We have looked at ways of speeding up Mac performance in the past, specifically for graphic design. Most of the tips we covered can be helpful for general use as well. After all, nobody is ever going to complain about a computer performing a little bit more quickly and reliably! In this follow-up though, we want to look at a few more tips for optimizing speed and performance for gaming, and specifically for online poker activity.
This is something of a niche consideration, but it’s one we consider particularly relevant due to reported spikes in online poker activity around the world. The UK has seen an all-time high in online gambling-related searches, including those for poker; multiple U.S. states that allow real-money gaming has seen massive revenue spikes throughout the pandemic; and in India, online poker growth is said to have “burgeoned like never before” in recent months.
Whether or not this all continues in the aftermath of the pandemic, only time will tell. For the time being though, we appear to be in the midst of a new-age poker boom — which is why we’ve decided it might be helpful to share some tips that will optimize online gaming performance for those taking part.
Check Wi-Fi Strength
The most important factor in optimizing your Mac’s performance for online poker specifically is to check on the strength of your Wi-Fi and fortify it if necessary. This is not as much of a concern for something like graphic design, which does not always require active connectivity. Playing online poker however, or online games in general, requires a smooth, fast, and uninterrupted connection. There are numerous websites you can use to quickly assess the strength of your connection, and thereby take the first step toward ensuring your computer can handle live gaming.
Maintain Offline Resources
Among our aforementioned tips for speeding up a Mac for graphic design, it was noted that apps that aren’t in use should be uninstalled, and storage clutter should be cleared. On a similar note, it’s best not to have too many tabs or windows open while connected to an online poker game, because such things will also slow down performance. This presents a challenge for poker players because many of them prefer to keep reference material readily accessible while playing. Beginners, for instance, may have game rules open, or a glossary of poker terms available at a quick glance. More advanced players may have note-taking apps or word processing documents open, following the lead of some established poker champions who take notes on their opponents. Whatever the specifics, it’s perfectly fine to use these materials — but they should be offline. Printed-out references and paper notepads will suffice, and won’t slow down computer performance.
Manage Your Storage
Maintaining strong Wi-Fi and setting up offline resources relate specifically to the need to connect to poker sites and keep up with the speed of a live game. But to make sure the actual device is running smoothly and quickly, managing storage is arguably the most important thing you can do. This is an idea that drew a lot of focus in the piece about optimizing speed for graphic design, so we won’t rehash too much here. But by using your cloud storage option and/or making use of an external storage mechanism, you can ensure that excess files aren’t clogging up your Mac and slowing down its performance.
Conduct Regular Updates & Scans
Aside from managing storage, the most effective way to optimize general speed on your Mac is to conduct regular software updates and malware scans. Simply put, a computer operating on outdated software is eventually going to slow down, and a computer infected with malware will do the same. Staying on top of these factors will help to ensure that your Mac is moving as quickly as it can be, and will in turn set you up for uninterrupted, optimal gaming sessions.
If you’re among the millions who have gotten in on the new online poker trend of late, we’re confident these tips can help you to have the best possible gaming experience. And for that matter, they ought to be useful for other forms of gaming or online interaction as well.
