After acquiring a new gaming PC, it is natural that the user is anxious to install its first applications. Communication programs like Discord and game stores like Steam Store and Epic Games are usually the first items to be downloaded. Other software, however, can also be useful if the user is concerned about keeping his machine always optimized, free of unwanted applications, and performing well.
In this scenario, if the computer has a more powerful video card, it is desirable to install apps that promise to further increase its performance, such as Razer Cortex and MSI Afterburner, for example. To keep your PC up to date and organized, suggestions like CCleaner and IObit Uninstaller still seem to be good options. Techidence selected ten software programs that are essential for the good performance of any gaming PC.
1. Discord
Discord is a versatile communication center for gamers. Players can create rooms to chat via text, voice, and video, as well as share information and their gaming exploits. The tool is also used to schedule online matches and establish communities around a title or genre, which can be created by anyone.
The platform also lets you know what games your friends are playing and even broadcast your matches in real-time to a person or group. It is worth saying that the application is free and was born as a competitor to TeamSpeak – however, it has come to stand out among the games because of the refined audio settings and the ability to create servers with various subdivisions by theme.
2. Steam
Steam is the oldest digital game store, with a huge collection, an active community, and great support from important and alternative developers. The catalog features Valve’s exclusive games like DotA 2, Portal 2, and cs:go, for example, and titles from several companies like Techland, EA, Warner Games, Bandai Namco. It even features games from the Xbox and PlayStation consoles, such as Forza Horizon 5 and God of War.
The Steam store is used by many as a reference to know if a game is a success or not, because of the large number of users and because of the always active community. Players can find games by genre, find out which are the best sellers, or list those that have been updated recently.
Both the PC and smartphone software have their chat function for players to communicate while playing. Steam has its tool for badges and achievements, which can be sold digitally to collectors and accumulate credits to buy other games or expansions.
3. GOG Galaxy
GOG is a game platform owned by CD Projekt Red, the same developer of games like The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt and Cyberpunk 2077. The great thing about the platform is to bet on old PC games that are nostalgic for many gamers, such as Heroes of the Might & Magic, The Secret of Monkey Island, Warcraft II, the SimCity series, among others.
It is worth mentioning that the GOG store also offers current games such as Shadow Tactics: Blades of the Shogun, the recently released Shadow Warrior 3, Horizon Zero Dawn from PlayStation 4 (PS4), Remedy Entertainment’s Control with 505 Games, and the new Tomb Raider series, for example. The tool has its forum for discussion about the games and internal ratings for gamers to post their reviews. Another highlight of the platform is the absence of DRM in its catalog titles.
4. Epic Games
The third and last store on this list is also the newest among the industry giants. Created by the company of the same name, Epic Games arrived with aggressive marketing, offering several free games every month for those registered on the platform. Among the games already offered are big and famous titles like Hitman, Prey, and even GTA 5.
In addition, to try to counter Steam’s supremacy, Epic Games Store offers a higher percentage of sales to developers and has several exclusive games in its catalog. Of all three stores mentioned, it is the one with the simplest and cleanest design, with few options in its main interface and more ease in viewing the store and user library.
5. OBS Studio
OBS Studio is the most used platform by streamers, both for those who have a channel on YouTube and Twitch. In addition, to live streaming their matches, users can also use the software to record video games and screenshots, to share as they wish.
The software allows you to create multiple static and animated screens to be alternated during the broadcast. In addition, it has several audio and video adjustments, filters, transitions, and other technical tools. The user can transmit his content while recording a video.
6. MSI Afterburner
MSI Afterburner is a free software program that monitors the frequency, speed, temperature, and performance of the graphics card. In addition, it allows adjustments to improve, among other things, the frame-per-second (FPS) count of a game in real-time.
Despite being developed by the manufacturer MSI, the application also works with graphics cards from other companies such as Asus, EVGA, and Gigabyte, for example, and with AMD and Intel chips, without restrictions. On the other hand, if the user prefers, he or she can also use the respective companies’ apps, such as Nvidia GeForce Experience and AMD Radeon Software.
7. CPU-Z
CPU-Z is a simple program that details the computer’s datasheet. The tool shows the CPU and GPU of the user’s PC, complete data about the motherboard and RAM, as well as other precise information such as clock, frequency, and the BIOS. The app is free and available for Windows and Android.
8. Razer Cortex
Razer Cortex, formerly Razer Game Booster, is a tool from the peripheral manufacturer of the same name that promises to improve gaming performance on the PC. The software has tweaks for CPU resources, RAM, hard disk access routines, and even defragmentation of games.
With an easy operation, just find and select the games installed via Steam, and authorize the automatic settings. This way, the user does not necessarily need to be a computer technician or understand all the technical details of how a PC works.
9. CCleaner
As we install and uninstall games on our PC, Windows can accumulate certain leftovers such as disabled libraries and useless registry information. CCleaner has been used over the years to clean up this mess, as well as to clear caches from the system and web browsers.
The latest versions of the application have gained new features, such as a tool that scans the user’s machine for traces and junk files. There is also a function that finds outdated drivers and suggests relative downloads.
On the other hand, in the paid version CCleaner promises to find and suggest updates for installed programs and disable apps from Windows startup as a way to improve system speed when starting the PC.
10. IObit Uninstaller
Finally, to avoid Windows having so many registries and caches left behind, there is software like IObit Uninstaller, an uninstaller that guarantees to delete programs and games without leaving residual files. When opening the app, the user is presented with a list of everything that is installed, including information such as the total size and date of installation.
The program is also capable of uninstalling Windows 10’s programs, detecting and removing browser extensions, removing residues from other apps, among other functions.
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