Five programs every new gaming PC needs in 2026
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Five programs cover most of what a new gaming PC needs on day one: Discord for voice chat, the Nvidia App for drivers, Steam for your library, Meld Studio if you stream, and Hone if you want an easy FPS check. All five are free to start, and none of them are pre-installed.
| Program | What it's for | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Discord | Voice chat while gaming | Free |
| Nvidia App | GPU drivers and game settings | Free |
| Steam | Buying and launching games | Free to install |
| Meld Studio | Streaming and screen recording | Free tier, paid tiers for extras |
| Hone | Guided FPS and settings tuning | Free tier available |
Voice chat: Discord, or TeamSpeak if your group already uses it
Discord is still the default for most gaming groups in India, and it's the one to install first if you're not already on something. Worth knowing though: TeamSpeak had a real comeback earlier this year after Discord rolled out age verification, with older gaming communities moving back for the lighter server control it offers. If your friend group already runs a TeamSpeak server, there's no real reason to switch them to Discord.
Drivers and settings: the Nvidia App, not GeForce Experience
If you're still looking for GeForce Experience, stop. Nvidia retired it in 2026 and folded everything into the Nvidia App, which is smaller, doesn't force a login for basic driver updates, and adds the game-optimising and recording features GeForce Experience used to handle. If you bought an Nvidia card from us, this is the first thing to install, before a single driver update.
Buying and launching games: Steam
Not much to argue about here. Steam remains the default storefront for PC gaming, with sales that make it worth checking before buying anywhere else, and it handles updates and cloud saves without you thinking about either.
Streaming and recording: Meld Studio
If you're planning to stream or just want clean recorded clips, Meld Studio is a newer production tool built specifically for one-person setups, combining what used to take OBS plus two or three separate apps into one. It has a genuine free tier, which is enough for most people starting out.
Tuning: Hone
Hone walks you through settings changes for specific games and explains what each one actually does to your FPS, instead of just applying a black-box tweak and hoping. Useful on a fresh build where you don't yet know which settings matter for the games you play.
From the floor
When we hand over a new build, driver installation is part of the setup, not an afterthought left for the customer to sort out at home. Most of the software above we'd point a first-time PC owner toward within their first week, starting with the Nvidia App since half the "my new PC feels slow" calls we get turn out to be a missing driver update.
FAQ
Do I need all five of these on day one?
The Nvidia App and Steam, yes, straight away. Discord and Meld Studio only if you actually voice chat or stream. Hone is worth it once you're playing something specific and want to check your settings are sensible.
Is the Nvidia App safe to install, and is it really free?
Yes to both. It's Nvidia's own official replacement for GeForce Experience, download it only from nvidia.com, and every feature needed for drivers and basic tuning is free.
What if I have an AMD graphics card instead of Nvidia?
You'll use AMD Software: Adrenalin Edition instead of the Nvidia App. It covers the same ground: drivers, performance monitoring and basic game tuning, and it's also free.
Is Meld Studio a real replacement for OBS?
For most single-streamer setups, yes, and it's easier to configure. OBS still has the edge for very custom multi-scene production, but that's a small minority of streamers.
Does Hone actually improve FPS, or just change settings?
It changes settings, based on tested recommendations for your specific hardware and game. The FPS gain comes from those settings being right for your PC, not from any background optimisation trick.
If your new build feels off after setup, bring it in. Half the time it's a driver that never got past first install.
Related: Best free GPU monitoring software to use right now · What does a ₹50,000 gaming PC actually get you?
Manoj Rathore handles content and production at Get Right PC, turning build data and bench results into what you read here. Published 11 September 2026.
