Best Apps For Your Gaming PC - The first knowledge sharing application in Vietnam

Nowadays, one doesn’t need to be a Twitch streamer to rock a killer PC build. So then there’s no sense in stopping at the hardware level. In fact, there are a plethora of third-party apps out there to make navigation and maintenance a darn sight better than what vanilla Windows 10 offers out of the box.

Today, let’s take a look at some of the best apps to install for any gaming PC. These apps tackle a number of different things, but when installed in conjunction, they can transform a regular rig into a full-fledged entertainment tour de force.

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Updated on January 7, 2023, by Gabrielle Huston: PC Gamers love nothing better than to customize their experiences, whether it’s through modding, animated wallpapers, or specialized apps! This article details some of our favorites that we think you’ll really enjoy. It’s been updated with some extras.

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Steam

It may be a little obvious that you should have Steam on your PC but for some, it just flies under the radar so it’s still incredibly important to mention. Steam is a staple for any PC gamer and will end up being one of the best and most useful free apps you have.

For those who are unaware, Steam is essentially software that acts as a store for all the games you choose to purchase on there. It’s pretty much the go-to place for developers when looking to publish their games since Steam sells every game available unless another company buys the rights to it. Nevertheless, you can buy anything from free-to-play games to brand new titles. Steam is a must-have, and it’s free to install. You still need to buy the games though.

Check out Steam.

Epic Games

As with Steam, installing software like Epic Games might seem obvious. However, if you’ve never bought PC games on this platform – perhaps everything you wanted was always available on Steam! – you may have never bothered to check it out.

The big reason you want to install Epic Games – even if you don’t already own any games on this service- is because they give away a free game or two every week! You don’t even need to have a paid subscription, just an account! Sometimes the game will be an indie title you’ve never heard of, but sometimes it will be a great old game that you’ve been meaning to try for years. If you come back each week and pick up whatever they’re giving away, you’ll build up a substantial library in no time.

Check out Epic Games.

Razer Cortex: Game Booster

Don’t be fooled by the name. The Razer Cortex Game Booster isn’t just for those who have kitted their setup with all things Razer. It’s designed to optimize your PC’s settings no matter the gaming platform you choose to use.

This free app is perfect for setups of any price, power, or performance and doesn’t need any PC wizardry to run it either. It will begin enhancing your settings instantly which makes it a wonderful app for your gaming PC, especially if it’s your first.

Check out Razer Cortex: Game Booster.

Discord

The days of Ventrilo and TeamSpeak are essentially long over. Even Skype is not nearly used as much for gaming as it once was. This might be due to many games developing their own chat systems, but the smart money bets on Discord. This likely includes anyone who has ever played Among Us.

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Its diversity of features, ubiquity and freemium model make it an obvious choice for many. Like Slack, it also allows for more organization within a single Discord. You can also navigate from one Discord to another seamlessly using the sidebar on mobile and desktop apps.

Check out Discord.

KeyTweak

Investing in a super high-end keyboard isn’t really necessary these days. You can get an RGB keyboard with cherry keys in a variety of designs for less than $30 in some cases. However, many players are also switching to non-traditional keyboards out of necessity or desire.

This requires a program like KeyTweak that allows people to remap their keyboard layouts. The less than 500kb program doesn’t currently have dev support, but it is compatible with Windows 10 PCs. Some alternatives include programs like Autohotkey or Sharpkeys for people who want a supported program.

Check out KeyTweak.

Opera GX

Opera GX is an alternative browser for gamers. It does run on Chromium, so you won’t be escaping Google with this browser (try Firefox for that), but you will be gaining a bunch of awesome features!

Most important for many gamers is the ability to limit the browser’s GPU, RAM, and Network usage. In addition, chat and streaming programs like Discord, Twitch, Whatsapp, Facebook Messenger and others can be built into the sidebar and pop out on a whim with just one click. They disappear when you click away, or you can pin them to the page. There are tons of customization features to be excited about, a built-in VPN, and more to discover!

Check out Opera GX.

SSD Fresh

While advanced Windows users can manually configure many of the options found in SSD Fresh, there’s no denying how easy the program makes the entire process. SSD Fresh will detect and scan your SSD drives to determine whether they’re running at peak efficiency. Chances are, they’ll be in the red-line when you first start the program up.

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A series of personal optimization choices will cause the needle to inch closer to the green, which indicates that your SSD is running at peak efficiency. It allows you to turn off Windows features such as Hibernate, Indexing and kernel swapping in order to free up resources and keep your drive running like a Ferrari.

Check out SSD Fresh.

Equalizer APO

At first glance, this little program doesn’t look like much, but it’s actually one of the most robust audio equalizers available. It can act as a full-on replacement for a sound card’s undoubtedly limited audio options.

Equalizer APO features a list of items that can be stacked vertically to customize the perfect sound environment. In addition to a 15-band, 31-band, and variable EQ, users can also stack a preamp, low and high pass filters, loudness correction, and VST plugins. Once configured, it will run silently in the background, eliminating the need to fuss with secondary audio apps.

Check out Equalizer APO.

F.lux

More and more, there is a focus on protecting our eyeballs from blue light. Though Windows comes with a “nightlight” function, it doesn’t account for brightness across different rooms and programs. f.lux aims to fix that by making a PC display adjust throughout the night and day.

This program is especially useful for gaming laptop users. Apparently, people can also control their smart lights with f.lux, too.

Check out F.lux

Vortex

If you’re a PC gamer, you’re probably already modding your games. If you’re not, you don’t know what you’re missing out on! Every game is a little bit different, and each group of fans will have their preferences, but NexusMods is a site that hosts mods for many popular games, including Skyrim, Red Dead Redemption 2, Jedi: Fallen Order, Elden Ring, and more.

Vortex is a program made by NexusMods to manage mods you download for you! It makes the entire modding process a lot simpler to have this program connect directly to the site.

Check out Vortex.

Bluestacks

Itching to play Android-based games and apps on a PC? Then an emulator is the way to go and Bluestacks seems to be the platinum standard. This handy little program creates an Android environment within Windows as a self-contained bubble to play games in/on.

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You’ll need to enable virtualization on their motherboard in order to fully take advantage of virtual machines like Bluestacks. This can vary depending on specific hardware in any given PC. Luckily, a quick Google search or thumbing through the MoBo manual can show people how to enter their BIOS and turn this feature on. Most will have it disabled by default.

Check out Bluestacks.

CleanMyPc

Keeping any computer clean regarding files is almost as challenging as keeping Henry Cavill clean during The Witcher. And though there are many competitors, MacPaw’s interface for CleanMyPC is one of the best. It’s intuitive, user-friendly, and easy to understand.

With a few clicks, you can clean out the build-up of garbage files that accumulate in a system, set Autorun programs, and shred files, and Recycle bin items so they can’t be recovered. The only tricky thing is the Registry cleaner as this feature carries many inherent risks in today’s technological ecosystem.

Check out CleanMyPC.

CCleaner

CCleaner is an alternative for CleanMyPC. There’s a free and a professional version, so you can choose what you’re willing to invest in. Much like CleanMyPC, CCleaner scans your computer for junk files that don’t need to be there anymore.

The free version removes pesky trackers and useless files. If you invest in the professional version, it can do much more, including helping to manage your startup apps, keeping your drivers and apps updated, help optimize your computer’s performance, and more.

Check out CCleaner.

QuickLook

This free app from Paddy Xu can be found in the Microsoft Store. It’s one of those “never knew I needed it” kinds of programs that can make Windows navigation so much better. Essentially, Quick Look emulates the Mac OS-inspired Preview function triggered when someone highlights a folder or file and taps the space bar.

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This particular version of Quick Look is far more powerful than the Mac equivalent. Features such as mouse wheel volume control and zoom functionality take it to the next level. It’s a great way to quickly view photos, document content, movies, or folder data with a simple button press.

Check out Quick Look.

Winlaunch

Mac users are already familiar with the kind of interface Winlaunch offers. But this particular app is leaps and bounds beyond the Apple rival. This extremely useful launcher eliminates the need to clutter a desktop with unsightly icons or navigate the Start menu.

Winlaunch can be configured to pop up however a user prefers. One example is by just a tap of the middle mouse button. From there, users can add program executables and drive folders with a few clicks, assign custom icons, and rearrange tiles on the fly across multiple pages that can be scrolled via the mouse wheel. It’s a convenient and tidy way to manage a library of apps and games.

Check out Winlaunch.

OBS Studio

There are many programs out there that let people record games and audio. But OBS Studio might be one of the best free options available. It also has continuous updates that add new features and improvements.

It is pretty widely used, so tutorials on how to set it up abound. The file sizes are also not nearly as gargantuan as they can be on other similar programs like Fraps. For those who want to get into streaming or just want to record games, OBS Studio is the way to go.

Check out OBS Studio.

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