What’s actually slowing this PC down?
Pick the symptom - the matching free tool is one click away.
For a Windows gaming PC, the useful shortlist is not eleven apps that everyone must run at startup. It is a toolkit: Steam, Discord, 7-Zip and the correct graphics-driver app are broadly useful; OBS Studio, MSI Afterburner, HWiNFO and Vortex are for recording, diagnosis, tuning or modding; Epic Games Store and the Xbox app matter when your games live in those ecosystems. Download each program from its official source and install only what matches your games and habits.
The 11-program shortlist at a glance
| Program | Best for | Who needs it | Free core? | Main drawback |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Steam | Main game library and storefront | Most PC players | Yes; games are usually sold separately | Not every game is on Steam |
| Epic Games Store | Epic titles and rotating promotions | Players with Epic games | Yes; games and promotions vary | Another launcher and account |
| Xbox app | Microsoft PC games and PC Game Pass | Xbox/Microsoft users | Yes; Game Pass is paid separately | Catalog, features and mod paths vary |
| Discord | Voice, text and communities | Players who play socially | Yes; Nitro is optional | Privacy, overlay and notification clutter |
| OBS Studio | Recording and streaming | Creators | Yes, open source | More setup than quick-capture tools |
| NVIDIA App or AMD Software: Adrenalin Edition | GPU drivers and vendor features | Owners of the matching GPU | Yes | Hardware-specific; overlays can conflict |
| MSI Afterburner | Monitoring and cautious tuning | Tweakers and troubleshooters | Yes | Bad settings can cause heat or instability |
| HWiNFO | Detailed sensor diagnosis | Users investigating temperatures or throttling | Yes | Complex interface |
| 7-Zip | Opening and extracting archives | Almost everyone who downloads mods or tools | Yes | An archive is not automatically safe |
| Vortex | Supported-game mod management | Mod users | Yes | Does not make incompatible mods compatible |
1. Steam
What it does: Steam combines a storefront with a library, automatic updates, cloud saves where supported, controller support, Workshop content, Remote Play and Steam Link.
It is the best starting point for a general PC library, but it is not the only launcher. Cloud saves, Workshop, Remote Play and controller behavior are game-specific, and many installation or authentication tasks require an account and internet connection.
Setup tip: Install from Steam’s official download page, then enable cloud saves only for games that support them. Skip it when: a game is available only through another storefront. GOG Galaxy is preferable for DRM-free GOG purchases, while Playnite can aggregate several libraries.
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2. Epic Games Store
Epic is useful for Epic-published or exclusive games and for promotions that require you to claim a title during the offer period. It is not a universal replacement for Steam: storefront features, reviews, cloud saves, controller support and mod workflows differ, and another client means more updates, notifications and account management.
Get it from the official Epic download page. If all your games are on Steam, you can skip Epic until a game or promotion gives you a reason to install it.
3. Xbox app for PC
The Xbox app brings Xbox-published PC games, PC Game Pass, Xbox social features and some cross-platform library functions to Windows. Microsoft currently lists Windows 10 or 11 version 22H2 or later as a requirement on its Xbox PC app page. The app is free; Game Pass is a separate subscription whose catalog, cloud access and benefits depend on plan, region, account and date.
Microsoft Store and Xbox titles can use different permissions and modding procedures from Steam games, and some require additional Microsoft services. Install it if you use that ecosystem; otherwise Steam or Epic may be simpler.
4. Discord
Discord provides voice and text chat, screen sharing, communities and support or modding servers. Ordinary communication is free; Discord describes Nitro as an optional paid membership with larger uploads, enhanced streaming and customization (Discord’s announcement).
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Use push-to-talk or tune voice activation so microphones do not transmit keyboard and fan noise. Review privacy settings before joining public servers. If a game crashes or shows an anti-cheat warning, disable Discord’s overlay first. Steam voice, Xbox chat, TeamSpeak or Mumble can be better for a platform-specific or dedicated-server group. Download Discord from discord.com/download.
5. OBS Studio
OBS is the flexible choice for recording, streaming, tutorials and multi-source scenes. It is free and open source, but it takes more configuration than Windows Game Bar or a GPU vendor’s capture tool.
Safe first setup
- Install OBS from the official download page.
- Run the auto-configuration wizard.
- Add Game Capture before resorting to Display Capture.
- Select a supported hardware encoder and record a short test.
- Check frame pacing, audio sync, microphone level and captured content.
- On a laptop, assign OBS and the game to the same GPU in Windows Graphics settings. OBS documents multi-GPU capture problems at its GPU selection guide.
Display Capture can expose notifications or private windows and may cost more performance. OBS is unnecessary if you only need occasional clips.
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6. NVIDIA App or AMD Software: Adrenalin Edition
Install the driver application that matches your graphics card, not both suites. NVIDIA App provides driver updates, game and application settings, recording, monitoring and related tools; NVIDIA identifies it as the modern unified application in its NVIDIA App documentation. Radeon owners should use AMD Software: Adrenalin Edition for drivers, profiles, recording and tuning.
Overlays, filters, anti-lag, upscaling and frame-generation features can have compatibility or latency trade-offs. A minimal driver install is reasonable if you do not need the companion interface. Avoid third-party driver-updater bundles; download directly from NVIDIA, AMD or Intel. Before a major update, know how to roll back or create a restore point.
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7. MSI Afterburner
Afterburner works with graphics cards from all brands for monitoring, fan curves, undervolting and overclocking. MSI lists version 4.6.6 as the final October 2025 release and 4.6.7 as a February 2026 beta on its official page, which also warns about phishing sites. Download only from MSI or the explicitly authorized Guru3D location.
Begin with monitoring, change one setting at a time and test in the games you actually play. Overclocking is not a guaranteed FPS increase; it can raise heat, power use, noise and instability. Reset defaults, remove “apply at startup” and reboot if you see crashes, black screens or artifacts. RivaTuner Statistics Server is commonly paired with Afterburner for an on-screen display and frame limiting, but it is a separate program.
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HWiNFO exposes detailed sensors for diagnosing heat, throttling, power limits and clock behavior. Download it from HWiNFO’s official page. The interface is aimed at diagnosis rather than casual use, and a brief maximum reading does not by itself prove a fault. Avoid running several polling and overlay tools at once. HWMonitor, GPU-Z and Task Manager are simpler alternatives.
9. 7-Zip
7-Zip opens and extracts ZIP, 7z, TAR and other archives used for mods, patches, utilities and troubleshooting packages. Get the current stable Windows build from 7-zip.org.
Extract to the location specified by the author rather than blindly overwriting a game folder. Scan unfamiliar archives and executables with Windows Security. An archive utility does not make an untrusted download safe. NanaZip offers a Windows 11-style menu; built-in Windows support is enough for ordinary ZIP files.
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10. Vortex
Vortex manages supported Nexus Mods games, including deployment, profiles, conflicts and load order, reducing risky manual copying. Start at Nexus Mods’ Vortex overview or the project page.
Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute2Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems3Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesRead every mod’s requirements, load-order notes and game-version limits. Back up saves before major overhauls: disabling a mod may not repair a save, and game updates can break a previously working setup. Mod Organizer 2 is an alternative for advanced Bethesda configurations that need isolated profiles.
Install these first on a new PC
- Install the correct NVIDIA, AMD or Intel graphics driver.
- Install Steam or the launcher required by the games you own.
- Add 7-Zip.
- Add Discord if you play socially.
- Add Epic or Xbox only when you use those stores or services.
- Add HWiNFO or Afterburner when diagnosing temperatures or performance.
- Add OBS only for recording or streaming.
- Add Vortex only for supported modded games.
Do not make every launcher, overlay and sensor utility start with Windows. Multiple overlays can create conflicts, clutter and extra background work.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Choose by your goal
Higher FPS or smoother frame pacing
Use the matching GPU driver app, HWiNFO for diagnosis and Afterburner or RTSS for cautious monitoring and limits. None guarantees more FPS; results depend on the game, hardware, resolution, thermals, driver and settings.
Streaming
Use OBS for scenes, sources, alerts and recording, with Discord for coordination. A reliable microphone and upload connection matter more than installing several capture programs. Vendor-native capture is the simpler alternative.
Quick wins for a faster PC:
Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Best Value
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Modding
Use 7-Zip for archives, then Vortex or Mod Organizer 2 as appropriate. Keep save and configuration backups, and check dependencies and game-version compatibility before updating.
One library view
Playnite and GOG Galaxy can aggregate stores, while the Xbox app offers its own library view. Aggregation does not remove the underlying launcher or account requirement.
Troubleshooting and safe recovery
An overlay causes a crash or anti-cheat warning
- Disable Discord overlay.
- Disable the NVIDIA or AMD overlay.
- Disable Afterburner/RTSS OSD.
- Restart the game and re-enable overlays one at a time.
OBS records a black screen
- Put OBS and the game on the same GPU, especially on a laptop.
- Match administrator privileges or run both normally.
- Try Game Capture, then Window Capture or Display Capture.
- Temporarily disable conflicting overlays and account for anti-cheat restrictions.
A driver update introduces problems
Keep the previous driver version, create a restore point where practical, and use the manufacturer’s rollback or clean-install option. Change one variable at a time so the cause remains identifiable.
Afterburner makes the system unstable
- Press reset/default.
- Temporarily remove “apply at startup.”
- Reboot and test at stock settings.
- Reduce the overclock or undervolt, then check temperatures and power behavior.
A mod breaks a game or save
- Disable the newest mod.
- Check dependencies and load order.
- Verify files through the relevant launcher.
- Restore a backup save or profile and avoid overwriting a possibly corrupted save.
- Check whether a recent game patch made the mod obsolete.
Bottom line
Start with the matching GPU driver, Steam or your required launcher, 7-Zip and—if relevant—Discord. Add Epic or Xbox for those libraries, OBS for creation, HWiNFO or Afterburner for diagnosis and tuning, and Vortex for supported mods. The safest “free software” setup is selective, downloaded from official pages, and free of unnecessary overlays and driver-updater bundles.
The Tool Desk
Outbyte Driver Updater FREEScan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Outbyte PC Repair FREEClear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Quick Recap
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