PC maintenance

so with defiance less then 24 hours away its time all you gamers out there do some much needed maintenance before the game goes live.

this is to the more casual / new commers with mid range machines (any high end gamer has a highly maintained rig).

so obv the basics

defrag (if on windows use a CHKDSK and restart your pc then defrag after)

clean up system registery

clean your hardware and fans (and i meen clean them with a little brush and an air duster u can buy these from pound shops all over the UK) and clean everything and get rid of all the dust.

new thermal paste for your CPU / GPU if you have not done so in the last 6 months (a heavy use machine its recomended every 6 months). if u are no sure about your GPU heatsink dont even try it.

clean your mouse optics

clean your mouse surface (table pad etc)

clean your keyboard (soemtimes a bit of food etc gets stuck in your keys and then it wont respond)

clean your moniter with a microfiber cloth and screen cleaner (smudgey screen = distorted image)

clean your speakers dust can reduce sound quality.

close your curtains / blinds but leave a window open for air flow (for ur pc)

hide your wife and hide your kids so they dont disturb you (if u have any if not hide your pet)

and get lots and lots of red bull (if like me u got all week of work paid holiday :D )

dotn go QQ on forums at 8:05 because the servers are not on.

expect some server issues at the start (look at GW2 3 day headstart lololol)

if your cross hairs is red kill it !111!1!!!!1

im not very good at guides so just throwing it out there. feel free to add more things to clean / maintain.

windows vista and later don't need to be manually defragged, it does so continually when the pc is in an idle state.

if you don't know what you're doing(and you probably don't) don't touch the registry for any reason. no. don't. just don't.


you don't need to reapply thermal paste during the life of your current hardware. and certainly not every 6 months. and if you don't know what you're doing, you should probably not touch those at all. and you most definitely probably don't know what you're doing so don't.

eww dont leave auto defrag on. it will try and do it every time you log in.

if you defrag manually atleast once a week you are good to go.

registry is easy if you have the right programs that are offical. you just let it sort it out. (not hard)

you do if you are a heavy overclocked user pumping loads of hours every day. after 6 months my thermal paste was more crusty then pasty :D . belive it or not ive been using gameing rigs for a very long time.

it won't defrag when you are doing something heavy, and you won't notice it.

one of the best parts of post xp windows is no longer defraggign manually.



and thermal paste is meant to set/cook into a crust. it's not meant to stay soft and gooey.

another thing is keep an eye on video card driver updates. Hopefully Nvidia will have some Defiance specific improvements coming out. Also, i've never had the need to reapply thermal paste, but my pc doesn't run too hot.

Think most of these suggestions are for people who know/built their rigs and probably already know this. However the cleaning the keyboard, etc is always a good reminder im doing my desk today & shopping for fuel for myself too lol

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Originally Posted by Far_Too_Jones

another thing is keep an eye on video card driver updates. Hopefully Nvidia will have some Defiance specific improvements coming out. Also, i've never had the need to reapply thermal paste, but my pc doesn't run too hot.

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nvidia just released a new WHQL driver the other day. 314.xx. i didn't see anything about defiance in it. i don't think defiance really needs any driver side stuff.

if you have problems such as CTDs or w/e, do try the latest drivers though.

Also, Do NOT defrag if you have SSD.

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Originally Posted by Senel

Think most of these suggestions are for people who know/built their rigs and probably already know this. However the cleaning the keyboard, etc is always a good reminder im doing my desk today & shopping for fuel for myself too lol

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We're all gamers here, we all know its not Food or Drink stuck in our Keyboards/Mice.

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Originally Posted by Quirky

We're all gamers here, we all know its not Food or Drink stuck in our Keyboards/Mice.

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It's mostly grime for sweat all over my keyboard and mouse.

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Originally Posted by Senel

It's mostly grime for sweat all over my keyboard and mouse.

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You know it! But you reminded me to Replace my Mouse Skates :D Thank you Sir.

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Originally Posted by dirtyklingon

windows vista and later don't need to be manually defragged, it does so continually when the pc is in an idle state.

if you don't know what you're doing(and you probably don't) don't touch the registry for any reason. no. don't. just don't.


you don't need to reapply thermal paste during the life of your current hardware. and certainly not every 6 months. and if you don't know what you're doing, you should probably not touch those at all. and you most definitely probably don't know what you're doing so don't.

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Why are we using demeaning language? Writing like people are mindless drones. All the guy did was giving advice to people to prepare, and good advice it was, then Mr. Klingon comes with the arrogance, which he seems to bring in allmost all posts you seen from him.

I dont think hes trying to purposelly come off insulting or anything sydone. Its just him expressing his opinions & thats just his demeanor. We can all still get along guys.

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Originally Posted by Sydone

Why are we using demeaning language? Writing like people are mindless drones. All the guy did was giving advice to people to prepare, and good advice it was, then Mr. Klingon comes with the arrogance, which he seems to bring in allmost all posts you seen from him.

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wat

some of this advice is really bad and can harm your pc, even if you are tech savvy.

there's is nothing arrogant about my warnings. i've been building my own PCs for 6 years, taking apart and upgrading pc's since the early 90s. tweaking windows for optimal performance in games as needed since dos 6.0/win3.11.

OP is half baked and could be considered malicious by some people.

I hope people that have SSD's do NOT use Disk defrag or any 3rd party programs similar to disk defrag.

...this is why you don't take your system to Best Buy, this guy will be the one that "fixes" your computer.

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Originally Posted by kirix

so with defiance less then 24 hours away its time all you gamers out there do some much needed maintenance before the game goes live.

this is to the more casual / new commers with mid range machines (any high end gamer has a highly maintained rig).

so obv the basics

defrag (if on windows use a CHKDSK and restart your pc then defrag after) Well no, most anti virus now a days will have a pc tune up, run that, it will clean registry, defrag if necessary and so on, Bullguard has that build in and works likea charm

clean up system registery Se above

clean your hardware and fans (and i meen clean them with a little brush and an air duster u can buy these from pound shops all over the UK) and clean everything and get rid of all the dust. Can do watch static electricity though. Tap a radiator before going in the rig.

new thermal paste for your CPU / GPU if you have not done so in the last 6 months (a heavy use machine its recomended every 6 months). if u are no sure about your GPU heatsink dont even try it. No, if you have no idea what you are doing then please just no. And every 6 months? I have been running on same CPU for little less than 2 years, without using new cooling paste.

clean your mouse optics sure

clean your mouse surface (table pad etc) sure

clean your keyboard (soemtimes a bit of food etc gets stuck in your keys and then it wont respond) sure

clean your moniter with a microfiber cloth and screen cleaner (smudgey screen = distorted image) Sure, but whipe in 1 direction.

clean your speakers dust can reduce sound quality. Minor but fair enough.

close your curtains / blinds but leave a window open for air flow (for ur pc) Really important

hide your wife and hide your kids so they dont disturb you (if u have any if not hide your pet) Well i have cats, one does not simply hide a cat!

and get lots and lots of red bull (if like me u got all week of work paid holiday :D ) Just had vecation for a week starting work tomorrow :(

dotn go QQ on forums at 8:05 because the servers are not on. Patience

expect some server issues at the start (look at GW2 3 day headstart lololol) Wouldn't know

if your cross hairs is red kill it !111!1!!!!1 Yes!

im not very good at guides so just throwing it out there. feel free to add more things to clean / maintain.

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But yes i understand Klingon, dident mean to come off as offensive was just curious as to why you wrote as you did.

I bought a new pc 2 months ago for this game.. i'm all set.

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Originally Posted by Lucid

...this is why you don't take your system to Best Buy, this guy will be the one that "fixes" your computer.

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this one got a genuine LMAO from me

Look this is simple.... Run a quick virus scan. Restart your system. clean your mouse rollers. and have fun.

If you are more comp savvy you have already done all of the intense stuff. The rest should not break the tape on the back of the machine(if you had to look i meant you). Oh update windows and drivers before the restart. Have fun guys

Nothing wrong with a bit of general maintenance - check for latest drivers, clean your mouse / keyboard / desk, and in my case make sure I set my alarm early for the morning

im defragging my rip off hybrid ssd drive and about to go out and buy a regular ssd.

I'm not trying to troll advertising but I use Advanced SystemCare by Iobit. I'm just a casual gamer and my wife uses the computer to surf the web/download music. It's fantastic at cleaning up and optimizing your computer. Free version even cleans your memory and registry. Won't be very useful to serious gamers who already have their stuff locked down but for casual people after your pc gets tuned the scan/fix process takes less than three min and made a difference for me!

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Originally Posted by Sweet Pea

im defragging my rip off hybrid ssd drive and about to go out and buy a regular ssd.

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DO NOT DEFRAG SSD! REPEAT, DO NOT DEFRAG SSD!

Unless you are defraging it to ruin it so you can get a refund for the new one I guess.

Any advice on a good registry and/or overall pc cleaner/fixer? Mine got fuxed a while ago and my decently built pc now runs like molasses. Free would rock, but also willing to pay if it is good. Thanks for any advice!

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Originally Posted by Eiryn

Any advice on a good registry and/or overall pc cleaner/fixer? Mine got fuxed a while ago and my decently built pc now runs like molasses. Free would rock, but also willing to pay if it is good. Thanks for any advice!

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i've used ccleaner for years without any problems.

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Originally Posted by dirtyklingon

wat

some of this advice is really bad and can harm your pc, even if you are tech savvy.

there's is nothing arrogant about my warnings. i've been building my own PCs for 6 years, taking apart and upgrading pc's since the early 90s. tweaking windows for optimal performance in games as needed since dos 6.0/win3.11.

OP is half baked and could be considered malicious by some people.

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dirtyklingon is 100% correct. The OP has listed stuff that casual computer owners should not engage in. For instance, cleaning your hardware, most people don't know they need to discharge and ground their PC, or use static mats, as that little static energy you build up walking across their carpet can fry all kinds of parts in a PC.

I end up having to fix 5 to 10 PCs a year just do to "simple" R&R that people don't know how to properly perform, usually told to by someone on forums like this. As I showed above even the easiest tasks can harm your computer, a user should never do anything they don't know how to do right. Although the vocal few here build their own PC, a lot more just buy them from big box companies and don't know how to do most of whats on the OPs list.

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Originally Posted by Far_Too_Jones

i've used ccleaner for years without any problems.

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I second this opinion.

cool, thanks

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Originally Posted by WarMachine

dirtyklingon is 100% correct. The OP has listed stuff that casual computer owners should not engage in. For instance, cleaning your hardware, most people don't know they need to discharge and ground their PC, or use static mats, as that little static energy you build up walking across their carpet can fry all kinds of parts in a PC.

I end up having to fix 5 to 10 PCs a year just do to "simple" R&R that people don't know how to properly perform, usually told to by someone on forums like this. As I showed above even the easiest tasks can harm your computer, a user should never do anything they don't know how to do right. Although the vocal few here build their own PC, a lot more just buy them from big box companies and don't know how to do most of whats on the OPs list.

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But if people have no idea what the OP is talking about, then common sence dictates that they just dont do it, hopefully, and thoes select few who then do without knowledge then their loss, if OP wrote that people should jumb from a bridge to get warmed up before the gates open, then im sure people wouldn't. I know not all humans posses common sence.

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Originally Posted by dirtyklingon

you don't need to reapply thermal paste during the life of your current hardware. and certainly not every 6 months. and if you don't know what you're doing, you should probably not touch those at all. and you most definitely probably don't know what you're doing so don't.

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This is correct, there should be no reason whatsoever to remove and re apply thermal paste once properly applied, further, continually removing and replacing the cpu heat sink not only weakens the springs, it runs the risk of damage to the cpu. You only need create a static charge or apply too much pressure once to cause irreparable damage.

The point about having to clean dust on the speakers is utter nonsense, while you should always keep things clean, it will not impair sound quality one iota.

As for using programs to clean the registry there are no "official" programs for Windows vista, Windows 7 nor 8. Microsoft, and any support worth his salt, will tell you most if not all are garbage and not needed, and many frequently damage program installs, driver configurations and generally fux PC’s. The ppl who produce these programs prey on the imagination and insecurity of less knowledgeable users . Anyone who thinks CC cleaner is fine should be shown all the messed up blank entries their registry now contains.


Op while you were obviously trying to help, its clear you do not know as much about system care as you believe, leave the thermal paste and third party registry programs well alone. Just yesterday I had to fix an install for someone that was screwed by Advanced System Care.

Most ordinary users with a post Vista OS need do nothing more than wipe their cabinet down once in a while to keep it clean, schedule a virus check once a week, ensure keyboard and mouse are clean and if competent, clean the inside of the case every 6 months, and regularly update drivers for newer hardware.

Oh and BTW “Rift” Trions last mmo launch went without a hitch launch day.

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Originally Posted by Sydone

But if people have no idea what the OP is talking about, then common sence dictates that they just dont do it, hopefully, and thoes select few who then do without knowledge then their loss, if OP wrote that people should jumb from a bridge to get warmed up before the gates open, then im sure people wouldn't. I know not all humans posses common sence.

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You don't know people too well then. "A person is smart. People are dumb, panicky, dangerous animals, and you know it." - Agent K

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so with defiance less then 24 hours away its time all you gamers out there do some much needed maintenance before the game goes live.

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After that comment, most will think its something done routinely by computer users, and even something they need to do before they can play Defiance at its best. Many will attempt on the OPs post alone.

BTW, why does everyone always use the "jump off a bridge" comment, Parents used it as a loose metaphor to get a point across, you just can't compare ending/Risking your life to PC maintance. (people will take more risks with a computer then their life, especially for a game)

at least dust your pc

Ok, call me dumb here, but i goto know. Why should one not frag an SSD? (no i dont own one)

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Originally Posted by KingMike

Ok, call me dumb here, but i goto know. Why should one not frag an SSD? (no i dont own one)

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It's a flash drive in essence.

Edit: Started to go into a massive detail on SSD's. Basically there is no physical head to move on an SSD unlike a standard HDD. So you don't get the slow data speed for the head taking forever to piece together all the info like on a fragmented drive, on an SSD it's just there and ready to be read.

there's no need. An ssd can read the files just as fast no matter what "block" they are stored on the drive. The theory is that defragging and SSD could reduce its lifespan. I think anyway.

Aha, allrighty thanks guys :)

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Originally Posted by WarMachine

You don't know people too well then. "A person is smart. People are dumb, panicky, dangerous animals, and you know it." - Agent K


After that comment, most will think its something done routinely by computer users, and even something they need to do before they can play Defiance at its best. Many will attempt on the OPs post alone.

BTW, why does everyone always use the "jump off a bridge" comment, Parents used it as a loose metaphor to get a point across, you just can't compare ending/Risking your life to PC maintance. (people will take more risks with a computer then their life, especially for a game)

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You seriously just write as if people are mentally challanged.... Like people can not think for for them selfes. You Surdently have high standards set for your fellow community. What average age do you think people are here? You make it sound like they are youngsters.

I think the defrag thing for a ssdd is because when you defrag it writes and wipes block repeditivley to consolodate the info. this repeated wipe/write can severly shorten or even ruin the life of a solid state drive.

And yes I know my spelling was bad :D

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Originally Posted by kirix

new thermal paste for your CPU / GPU if you have not done so in the last 6 months (a heavy use machine its recomended every 6 months). if u are no sure about your GPU heatsink dont even try it.

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You shouldn't be doing this every 6 months at all. You should generally only be looking at reapplying thermal paste if your hardware is running too hot and cleaning it, etc, doesn't make any difference. For this you should run Prime95 and Coretemp to see how hot your CPU gets under load, and Furmark to see how hot your GPU gets under load. If they are within expected temperatures then reapplying Thermal Paste most certainly isn't necessary. If they are hitting dangerous levels then it's time to look at cleaning hardware (which should be generally done at least once a month in my opinion) and possibly reapplying thermal paste. Thermal paste reapplication really should be a last resort though.