Introduction: Why FPS Still Matters in 2025

Even with next-gen GPUs and high-refresh monitors flooding the market, most Australian gamers are still playing on mid-range PC builds — and for good reason. Hardware is expensive, shipping delays are common, and let’s be honest: not everyone needs a $3,000 setup.

This guide is for players who want smoother gameplay, higher FPS, and less stutter — all without a full hardware overhaul. Whether you’re on a GTX 1660, RTX 3060, or RX 6600 XT, these tips are tailored for realistic Aussie PC setups.

 1. Know Your Specs — And Your Limits

Before you optimise anything, check what you’re working with. Use tools like:

• MSI Afterburner – Live GPU/CPU usage, temps & bottlenecks

• HWMonitor – System voltages, temps & fan speeds

• UserBenchmark.com – Gives you a quick health report on your build

 Goal: Identify what’s holding back your FPS — is it your CPU, RAM, GPU, or storage?

 2. Optimise In-Game Settings for Performance

Here’s the golden rule: Turn off what you don’t notice in combat.

Settings to drop first:

• Shadows: Set to Low or Medium

• Anti-Aliasing: FXAA or Off

• Ambient Occlusion: Off

• Motion Blur: Off

• V-Sync: Off (unless you’re screen-tearing hard)

• Ray Tracing: Off (unless you have an RTX 4070 or better)

 Pro tip: Use “Performance” or “Balanced” presets as a base, then tweak from there.

 3. Use Game-Specific Optimisation Guides

Not all games behave the same. Check community-tested FPS guides on:

• Reddit (r/pcgaming, r/buildapc)

• PCGamingWiki

• YouTube channels like Tech YES City (Aussie-based!) and Hardware Unboxed

 Example: Hogwarts Legacy runs smoother with texture streaming set lower, but draw distance on high. Every title has quirks.

 4. Clean Up & Defrag Your Game Drives

Games installed on older SATA SSDs or HDDs may load slower or stutter. Here’s what to do:

• Clear disk cache regularly

• Defrag HDDs (but NOT SSDs!)

• Move high-demand games to your fastest NVMe SSD

• Disable unnecessary Windows startup apps

• Use Game Mode in Windows 11

 5. Keep Your Drivers Lean and Clean

• Update GPU drivers via NVIDIA GeForce Experience or AMD Adrenalin

• Do a clean install if you’ve upgraded GPUs recently

• Avoid unnecessary driver bloatware (like bundled audio enhancements)

 Only install what you use. More software = more background drain.

 6. Upgrade Small, Not All

If you’re willing to spend just a little, here’s what gives the best FPS gains per dollar in Australia:

 Tip: Aussie sites like Scorptec, Mwave, Umart and Centrecom often run local deals with faster shipping than Amazon US.

 7. Network Tweaks for Multiplayer Games

FPS doesn’t matter if you’re lagging. For online games:

• Use Ethernet instead of Wi-Fi

• Prioritise traffic to your PC in router settings (QoS)

• Change DNS to Cloudflare (1.1.1.1) or Google (8.8.8.8)

• Use ExitLag or WTFast if your game doesn’t have OCE servers

 Especially useful for Valorant, Apex, and MMORPGs with overseas servers.

 Bonus: Free Tools to Boost Performance

• ISLC (Intelligent Standby List Cleaner) – Reduces stuttering in memory-heavy games

• Razer Cortex – One-click game booster (disable background apps)

• CapFrameX – Accurate performance logging

• Power Plan Switcher – Set to “Ultimate Performance” in Windows

 Summary: Think Like a Tuner, Not a Spender

In Australia, PC gaming can be expensive — but performance doesn’t always require new parts. With the right software setup, driver care, and smart in-game choices, your mid-range rig can still compete in 2025.

 TL;DR Quick Wins

• Lower shadows & post-processing

• Install games on SSD or NVMe

• Check temps, clear startup apps

• Use local Aussie stores for cost-effective upgrades

• Join our Discord for FPS presets per game!