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How do I set the graphics card to high performance?

You've spent plenty of money on it, so why not push it to its limits

Updated: Mar 24, 2023 8:10 am
How do I set the graphics card to high performance?

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Setting your graphics card to high-performance mode can significantly improve your computer’s gaming and graphical capabilities. So how do I set the graphics card to high performance?

Although the exact steps will vary depending on the manufacturer and type of GPU you have, the following are general guidelines to follow:

Find your graphics card before you can make any changes to your graphics card, you must first determine its type.

To open the graphics card control panel. Most graphics card manufacturers provide a user interface or application that enables you to adjust settings. You usually access this by right-clicking on your desktop and choosing “Graphics Properties” or another similar option.

Select High-performance Mode in your graphics card control panel, and look for an option to set your graphics card to high-performance mode. It may say something like “Power management mode” or something similar; select this option to enable enhanced performance settings.

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For instance, Nvidia’s Control panel has a power management option in the 3D settings tab. Another way is in the Windows power management option as well which lets you change the plan.

Modify individual settings as well as change your graphic card into a high-performance mode, you are able to modify individual settings for greater performance.  In this case, you may be able to increase the speed of your graphics card or decrease the speed of your fan to avoid overheating.

Before making changes to the settings of your graphics card, it is vital to check the settings to ensure they work as intended. This can be accomplished using a benchmarking tool or by playing a known video game on the system.

Another way to increase performance, which may be a steeper learning curve, is overclocking your GPU.

It is important to note that switching your graphics card to high-performance mode may result in increased power consumption and heat generation.

This can reduce the lifespan of the equipment. Therefore, only use this mode when necessary and monitor system temperatures and other indicators of hardware health for the best results.


With a background in engineering and PC gaming, Seb is a staff writer with a focus on GPU, storage, and power supplies. Also one of tech supports in the office he likes helping and solving problems.

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