Best Programs for Your Gaming PC: How to Check Thermals, Bottlenecks, & Use Command Prompt

This video talks about what to do with your PC after it's been built. We talk about how to check CPU & GPU temperatures, bottlenecks, and our top programs for your PC (old or new!).

Our goal here is to describe how to use some of this software, not just tell you what to use. These are great tools for understanding and tuning your computer better, particularly for finding shortcomings, bottlenecks, thermal issues, or overclocking headroom -- but it's also possible to misuse these programs in a way that might lead you to the wrong conclusion. We'll help describe some of those pitfalls and how to avoid them. We'll also walk through some of the most commonly useful commands for Command Prompt that we think everyone should know.

(We are not directly affiliated with any of these software projects beyond our use of them; we do not receive any compensation for downloads, and we didn't even talk to the software developers about this video -- we just made it because it's what we use)

TIMESTAMPS

00:00 - Software Recommendations
03:22 - Power Supply Blows Up Next Door
04:09 - HWINFO64 & Data Logging
08:32 - CPU-Z (How to Best Use It)
10:56 - GPU-Z Sensor Logging
13:19 - NVFlash, ATIFlash, & MorePowerTool
16:31 - 3DMark & SuperPosition Benchmark Software
17:43 - NotePad++
18:12 - Lightshot
18:38 - Prime95 Non-AVX Testing
19:33 - FastStone Image Viewer Batch Photo Processing
19:58 - Command Prompt Basics
22:22 - EVGA Precision & MSI Afterburner Overclocking Tools
23:04 - OBS, ShadowPlay, & ReLive Gameplay Capture

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Host, Writing: Steve Burke
Video: Keegan Gallick, Andrew Coleman
Additional Screen Capture: Patrick Lathan, Patrick Stone

[kurtjustiniani]

I like how Steve already know what exploded. He seems so nonchalant about it, it looks like its normal for PSU to "explode" everyday 😂👍

[TheUncleshady]

lol the mandatorily-bundled Gigabyte 850 IED made an appearance.

[LayneRuley]

Wow I was so hooked on the old intro, I didn't know how cool the new one would be. Hating it because its not the old one but loving it at the same time because its awesome haha

[kingakim]

Content has been fire lately.. coming back after a couple years it's amazing to see how the videos have improved. Genuinely interesting and entertaining.

[helpfultomcruise]

cpuz has been a life saver in the past trying to solve memory channels dropping when i was running x99

[SonGoku-]

That PSU heard Steve say Prime95 and was like "Nope!" POP

[gudenau]

Quick tip:
Shift + return in the start menu is a shortcut for "run as administrator".

[sjab]

Ok I did not realize how much I was underusing some of these programs. Thank you Steve and team.

[TheChiglit]

Here's a few recommendations I often use as well:
-Shutter Encoder - free - used for changing encoded file types (for example from .mp4 to .webm or .jpg to .png). Has batch support and a ton of other features as well.
-Process Explorer - free - gives in depth info for running processes. Need some knowledge to utilize properly but is very powerful. (a common use case of mine is finding out which process is preventing a certain file from being deleted).
-WizTree - free - like WinDirStat but waaaay faster. Gives you detailed overview of what's consuming your storage.
-CustomResolutionUtility - free - allows you to overclock your monitor's refresh rate and fine tune your display

-PrimoCache - paid - this one is special - it's a caching software that allows you to cache often accessed blocks onto an SSD (same idea as intel Optane but it works on any hardware). For example I cache my 2TB HDD on to a 120GB SDD. This substantially speeds up file load time (aka games load faster) - your large HDD can achieve 'near' SSD speeds for read and/or write. Imho it's an easy way to dramatically boost your storage speed without overpaying for something like a large SSD. Takes some knowledge to set up properly. In my opinion, a very valuable tool, especially for budget minded gamers.

[nsmcafee]

Can't get over how friggin amazing the new intro looks! Well done y'all! So sharp

[Isoquant]

Intro graphics are incredibly slick, nicely done! Really helpful info in the video as well. Saved to favorites.

[phillukk]

Thanks 🙏 Steve for doing this subject - it was refreshing and well done. Keep up the awesome work! 👏

[Matharic]

Little tip with command prompt/powershell:
Typing either "cmd" or "powershell" into the filepath of the directory you're currently in will open up a command prompt already in that directory, saving you a bunch of time with "cd folder" inputs.

[elivai]

When I subbed to the Patreon it was because the content was good and I learned so much, but your output lately is genuinely next level and I'm super proud to be a supporter. I hope everyone at GN knows how amazing they are, looking forward to what you do next! Also the new intro/outro looks and sounds great.

[ericwinberg]

Is there a little more snap crackle and pop in the intro? Like it, just wondering.

[Nordern]

Other suggestions for more editing and video:
FFMPEG Batch Converter, a UI FFMPEG program to do any kind of video processing, transcoding, remuxing, resoluton changes, proxies etc
Or just FFMPEG for the CMD line, use .bat files like mentioned in the video to do video processing!
VoiceFX: Nvidia Broadcast/RTX voice plugin for editing programs!
Virtual Audio Cable: Virtual and up to 256 audio drivers, really useful for splitting audio so OBS can record different programs on different tracks
Everything: A search function in Windows that actually works!

[RatBagDad]

By far one of the best and most informative pieces you have put out in a while. And nice to see how much software on your list I already use. Thanks for this, I'm sure many people will benefit from it.

[domcyr]

Good job as usual in making a guide for people less used to monitoring their PC while OCing or general checkups. I learned so much over the years watching your videos, and I'm sure this video will be invaluable to many people. Thank you for your work.

Also at 3:25, I had a Thermaltake Toughpower Grand RGB 1050W Platinum, do exactly that the first time I plugged it in... It proved me right in always testing my PSU without plugins in component, first one in 15y to blow like that, but had I not double checked I would've risked thousand of dollars worth of equipment. TT replaced it no question asked. the 2nd unit has been working 24/7 for the past 5years.

I cannot wait to see your video on PSUs... this will be an interesting one I bet.

[Gretchen_Trouble]

I know writing content can be tricky during these mass shortages, but you guys keep knocking it out of the park. Keep up the great work.

[FrankieHiltz]

Another software recommendation, although it doesn't play a role in testing really, is Everything. It creates a hierarchy of every single file and folder on your PC, and it instantly gives results when searching. Windows native search is laughable, but this has helped me so much. It's so useful for wiping all leftover data from something you uninstall, or for locating something you can't find by rooting around the directory.