7 Best FPS Boosters for Windows 10
Gaming on a low-end PC doesn’t have to be a sour experience. If you’re struggling with low frame rates, an FPS booster can help, as it usually frees up system resources and squeezes more performance out of your PC. Here are the best apps for this purpose.
1. Razer Cortex
Razer Cortex is a PC tuning tool that includes a Game Booster feature. It forces the closing of unused applications, processes and services. It also turns off automatic updates, clears RAM, and disables CPU hibernation so your computer can use all its resources.
Booster Prime optimizes individual games installed on your PC. However, it only works on select titles and won’t always improve your FPS.
Cortex has one of the best FPS monitors in the game that lets you track your FPS and see how it improves with each upgrade. When you are done playing, click on Restore now button to restore all computer settings to their original state.
Download:Razer Cortex (Free)
2. Advanced System Optimizer
Like Razer Cortex, Advanced System Optimizer combines several PC and gaming optimization tools into one package. But here I will focus only on game optimization features.
First, Advanced System Optimizer creates a virtual desktop where you can add and run games. This also kills unnecessary services that are taking up system memory. You can also use the key remapping function built into the app, but this will not increase the performance of the game.
Its UI hasn’t changed much compared to previous versions, and it looks dated compared to the Razer Cortex. The app offers a limited 24-hour free trial, after which you must upgrade to the premium version to use it.
Download: Advanced System Optimizer (free trial, $50)
3. MSI Afterburner
MSI Afterburner is primarily an overclocking tool that monitors hardware and provides real-time feedback on your PC’s performance. It is compatible with any graphics card and can help you get more performance out of your GPU by overclocking.
You can control the clock frequency, voltage and fan speed of the GPU to balance the temperature and performance.
One-Click Scanner Afterburner will scan your PC and find the highest overclock settings while keeping your GPU stable. To avoid additional bloatware, be sure to deselect Norton Tools when installing MSI Afterburner.
If you’re interested in the overclocking side of PC optimization, check out the best GPU overclocking tools to squeeze every drop of performance out of it.
Download:MSI Afterburner (Free)
4. Wise Game Booster
Wise Game Booster terminates unnecessary applications and services. As a result, your computer allocates more system resources to the game you are playing. I like that it’s free and doesn’t bother you with frequent ads. It’s one of the few game booster apps that doesn’t contain bloatware like a registry cleaner or system file cleaner.
You can add games and related applications My games list to manage their optimization settings and review additional information. Wise Game Booster suggests which processes to terminate to reduce the risk of inadvertently shutting down an important system service. You can undo all optimizations with the one-click restore button.
Download:Wise Game Booster (Free)
5. NVIDIA GeForce Experience
Nvidia GeForce Experience is the primary software for interacting with NVIDIA GPUs. In addition to updating drivers, on-screen FPS and game capture can help you optimize game settings for smoother FPS.
To increase a game’s FPS, simply add it to GeForce Experience (see How to add a game to GeForce Experience for more information). Then open it Details and click Optimize.
However, if you’re more experienced, you can manually adjust game settings in GeForce Experience to achieve the perfect balance between performance and graphics.
Download: GeForce Experience (Free)
FPS booster software will not magically increase your PC’s gaming capabilities. Still, it can make minor adjustments to remove the CPU sleep lock and free up memory consumed by both Windows and unnecessary third-party services.
Stay away from booster apps that haven’t been maintained or updated in a very long time — or those that claim to boost your PC’s performance by 200% and include nonsensical features like antivirus and deep cleaner that Windows 11 already has. Otherwise, you end up with bloatware, or worse, malware.