Enable XMP/EXPO for RAM in BIOS
Update motherboard BIOS
Update chipset drivers
Install latest GPU drivers
Use High Performance or Ultimate Performance power plan
Disable unnecessary startup apps
Close background apps before gaming
Disable overlays from Discord, Steam, GeForce Experience, Xbox Game Bar
Enable Game Mode in Windows
Disable hardware-accelerated background features you do not use
Set Windows display scaling to 100%
Use native monitor resolution
Set monitor to highest refresh rate in Windows
Enable G-SYNC, FreeSync, or VRR if supported
Cap FPS slightly below refresh rate if using VRR
Disable V-Sync for lowest input lag if tearing is acceptable
Use exclusive fullscreen when available
Lower graphics settings that affect visibility and latency
Reduce shadows, reflections, ambient occlusion, and motion blur
Set texture quality based on VRAM capacity
Use low latency mode or NVIDIA Reflex if supported
Disable ray tracing
Keep render scale at 100% or lower if needed
Optimize in-game sensitivity and DPI
Use a stable polling rate for mouse
Disable mouse acceleration in Windows
Turn off enhanced pointer precision
Use wired Ethernet instead of Wi-Fi
Update router firmware
Use a low-latency DNS if beneficial
Stop downloads and streaming on the network during play
Monitor CPU and GPU temperatures
Clean dust from fans and heatsinks
Improve case airflow
Reapply thermal paste if temperatures are high
Ensure adequate PSU capacity
Remove unnecessary RGB and monitoring software
Disable USB power saving for input devices
Set Windows power settings to prevent sleep during gaming
Use a quality gaming monitor with low response time
Check for input lag in monitor settings
Disable unnecessary audio enhancements
Keep storage drives with enough free space
Install games on SSD or NVMe
Defragment only HDDs, not SSDs
Verify game files regularly
Use benchmark tools to test changes
Revert settings that reduce stability or cause stutter