How to Improve Game Data Loading Times in Windows - Make Tech Easier

To enhance gaming performance, many games load assets on-the-fly, making an SSD highly beneficial for reducing load times. If your SSD is slow or you're still using an HDD, you might experience extended loading times, stuttering, and fluctuating FPS. Before considering an upgrade, try these adjustments to boost game data loading times on Windows.

Table of Contents

• 1. Turn Off NTFS Last Access Time
• 2. Activate Large System Cache
• 3. Exclude Game Folder from Antivirus Scans
• 4. Experiment with an exFAT Drive for Gaming
• 5. Deactivate Full-Screen Optimizations
• 6. Expand Shader Cache Size
• 7. Implement a Third-Party Cache Management Tool

1. Turn Off NTFS Last Access Time

The NTFS file system, standard in Windows, logs the last access time for each file and folder, including those used by games, which can consume bandwidth that could otherwise be utilized by the game.

This feature is typically useful for backup tools like Windows File History to track changes for incremental backups. If you're not using such tools, disabling it can speed up game data loading.

Open Windows Search, type "cmd", right-click on Command Prompt, and choose Run as administrator. Type the following command and hit Enter to disable NTFS last access time:

<code>fsutil behavior set disablelastaccess 1</code>

If you need to undo this change, simply run:

<code>fsutil behavior set disablelastaccess 0</code>

2. Activate Large System Cache

While Windows efficiently manages system memory and caches content, you can enhance this by turning on the large system cache setting. This might not suit all users but can be advantageous for those playing games with substantial assets.

Note: Editing the Windows Registry is required, so ensure you back up the Registry first to prevent data loss or corruption.

Ensure you have enough RAM (at least 16 GB) before proceeding, as insufficient RAM can increase stuttering. Search for "regedit" in Windows Search and launch the Registry Editor.

Navigate to:

<code>HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Session Manager\Memory Management</code>

Find LargeSystemCache in the right pane, double-click it, and set its value to 1.

3. Exclude Game Folder from Antivirus Scans

Antivirus software with real-time protection scans files upon access, including game files, which can slow down game loading. If you trust the game and don't use mods, you can exclude the game folder from scans to improve data loading times. Here's how to do it with Microsoft Defender Antivirus; for third-party software, check for similar exclusion settings.

Search for "windows security" in Windows Search and open the Windows Security app.

Go to Virus & threat protection, then click Manage settings under Virus & threat protection settings.

Scroll down to Exclusions, click Add or remove exclusions, then select Add an exclusion → Folder to add your game's folder.

To re-enable scanning, select the folder and click Remove.

4. Experiment with an exFAT Drive for Gaming

Windows defaults to NTFS, which is superior to exFAT or FAT32 in most aspects. However, exFAT handles large files more efficiently due to its streamlined approach, potentially benefiting games with large files.

To set up an exFAT drive, search for "disk management" in Windows Search and open the Disk Management tool.

Ensure you have enough space by shrinking an existing drive. Right-click the drive, select Shrink Volume, input the space needed for the game (consider adding 20% more than the game's requirement), and click Shrink.

Right-click the unallocated space and choose New simple volume. Follow the wizard and select exFAT as the file system.

Install your game on this new drive to check if loading times improve.

5. Deactivate Full-Screen Optimizations

Windows defaults to a hybrid full-screen mode that allows interaction with the desktop and other apps, akin to windowed mode. This can impact game performance, input lag, and asset loading times due to additional processes.

To potentially improve game performance and loading times, right-click the game's executable (.exe) and select Properties.

Go to the Compatibility tab and check Disable fullscreen optimizations. You can also apply this system-wide via the Registry.

Be aware that disabling this feature will make switching between apps (using Alt Tab) less seamless, and game overlays may not function.

6. Expand Shader Cache Size

GPUs store precompiled shaders on the storage drive for reuse, speeding up game loading and asset loading during gameplay. Increasing the shader cache size ensures more precompiled shaders are available, enhancing loading times.

For Nvidia users, open the Nvidia Control Panel, navigate to Manage 3D Settings → Global Settings, and adjust the Shader Cache Size. The default is 4 GB, but you can increase it to 10 GB for AAA games or select Unlimited if you have ample space.

AMD users can't adjust the shader cache size directly but can enable it in the AMD Radeon Adrenalin Edition under Global Settings by setting Shader Cache to AMD optimized.

7. Implement a Third-Party Cache Management Tool

While Windows manages memory well, third-party tools like PrimoCache can be more aggressive in caching content to improve game loading times.

PrimoCache reserves a portion of your RAM for caching frequently used programs, unlike Windows, which manages the entire RAM for both cache and active apps. Ensure you have enough RAM (16 GB recommended) before using this tool.

Launch PrimoCache and click Create a new cache task. Select a cache drive and choose Level-1 Cache, which is the RAM amount dedicated to caching. Start with 2 GB and click OK to begin caching.

PrimoCache will monitor your frequently used programs to cache them. In our tests, it cached game data after two launches, and the cache remained effective even after system reboots.

PrimoCache offers a 30-day free trial, after which a paid license is required.

These tweaks should significantly enhance your game data loading times. Additionally, optimizing Windows for gaming performance by freeing up resources can further improve loading speeds.

Image credit: Vecteezy. All screenshots by Karrar Haider.

The above is the detailed content of How to Improve Game Data Loading Times in Windows - Make Tech Easier. For more information, please follow other related articles on the PHP Chinese website!