Gaming PC repair · Case Study
Five hidden problems. One slow gaming PC.
FixPoint Tech traced the poor gaming performance to CPU power, missing drivers, restrictive Windows and memory settings, and weak cooling.
- Service
- Gaming PC troubleshooting
- Customer rating
- 5 / 5 on Google
- Review posted
- 24 September 2026
Why was this gaming PC running so poorly?
A gaming PC was struggling with games its owner expected it to run. FixPoint Tech identified a CPU bottleneck and examined how power, drivers, Windows settings, memory and cooling were working together. The existing setup had five problems to put right.
What FixPoint Tech found and corrected
CPU power
The 8-pin CPU power connection was disconnected. FixPoint Tech corrected the connection in line with the motherboard's power requirements.
Missing drivers
AMD chipset and other required drivers were missing. FixPoint Tech installed the correct drivers to support the fitted hardware.
Power settings
Windows was prioritising low energy use. FixPoint Tech adjusted the power plan to remove a restrictive setting from the gaming setup.
RAM profile
RAM was using default settings. FixPoint Tech configured the supported memory profile; checking stability is the next step in the workflow.
Cooling
Only one case fan was fitted, with poor airflow direction. Dust removal, cable management and attention to fan direction formed part of the repair.
Putting the setup right
FixPoint Tech corrected the CPU power connection, installed the missing drivers and adjusted the power plan and memory settings. Cleaning and cable management addressed dust and clutter, alongside attention to fan direction and airflow.
Diagnostic workflow
The fix. The checks. Back to the games.
For this kind of gaming performance problem, choose checks that cover power, drivers, memory and cooling. Establish safe power and cooling before applying a load, then verify behaviour in the games the customer actually plays.
Standard checks
Power and airflow
Isolate power, check CPU/EPS cabling against the motherboard manual, then inspect fan direction, cooler mounting and obstructions before load testing.
Drivers and BIOS
Check chipset and graphics drivers, Device Manager, the Windows power plan, RAM speed, memory profile and channel configuration.
Game-by-game check
With power and cooling sound, repeat the same game scene. Log frame times, CPU/GPU load, clocks and temperatures; compare any recorded baseline.
Advanced tests
CPU load and limits
Use a controlled CPU workload such as OCCT. Log effective clocks, temperatures and limit flags; inspect individual cores to investigate the bottleneck.
RAM stability
Verify the supported memory profile, speed and timings. Use MemTest86 to check stability; investigate errors and retest at defaults where needed.
Mixed-load endurance
After checking power and cooling, load CPU and GPU together. Watch for heat, clock drops, hardware errors and crashes, then repeat the game.
Handover checks: cold boot, restart and sleep/wake. Record the test settings, duration and results for this diagnostic workflow.
The customer's verdict
“My PC has worked great ever since”
Questions this case helps answer
A few useful answers.
Why can a gaming PC run below expectations?
Power connections, drivers, power limits, memory settings and cooling can all contribute. Diagnose the whole setup before choosing a repair.
Is the AMD RAM setting called EXPO?
It may be EXPO, DOCP or A-XMP, depending on the board and RAM. Use a compatible profile and check stability.