Have you just bought a shiny new PC and don’t know which essential apps you should download for gaming? If so, this is the blog post for you!
We’ve searched high and low to put together this round-up of the ten essential apps for gamers. We think there’s a must-have program here for everyone, whether you’re looking to overclock, chat with friends, or even stream your latest gaming obsession.
NVIDIA GeForce Experience
NVIDIA GeForce Experience is an all-in-one app that grants you full access to a wide range of performance enhancing features, ensuring you can get the most out of your hardware. This includes the latest graphics drivers, optimised in-game settings, NVIDIA Shadow Play, and much more.
To utilise NVIDIA GeForce Experience, you will need to ensure your PC meets a select few system requirements. This includes:
- Windows 10-11
- Intel Pentium G Series, Core i3, i5, i7 or higher or an AMD FX, Ryzen 3, 5, 7, Threadripper or higher
- Up to 2GB system memory
- NVIDIA RTX or GTX Series GPU
- 1GB available storage space
If you want to read more about NVIDIA GeForce Experience and how this can help boost your gaming, check out our ‘NVIDIA Inside Look’ article.
AMD Radeon Software
AMD Radeon Software is an alternative to NVIDIA GeForce Experience. Designed to be used alongside your AMD Radeon GPU or APU, this software features everything you need to fine-tune your gaming performance. This includes up to date graphics drivers, settings to enhance image quality, and much more.
Playnite
Arguably one of the most annoying aspects of PC gaming is all those damn game launchers. Steam, EPIC, Battle.net, Origin – it’s virtually impossible to remember which launcher is connected to what game. Playnite resolves this heartache by combining all your game launchers into one.
This means when it comes to your next gaming marathon, you’ll only need to open Playnite to have full access to your gaming library.
Bitwarden
Speaking of endless game launchers, what about all those usernames and passwords you need to remember for each one? Here’s where Bitwarden can help.
With Bitwarden, you can store all your different passwords in one secure place. Bitwarden is completely encrypted, meaning you don’t need to worry about your sensitive information being released.
If you’re looking for more ways to keep your data safe, we’ve got a helpful guide highlighting all the different ways you can improve your computer’s security.
MSI Afterburner
Struggling with poor performance? Don’t feel like you are getting the most out of your hardware? MSI Afterburner is a handy free-to-use GPU overclocking software which can notably boost your gaming experience.
Overclocking doesn’t have to be scary, and MSI Afterburner makes it easier than ever to adjust the frequencies and voltage of your graphics card. Integrated monitoring tools give you real-time feedback on how your PC is performing, meaning you’ll be able to quickly see if your overclocking settings are having a negative effect.
We’ve simplified what you can achieve with MSI Afterburner here. If you want a closer look at this app, check out our dedicated blog post.
Razer Cortex: Game Booster
Razer Cortex: Game Booster works with a wide range of popular components to intelligently manage your PC’s resources and enhance your performance. There are three key things Razer Cortex can do – maximise your FPS, manage background applications, and auto-boost your gaming.
Razer Cortex harnesses two different core modes, one which disables CPU sleep mode and another that enables your processor to prioritise gaming. Both of which work in synch to manage your operating system and unused programs from eating up resources and limiting your FPS.
What’s more, auto-boost gets to work as soon as you launch your favourite game. Auto-boost notably enhances your gaming by freeing up vital resources, such as your RAM, to deliver fast load times, minimal latency, and much more. When you close your game, your auto-boot returns your PC to its previous state. No complicated tweaking or tuning required!
OperaGX
OperaGX is a browser that has been crafted with gamers in mind. Featuring integrated CPU, GPU, RAM, and network limiters, OperaGX intelligently reduces the number of resources these key components use, to ensure you can enjoy uninterrupted gaming. In addition to this, the numerous customisation options mean you can freely configure OperaGX to suit your individual preferences.
Discord
For those who want to get the squad together for some weekend gaming, Discord is a must-have. It’s a free-to-use platform that allows you to chat with your friends via text and video, along with joining dedicated community servers for your favourite games, movies, live streamers, and more.
OBS
OBS, or Open Broadcasting Software, is vital for gamers who want to expand into streaming or simply capture their incredible skill to show off to friends. OBS is completely free and compatible with a wide range of popular platforms including YouTube and Twitch. It boasts multiple easy-to-use tools to enhance your recordings, including real-time audio, scene transitions, and a built-in UI deck.
OBS is only a fraction of what you need to wow your audience. If you are thinking about streaming and need some helpful advice, our collection of streaming guides has everything you need.
Steam
The last essential app on our list is Steam. Whilst this might seem like an obvious one, Steam truly is the ultimate must-have for PC gamers. This platform is home to thousands of games from free-to-play casual adventures and beautiful indie narratives to jaw-dropping AAA titles. No matter what your favourite game genre is, Steam has plenty of games just waiting to be added to your library.
In Need of a PC Upgrade?
Is your PC struggling to keep up with your gaming demands? Is it time for an upgrade? If so, here at Overclockers UK, we stock a premium range of pre-built and configurable gaming PCs that come packed with all the latest gaming hardware.
Our Refract Gaming PCs have been fine-tuned to suit a range of games, play styles, and budgets, meaning there is sure to be a PC here that suits your needs. Be sure to click the button below to browse the entire Refract collection.
Refract Gaming Jade Pre-Built PC
- Pre-built gaming PC
- Designed for mid-tier gaming and budding content creators
- AMD Ryzen 7 7700 CPU and NVIDIA RTX 4060 Ti
- 32GB DDR5 RAM
- 1TB M.2 SSD
- Windows 11 Home included
Expand Your PC Hardware Knowledge
Your Essential App for Gaming?
Do you have an essential app for gaming? Did we miss it off our list? Let us know in the comments.
*Prices correct at time of writing and PC specs are subject to change.
- 6 min read
Ruth Rowley
Author
Ruth has been with Overclockers UK for over a year and has gone on to write about everything ranging from in-depth hardware guides to monthly game releases.
Outside of writing blog posts, she can be found wrapped in a blanket with her black cat, engrossed in a book or playing life-simulation games such as The Sims, Stardew Valley, and Animal Crossing.
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