BIOS settings you should know about for better PC performance

Like most people, I never really bothered touching the BIOS menu on any of my PCs out of fear. And honestly, the intimidating interface never really helped either. But once I finally started exploring it for one of my articles, I realized it was hiding some really useful features I’d always wanted.

I found options that let me power on my laptop by simply opening the lid, stop unnecessary battery drain, unlock RAM and CPU performance, and even disable specific hardware I never use. Once I explored these, I stopped seeing the BIOS as a scary maintenance menu and started viewing it more as a powerful customization tool.

Disable specific hardware

It’s more useful than it sounds

Before I explored the BIOS menu, I always thought disabling hardware meant uninstalling drivers. I had no idea most laptops and motherboards already let you disable certain hardware components directly from the BIOS itself. You can use this menu to disable things like the built-in webcam, microphone, RGB lights, touchpad, and even USB ports.

For instance, I always use an external keyboard and mouse when working, so I’ve disabled my laptop’s built-in ones so that my cat doesn't accidentally trigger inputs by walking across it. It sounds silly, but it solves a real problem for me. I’ve also used the BIOS to turn off the distracting power button LED on my Lenovo laptop.

There are other benefits too. If you never use USB ports on your PC, disabling them via BIOS can keep your system safe against USB-based attacks and unauthorized access. Similarly, you can disable other components depending on how you actually use your PC.

Flip the lid to power on

Why press the power button?

Opening the laptop lid is something we usually only do when powering it on, so having to press the power button afterward can feel like an extra step. I only realized this after stumbling across a BIOS setting called Flip To Start. Once enabled, the laptop automatically powers on the moment you lift the lid. It’s one of those things that makes you wonder why it isn’t the default behavior on every laptop.

The only downside is you might sometimes end up powering on your laptop when you didn’t actually intend to use it. But honestly, if your laptop has this option, it’s definitely worth enabling.

Hidden performance tweaks

Unlock the performance you already paid for

Performance upgrades aren’t always about buying new hardware. Sometimes the biggest improvements can come from just making sure existing hardware is actually running at its full potential.

For instance, your PC might have 16GB of RAM but still run like an 8GB system if XMP or EXPO option isn’t enabled in the BIOS. This is usually the case on most systems by default, which means the RAM runs at slower baseline speeds instead of the speeds advertised on the box.

A BIOS menu also lets you enable features like Resizable BAR, which improves communication between the CPU and GPU for better performance. One of my favorite BIOS tweaks, though, is customizing fan curves. This basically lets you control how aggressively your fans respond to temperature changes. With a bit of trial and error, I managed to make my PC significantly quieter without, of course, hurting temperatures too much.

Performance boost while gaming

Squeeze out more FPS

Plugging in your laptop while gaming is one of those old school tricks every gamer already knows. But while digging through the BIOS settings, I also came across something called Performance Boost Setting Option.

The way it works is quite simple. When your laptop is plugged in, and you’re gaming, this lets the CPU and GPU draw extra power from the battery alongside the charger itself. This gives the hardware an extra “boost” to maximize gaming performance. Of course, you won't notice it in every game, but yes, the laptop can push the hardware when necessary.

The obvious catch is that all that extra strain can sometimes cause your laptop’s battery to drain even when plugged in. Still, if you want the best gaming performance, I feel it’s worth the tradeoff.

Stop charging devices during hibernation or power-off state

Avoid overnight battery drain

When I’m done working for the day or stepping away for a few hours, I usually either hibernate or shut down my laptop completely. Although both these modes don’t draw any power, I’d sometimes still come back and find my laptop’s battery drained anyway. Eventually, I realized it wasn't Windows that was at fault but a BIOS setting controlling USB power delivery.

Many laptops are configured to supply power to connected USB devices even while the system is hibernating or fully powered off. So things like mice, keyboards, phones, external drives, and other accessories can keep drawing power even when the laptop is off. Once I disabled the Charge in Battery Mode setting in the BIOS, the overnight battery drain completely disappeared. The good thing is, my laptop still charges the connected devices when it’s plugged in.

The above options are really just a glimpse of what you can do with the BIOS menu. The best way to make the most of it is to just spend some time exploring it yourself. Of course, you still need to be cautious because not every BIOS setting is worth tweaking. If you come across something you don’t understand, it’s better to search for it or leave it alone.