Setting Up Your New Gaming PC

Step by step

1. 5 min

   Connect peripheral devices

   Plug your monitor cable into the dedicated graphics card output rather than the motherboard HDMI port. Connect your keyboard and mouse to the USB 3.0 or 3.2 ports on the rear I/O panel for lower latency. Ensure the power supply switch on the back of the tower is set to the I position before connecting the power cable.

   Note: Avoid using front-panel USB ports for your primary peripherals to ensure stable signal connectivity.
2. 15 min

   Perform the initial Windows setup

   Power on the PC and follow the Windows Out-of-Box Experience (OOBE) prompts to select your region and keyboard layout. Connect to your network and sign in with or create a Microsoft account to link your digital licenses. Opt out of unnecessary telemetry and data sharing settings during the final privacy configuration screens.

   Note: If you have a local account requirement, press Shift + F10 at the network selection screen and type OOBE\BYPASSNRO to continue without internet.
3. 10 min

   Run Windows Update and firmware checks

   Navigate to Settings > Windows Update and select Check for updates. Allow the system to download and install all pending security patches and hardware drivers. Restart your computer as prompted until no further critical updates appear.

   Note: Check your motherboard manufacturer's website for BIOS updates to ensure compatibility with the latest CPU architectures.
4. 5 min

   Install GPU drivers

   Download the latest GeForce Experience or AMD Software: Adrenalin Edition from the respective manufacturer websites. Run the installer and select the clean installation option if available. Once installed, reboot the system to finalize the GPU driver initialization.

   Note: Never rely solely on Windows-provided drivers for high-performance graphics hardware.
5. 2 min

   Configure display refresh rate

   Right-click the desktop and select Display settings. Scroll down to Advanced display and ensure the refresh rate matches the maximum capability of your monitor. Select the highest available Hertz value from the dropdown menu to enable high-frame-rate gaming.

   Note: Most monitors default to 60Hz even if they are capable of 144Hz or higher.
6. 3 min

   Enable Game Mode and power settings

   Go to Settings > Gaming > Game Mode and toggle the switch to On. Next, open Control Panel > Hardware and Sound > Power Options and select the High Performance or Ultimate Performance plan. These settings prioritize system resources for active gaming sessions.

   Note: Game Mode prevents Windows Update from performing driver installations while you are mid-game.