Problem with your PC Gaming? Check here first

First things first, Welcome to the PC Gaming Support Section of WTT.

Many gaming problems can actually be cured simply by one of the following solutions so please try these first

• Updating Drivers (This is a BIG one, most problems tend to crop-up due to outdated drivers)
• Restart the PC with the problem (sometimes problems can be cured simply by a restart, these are usually just glitches)
• Check your PC specifications against the Minimum and Recommended Specifications released by the Game's Manufacturer
• Remove any Mods installed (Mods sometimes cause conflicts and you can always reinstall them)
• Patch the game (Patch it to the latest version if it isn't, this is because the makers release fixes for wide-spread problems)
• Reinstall the game

If none of these work, then please post a Thread with a Clear & Precise title (e.g. "Counter Strike - Graphical Lag" not "Laggy PC CS").

Remember to include

• A clear overview of your problem
• A clear explanation of what you have already attempted
• Any error codes your get
• The Hardware Specifications of your PC (i.e. CPU, GPU etc)

Thank you,
Redeye

You want to make sure your computer meets the minimum recommended specifications for the game, if you suspect this is not an issue, you want to make sure your operating system is compatible with the software. You will also want to take into account running processes which can cause 'lag' (commonly seen as twitchy or jerking gameplay).

Please note that if your game is not legitimate (purchased online or from a store) then we are unable to assist you in accordance with the rules:

The posting of links or references to warez or any other type of illegal software is strictly forbidden. By doing so you risk having your user account terminated without warning. We will NOT help anyone we suspect of having obtained their software illegally.

If your computer is obviously superior to what the software requires and you have followed all the steps outlined above; the problem may be in faulty or cheap hardware. The commonality here is with name-brand Power Supply Units or PSUs such as those provided by the major manufacturers (Hewlett Packard, Lenovo, Dell etc). You may think that the more wattage or the more expensive the product is immediately demands superior quality whilst the reverse is generally true; the best brands for PSUs are Corsair and SeaSonic, with others like Thermaltake Toughpower for the high-power demands. Note that testing PSU voltages on any rail (5v, 3.3v, 12+/12-) should not be done with a software program as the reported numbers are vastly inaccurate. The closest 'software' report you should use is the integrated BIOS readings or whatever your case displays (if applicable). For accurate readings you want to purchase a Digital Multi-Meter or DMM and use that instead.

Gaming is heavily reliant on hardware and software environments running at peak efficiency, but there are many factors that may be unrelated to either, such as a corrupt save game. These types of problems are common and are easily remedied through the simple steps outlined above.
You may think that having the absolute bleeding-edge hardware may be an advantage, when in reality there may not be games properly designed for the appropriate APIs and other intellectual properties. Your game, for example, may not be compatible with Direct X 11, it may not be compatible with PhysX et cetera.

AMD, Nvidia, Intel et al may provide hotfixes or proper updates, but don't rely on them all the time. You want to search the game's developer or publisher for any patches as well, I understand there are common patches that aren't automatically updated (read: case specific) to fix problems like CTD (crash to desktop) or 64-bit compatibility issues.

if it has been determined that there are no software glitches, no hardware malfunctions and the environment is fully compatible then there may be an unresolvable issue, which believe it or not do exist. The final and perhaps most aggravating problem could be with broken code or faulty hardware in which case either constitutes a return and refund or hoping you can get a new and functional product.

Just remember we are volunteers offering our time and energy into finding a solution for you and if by any reason you are not completely satisfied with our advice then you are by no means obliged to follow it. It is by your will to come here and expect at least some suggestions on what to do. If you decide to take your problem to the a company, just remember their customer service is not as friendly as the one offered in a place like this.

Best regards,

Fantastic reply Wolf, I mean C.M.

Many gaming problems can actually be cured simply by one of the following solutions so please try these first

• Updating Drivers (This is a BIG one, most problems tend to crop-up due to outdated drivers)
• Restart the PC with the problem (sometimes problems can be cured simply by a restart, these are usually just glitches)
• Check your PC specifications against the Minimum and Recommended Specifications released by the Game's Manufacturer
• Remove any Mods installed (Mods sometimes cause conflicts and you can always reinstall them)
• Patch the game (Patch it to the latest version if it isn't, this is because the makers release fixes for wide-spread problems)
• Reinstall the game

Those are excellent tips to help make WOW (awesome game) or LOTRO (which is the game I play) run smoother; especially when it comes to computers that tend to lag frequently, like mine does. I would like to add "reduce your graphics to the lowest setting" because graphics is one of the major causes to make your computer lag or maybe cause it to crash; unless that's included with the "updating drivers" part, such as updating your video card. However, it would be best make a note of it for future reference.