrectly with the BIOS update. Additionally, following the step-by-step instructions online may cause some issues, because sometimes the steps are incorrect. It really is best to have a gaming computer technician help you with this gaming PC fix.
Gaming PC Fix #3: Test Your Hard Drive for Issues
For this gaming PC fix, you will need to have some basic knowledge about your hard drive. Most computers have built-in software that will help you test your hard drive. Unfortunately, the software can sometimes be wrong. In other words, it will tell you that your hard drive is GOOD when in reality it is BAD. In fact, there are many computer repair shops that no longer use the onboard hard drive testing for this reason. Computer repair shops, such as DML Computer Repair, use independent software to determine if a hard drive is good or bad. If you are experiencing intermittent freezing or slowness, then it is very likely that your hard drive needs to be replaced. Fortunately, there are computer repair shops that offer free hard drive testing, such as DML Computer Repair. You simply take your hard drive or the entire computer into their shop for testing. Most hard drive testing is completed within 10 minutes if they perform on-the-spot diagnostics. In some cases, you may need to leave your computer for 24 hours to get your hard drive tested. No need to panic, this is a common practice in computer repair shops.
Gaming PC Fix #4: 1,000-Watt Power Supply
In the gaming PC fix number four we are looking at the power supply of your computer. In many cases, people will build their own computer, purchasing the minimum amount of power needed to power up their computer. If they upgrade their computer hardware, they typically require more power. In fact, not having enough power to computer components can cause some serious issues to a computer build. Furthermore, if you have an 800-watt power supply or lower, I would highly recommend upgrading to a 1,000-watt power supply. It is a little-known fact that you can have a higher wattage power supply; but your computer can’t function with a lower wattage power supply. In other words, your computer only takes what it needs. There’s no such thing as having too many watts in a power supply. Obviously, there are many cables in a power supply that need to be connected in the exact spot they were originally plugged into. If you don’t feel comfortable doing this, then seek the help of a computer technician for this gaming PC fix.
Gaming PC Fix #5: Minimize Startup Items
In this gaming PC fix I’d like you to consider minimizing your startup items. “Startup items” are programs that start when your computer is first powered on. In most cases, these programs do not need to start, which is why it is best to turn them off. Programs that should be prevented from starting with your computer include Spotify, Microsoft Office, QuickBooks, games, and other programs that aren’t regularly used. If you stop these programs from starting, then they will still function when you click on them. Stopping a program from starting with your computer, doesn’t mean that you’ve rendered it useless. It simply means that it will no longer take time from your “startup” to turn itself on. Most programs can be turned off in the task manager under “startup”. You can reach the task manager by pressing ctrl+alt+del on your keyboard. If you can’t find it or need assistance, then be sure to reach out to a computer repair shop for help with this gaming PC fix.
Gaming PC Fixes through DML Computer Repair
Gaming PC fixes can be extremely difficult to wrap your head around. In most cases, you will want a gaming computer expert to help you with your computer. DML Computer Repair has computer technicians with years of experience with gaming PC fixes. As a matter of fact, their computer technicians near me train for years before fixing a gaming computer. DML Computer Repair also offers gaming testers that can test your video games for possible hardware issues that may be affecting your game. Call, text, or email today for your free computer diagnostics.
Author Information
David Baker
Master Computer Repair Technician | Gaming PC Builder | Custom Computer Expert| Data Recovery Expert | PC Articles Author
Author Quote: “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it”. ~Dav
