Gamers often overlook a simple yet critical step before launching their favorite titles: closing resource-heavy applications. Whether you're running a high-end AAA game or a competitive esports title, background processes can severely impact performance. From FPS drops to input lag, unnecessary applications consume CPU, RAM, and GPU power—resources that should be dedicated to your game. Here’s why and how you should optimize your system before playing.
The Impact of Background Applications on Gaming
Modern games demand significant hardware resources. When other applications run in the background, they compete for:
CPU cycles – Tasks like video rendering, software updates, or even browser tabs with heavy JavaScript can steal processing power.
RAM (memory) – Applications like Chrome, Photoshop, or Discord (with multiple servers open) can eat up gigabytes of RAM, leaving less for your game.
GPU resources – Some apps (e.g., OBS Studio, Blender, or even Windows’ own dwm.exe) use GPU acceleration, causing stuttering or frame drops.
Disk I/O – Background downloads, antivirus scans, or cloud sync services (like OneDrive or Google Drive) can slow down load times.
Network bandwidth – Streaming services, large downloads, or peer-to-peer apps (e.g., BitTorrent) can increase latency in online games.
Even if your PC meets a game’s minimum requirements, these background processes can turn a smooth experience into a frustrating one.
Which Applications Should You Close Before Gaming?
Not all background apps are equally demanding, but some are notorious for hogging resources. Prioritize closing these:
Web Browsers (Chrome, Firefox, Edge) – A single tab with multiple extensions can use hundreds of MBs of RAM. Close unnecessary tabs or exit the browser entirely.
Creative Software (Photoshop, Premiere Pro, After Effects) – These tools are CPU/GPU-intensive and should always be closed before gaming.
Game Launchers (Steam, Epic Games, Origin) – While needed to launch games, they often run unnecessary processes in the background. Close them after launching your game.
Discord, Slack, or Microsoft Teams – Voice chat apps are lightweight but can spike CPU usage during calls. Enable Push to Talk or close them if not needed.
Antivirus Scans (McAfee, Norton, Windows Defender) – Schedule scans for when you’re not gaming, as they can cause severe FPS drops.
Cloud Storage (Dropbox, Google Drive, OneDrive) – Disable syncing temporarily to reduce disk and network usage.
Streaming/Recording Software (OBS, Twitch Studio, NVIDIA ShadowPlay) – Unless you’re streaming, these should be closed to free up GPU resources.
System Utilities (Razer Synapse, MSI Afterburner, RGB Software) – Some are lightweight, but others (like Corsair iCUE) can use surprising amounts of CPU.
How to Properly Close Applications Before Gaming
Simply clicking the X button doesn’t always fully close an app—some continue running in the background. Here’s how to completely shut them down:
Use Task Manager (Windows):
Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager.
Sort processes by CPU, Memory, or GPU usage.
Right-click and select End Task for non-essential apps.
Enable Game Mode in Settings > Gaming to prioritize system resources for games.
Close Tray Icons:
Right-click the system tray (bottom-right corner) and exit apps like NVIDIA GeForce Experience or Logitech G HUB.
Check for Hidden Processes:
Some apps (e.g., Java, Python, or Docker) run services in the background. Use Services.msc to stop them.
Additional Tips to Optimize Performance
Closing apps is just the first step. For the best gaming experience, also consider:
Adjust Power Settings – Set your PC to High Performance mode in Control Panel > Power Options.
Update Drivers – Outdated GPU drivers (NVIDIA/AMD) or chipset drivers can cause performance issues.
Monitor Temperatures – Use tools like HWMonitor or MSI Afterburner to ensure your CPU/GPU isn’t thermal throttling.
Disable Overlays – In-game overlays (Steam, Discord, NVIDIA GeForce Experience) can add input lag. Disable them in settings.
Clean Up Temporary Files – Use Disk Cleanup or CCleaner to free up disk space, which can improve load times.
Prioritize Your Game in Task Manager – Right-click your game in Task Manager > Set Priority > High (use cautiously).
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Even experienced gamers make these errors when trying to optimize performance:
Closing Essential System Processes – Ending tasks like explorer.exe or svchost.exe can crash your system.
Ignoring Malware – Some malware disguises itself as legitimate processes (e.g., msedge.exe duplicates). Run a scan with Malwarebytes if performance is unusually poor.
Overloading on "Optimization" Software – Tools like Game Boosters often do more harm than good by aggressively killing processes.
Not Restarting the PC – A simple reboot clears memory leaks and resets system resources.
Forgetting About Browser Extensions – Even with Chrome closed, some extensions run background processes. Disable them in chrome://extensions.
