Low ressource-using antivirus on a gaming rig

Johnny_C13

Honorable
May 3, 2013
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Hi there,

I need to renew/change my antivirus soon, and I was wondering what's currently a good antivirus to use on a gaming rig i.e.: low ressource using and still capable of handling threats.

A few years ago, VIPRE had a great rep for being reliable and low-profile. It seems however that they have fallen behind, so I will probably be changing to something different.

Bitdefender seems to be pretty damn good, although some say it's processor heavy, while other sources say it's light...

Any recommendations?
 
Solution
I use ESET on the computers at work and find it to be very fast and light on resources (this was the main reason I chose it - some of the classroom PCs are over 10 years old and have single-core processors around the 1.5GHz mark and as little as 512MB RAM).

It also seems very reliable - we've yet to have a virus outbreak or a problem with false-positives (we had several of each when we used to use McAfee, including a false-positive which rendered most of our computers unbootable).

Hope this helps,
Stephen

molletts

Distinguished
Jun 16, 2009
475
4
19,165
I use ESET on the computers at work and find it to be very fast and light on resources (this was the main reason I chose it - some of the classroom PCs are over 10 years old and have single-core processors around the 1.5GHz mark and as little as 512MB RAM).

It also seems very reliable - we've yet to have a virus outbreak or a problem with false-positives (we had several of each when we used to use McAfee, including a false-positive which rendered most of our computers unbootable).

Hope this helps,
Stephen
 
Solution

FPSmadMEDIC

Honorable
Aug 23, 2013
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10,640
I use AVG, it is a bit heavier than the ones mentioned above but I will back it with years of clean pc's that have came through my home, and it goes into a gaming mode when i pop open full screen programs (when I am rendering video, gaming ect.). Microsoft Security Essentials is nice and low on the resource totem pole. I couple either of those with Superantispyware (opened, updated and ran every 3 to 5 days) to stay stay squeeky clean. And if your on a gaming pc then any of these will work for you, just look for the feature gaming mode or what ever they label it, being that in gaming mode the antivirus is going to turn a few features off that you wont need gaming, providing you with a lower resource antivirus. Also programs like tuneup utilities or ccleaner will help keep you clean and running smooth.