Setting Up Your New Gaming PC

Follow this step-by-step guide to configure your new gaming PC, optimize Windows settings, and prepare your system for maximum performance.

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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.