Troubleshooting Low FPS in Games on New PC Build

Lastly, if she's trying multiple games, it helps to identify what's causing the lag. Some games are more demanding than others. Posting a list of games and their settings can also attract better advice. Let’s troubleshoot together!

First, make sure her display cable is connected to the graphics card, not the motherboard. It's an easy mistake to overlook. Also, check the monitor settings—ensure it's set to the right refresh rate and resolution. Sometimes, Windows doesn't apply the correct settings automatically, leading to performance issues.

I would recommend checking the system temperatures during gaming sessions, just to rule out any overheating issues. You could use a program like HWMonitor to monitor CPU and GPU temps while running a game or benchmark. Also, verify that the latest drivers for the graphics card are installed. If all else fails, you might want to consider the in-game settings—lowering them temporarily can help identify if they're part of the issue.

It's crucial to confirm the resolution she's gaming at. If she's using 1080p, double-check that both the game and Windows settings reflect that. If FPS doesn't improve with lower settings, perhaps there's an underlying hardware issue, like improperly seated components or even a too-tight CPU cooler affecting temperatures.

Don't forget about chipset drivers! They can make a big difference in performance. Also, ensure that background applications aren't hogging resources. If possible, run a benchmark like 3DMark to gather performance metrics and see where the bottleneck might be.