Tag Archives: how to

Windows Tips

MsConfig and Startup Apps

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If you’re running any modern version of a Windows OS, you can easily check and configure your startup applications.

First, on Windows OS with an old-fashioned Start Menu:

  1. Click Start, then click Run…
  2. Type “msconfig”
  3. Check the Startup Tab.
  4. Disable unwanted or unnecessary applications!

On more modern Windows OS without a traditional Start Menu, simply ctrl+alt+delete, then go to the Startup tab in Task Manager.

If you disable unnecessary applications, you can significantly increase the boot time of your OS. This can also be extremely helpful if you are dealing with a computer that is infected with many viruses. Simply enter Safe Mode before the OS boots, and then disable the services and applications related to the virus.

Overclocking Tips

You SHOULD Overclock Your Monitor!

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I recently heard of this monitor-overclocking business, and at first I thought it was a joke. Many years ago, I remember hearing about forcing a faster refresh rate upon the monitor to squeeze out a couple extra Hz, but I wasn’t sure how to do it, and I’d never worried about it.

Recently, when I purchased a new monitor, I started looking into the refresh rate, and discovered the monitor overclocking is much more common than I ever expected. It’s also very easy to do, and the benefits are well worth the small amount of time you’ll need to dedicate to get it working.

 

Five Steps to Overclocking Your Monitor:

  1. Head over to Monitortests.com and download/extract the Custom Resolution Utility!
  2. Click “Add…” under the Detailed Resolutions panel.
  3. Change the “Refresh Rate” value in the popup window. Increase in very small increments.
  4. After making several new refresh rates at your native resolution, restart your PC.
  5. In your graphics/video adapter control panel, choose one of your new refresh rates…

If it doesn’t work (out of range), or you have significant artifacts, try a lesser value or go back to your defaults.

Some monitors may encounter odd issues, such as changes in the RGB settings or contrast/color/brightness. Use your monitor’s control panel to fix these issues, if possible.

 

This guide is short and concise, feel free to add comments or questions below if you need help!

Hopefully you can squeeze a couple extra Hz out of your monitor and enjoy a slightly better experience! Refresh rate can make a noticeable difference in 3D games!