So you’ve just got a new gaming laptop—what’s next to ensure the best experience? I’ve tested hundreds of gaming laptops, and here’s how we set them up for optimal performance.
First, unbox the laptop and inspect it for any obvious damage during shipping. A quick check for scratches or physical issues should suffice. Depending on the model, you may find things like keyboard or screen covers, or protective plastic to peel off.
Next, plug in the charger to a wall outlet before turning the laptop on. Many new gaming laptops won’t power up unless the charger is connected, even if the battery is fully charged. The first boot might take a bit longer, as it completes initial setup tasks, so be patient.
Once powered on, check that everything is functioning—no dead pixels on the screen, all keys on the keyboard work, and the touchpad clicks properly. I recommend storing everything that came with the laptop in its original box and keeping it in a safe place. The original box is useful if you ever need to return or send the laptop for repairs.
When starting up a new laptop, Windows will guide you through some basic setup tasks. While the look of this process may change with updates, you’ll connect to the internet, allow Windows to install initial updates, and create a user account with a password. There are privacy settings here as well, and I prefer to turn them all off.
In the latest version of Windows 11 (22H2), an internet connection is required to complete the setup, and Microsoft strongly encourages you to use a Microsoft account. While earlier versions of Windows 11 allowed bypassing this, it’s now more difficult. You can create a custom Windows 11 installation that uses a local account, but this involves a clean installation.
For the best results, let the laptop charge fully to 100% before using it on battery power. Most new gaming laptops from 2022 and beyond will come with Windows 11, which I recommend keeping. While Windows 10 might be preferred by some, Windows 11 offers the best gaming features and supports newer hardware, such as Intel’s 12th and 13th gen processors with their hybrid P and E core architecture, which works best with Windows 11’s scheduler.
Once you’re at the desktop, the first step is to download and install all available Windows updates. You want Windows running smoothly before adjusting anything else. You can do this by right-clicking the Start button, going to Settings, then selecting Windows Update. Ensure you’re connected to the internet and check for updates. Some updates may require a restart, so wait until all updates are installed before rebooting.
After the restart, go back into Windows Update and check again. Some updates can only install if others have already been applied, so you might find new updates the second time around. Repeat this process until there are no more updates.
Next, apply updates through the Microsoft Store. This includes built-in Windows apps and, for many gaming laptop brands, the software for managing the laptop itself. Depending on the brand, this may also include critical drivers and updates for the control panel software.
For example, ASUS has two key programs for updates: Armoury Crate for general laptop management, and MyASUS for updating software and even the BIOS. Some laptops download BIOS updates automatically through Windows Update, while others may require you to download the BIOS manually from the manufacturer’s website. In any case, follow the laptop’s manual for detailed instructions on BIOS updates. Although BIOS updates can be beneficial, they are more advanced and risky, so unless you’re fixing a specific issue, it’s often fine to skip them.
Finally, updating the graphics drivers is crucial. GPU drivers often include performance improvements for new games and bug fixes for existing issues. Make sure to check for updates regularly to keep your gaming performance optimized.
Windows Update might have already installed a newer graphics driver than what your laptop originally came with, but it usually plays it safe and may be a few versions behind the latest release. Modern gaming laptops typically have two GPUs: the integrated graphics (part of the processor) and the more powerful discrete GPU used for gaming. As a result, you need drivers for both.
For example, if your laptop has an Intel CPU and Nvidia discrete graphics, you’ll need both Intel graphics drivers and Nvidia drivers. If it has an AMD Ryzen CPU with Nvidia graphics, then you’ll need both AMD Radeon and Nvidia drivers. An all-AMD laptop with Ryzen and Radeon graphics only needs the Radeon drivers, which handle both. While you can rely on Windows Update to handle the integrated graphics drivers, I recommend manually keeping the discrete GPU drivers up to date for the best gaming performance.
To update drivers, download the latest version directly from Intel, AMD, or Nvidia, depending on your GPU. If you’re unsure which GPU you have, you can check in Task Manager or Device Manager, or use the automatic detection tools on the driver websites. Just be sure you’re downloading from the official source—Nvidia for Nvidia graphics, Intel for Intel, and AMD for Radeon. Avoid third-party sites, as they might lead to unreliable or even malicious downloads.
When installing Nvidia or AMD GPU drivers, I always select the option for a clean installation. This ensures that older drivers don’t interfere with the new ones. After installation, double-check that your display is set to the highest resolution and refresh rate possible. You can do this by right-clicking on the desktop, going to Display Settings, and making sure the resolution is set to the highest available. Then, click on Advanced Display Settings and ensure the refresh rate is set to the maximum. Some laptops, especially with 144Hz panels, might default to 60Hz, which can make games appear blurry and sluggish.
Unfortunately, many laptops come pre-loaded with bloatware—unnecessary software that consumes resources and slows down your system. I recommend removing anything you don’t need, as it can negatively impact both performance and battery life. To see what’s installed, right-click the Start button and go to Installed Apps. From there, you can uninstall unwanted programs. If you’re unsure about an app, do a quick online search to see if it’s an important driver or software component. Most unwanted software, like antivirus programs, will be easy to identify.
In my opinion, third-party antivirus software is unnecessary for most users. Before transitioning to YouTube full-time, I worked as a penetration tester, and I found that vulnerabilities in antivirus software often posed a bigger security risk than not using any at all. Antivirus programs can also slow down performance, especially when gaming. The built-in Windows Defender is more than sufficient for most people, and it’s already included by default.
I’d only recommend traditional antivirus software for users who are less tech-savvy—like my parents—who might need that extra layer of protection. Once you’ve decided which apps to keep, check whether they load automatically at startup. Even if you want an app like Spotify installed, you may not want it running in the background every time you turn on your laptop. Excess startup apps can slow down boot times and drain battery life, especially if the charger isn’t plugged in.
To manage which apps automatically start up when you power on your laptop, right-click the Start button, select Settings, then go to Apps on the left menu, and choose Startup. From here, you can toggle the apps on or off as needed. This doesn’t remove the app or stop it from working; it just prevents it from launching automatically at boot.
For the best way to eliminate bloatware, consider performing a clean installation of Windows. Before doing so, make sure to save the activation key from the laptop. I’ll leave a link in the video description explaining how to do this. I personally do a clean Windows install on all my laptops, but keep in mind it’s a more advanced step, as you’ll need to install all the necessary drivers and control panel software afterward.
If you choose this route, I still recommend installing the laptop’s main control panel software at a minimum. This software manages essential features like fan speed, performance modes, and RGB lighting. In the gaming laptops we review on the channel, we typically leave the default Windows installation, assuming that’s what most users will do. However, we do manually uninstall the pre-installed antivirus software before performance testing, as discussed earlier.
Another thing we do is disable Core Isolation. To find this setting, click Start and type “core isolation.” Core Isolation is an advanced security feature enabled by default in Windows 11, but for most gamers, turning it off can lead to better game performance. If you do disable it, make sure to reboot your system to complete the process. Interestingly, in over 90% of the gaming laptops I tested this year, Core Isolation was already turned off by default, meaning most laptop manufacturers have prioritized performance over this security feature.
When it comes to personalization, there’s a lot you can customize. While this is largely a matter of personal preference, here are a few changes you might consider. You can enable Dark Mode, set a custom wallpaper and lock screen, and adjust any RGB lighting to your liking. Microsoft’s Edge browser has improved, but I prefer using Firefox or Chrome, so I install one of those instead. I also remove the unnecessary taskbar icons that Windows places there by default to keep things clean. Similarly, you might want to adjust which desktop icons appear, including removing the Recycle Bin, which you can do through Personalization > Themes > Desktop Icon Settings.
If your laptop supports Windows Hello, either through a fingerprint scanner or facial recognition, I recommend setting it up. These features are a great way to speed up the login process. To check if your laptop supports Windows Hello, click Start and type “Windows Hello.” If your device has the necessary hardware, such as a fingerprint scanner or infrared camera, it will show up in the settings.
At this point, you’re pretty much ready to go and start gaming. If you want, you can also do more advanced testing, like running benchmarks to compare your laptop’s performance against similarly specced systems. This can help you ensure everything is performing as it should. Unfortunately, it’s difficult to compare with most of the games we feature on the channel unless you’re testing in the exact same part of the game, which is rare. That said, tools like 3DMark Firestrike and Timespy are useful for getting a score on CPU and GPU performance.
Don’t be surprised if your laptop’s benchmark results are a few percentage points above or below another system with the same specs. Comparing two laptops with identical CPUs and GPUs isn’t always fair because power limits come into play. For example, your laptop’s RTX 3060 might be running at 130 watts, while someone else’s is running at 80 watts, which would result in a noticeable performance difference despite having the same hardware.
Some people also like to run stress tests to monitor temperatures, but personally, I don’t bother with that on my own laptops. At this point, I just install the apps I plan to use and go from there. If there’s an obvious problem, like the laptop struggling with certain tasks, then I’ll troubleshoot further. But generally, I don’t worry too much about temperatures or performance unless it becomes noticeable. Just use the laptop and enjoy it — if something’s off, it’ll likely be pretty obvious.
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