# Is it better to get an internet security suite or a standalone antivirus for a gaming PC where performance matters as much as protection?

<p class="elv-tracking-normal elv-text-default elv-font-figtree elv-text-base elv-leading-base elv-font-normal" elv="true">Is it better to get an internet security suite or a standalone antivirus for a gaming PC where performance matters as much as protection? For a roundup on <a class="a a--md" elv="true" href="https://www.g2.com/categories/antivirus">antivirus software</a> I've been weighing the tradeoff: a standalone antivirus is lighter and stays out of the way, while a full internet security suite adds firewall, VPN, and web tools at the cost of more running in the background. A few product reviewers rate the performance of Kaspersky AntiVirus, Webroot Business Endpoint Protection, and Avast Small Business Cybersecurity highly.</p><ul>
<li>
<a class="a a--md" elv="true" href="https://www.g2.com/products/kaspersky-antivirus/reviews"><strong>Kaspersky AntiVirus</strong></a> (4.5 stars, 95 reviews) is the standalone-leaning option that also sells fuller suites, so you can start light and add features. Reviewers highlight low system impact.</li>
<li>
<a class="a a--md" elv="true" href="https://www.g2.com/products/webroot-business-endpoint-protection/reviews"><strong>Webroot Business Endpoint Protection</strong></a> (4.5 stars, 532 reviews) is the lightest option here by reputation, which is the standalone philosophy taken to its extreme, good when you want minimal background load.</li>
<li>
<a class="a a--md" elv="true" href="https://www.g2.com/products/avast-small-business-cybersecurity/reviews"><strong>Avast Small Business Cybersecurity</strong></a> (4.4 stars, 102 reviews) sits on the suite side with more tools, and reviewers still call it lightweight, though a couple noted background bandwidth use.</li>
<li>
<a class="a a--md" elv="true" href="https://www.g2.com/products/360-total-security/reviews"><strong>360 Total Security</strong></a> (4.3 stars, 46 reviews) bundles optimization and cleanup tools like a suite, which some gamers like for tuning the machine.</li>
</ul><p class="elv-tracking-normal elv-text-default elv-font-figtree elv-text-base elv-leading-base elv-font-normal" elv="true">The short version from the reviews: if raw performance is the priority, the lighter standalone approach wins; if you want the firewall and extras in one place, the suite is worth the small overhead. For the gamers here, do you run a dedicated game mode, or just a light standalone and call it done?</p>

##### Post Metadata
- Posted at: about 1 month ago
- Author title: Marketer
- Net upvotes: 1


## Comments
### Comment 1

Game mode mostly controls notifications, not resource use, so a suite with game mode can still cost you more frames than a light standalone without one. If performance is the whole point, I&#39;d pick the standalone and let Windows&#39; built-in firewall do its job. The suite earns its overhead only if you&#39;d actually use the VPN and extras rather than just owning them.

##### Comment Metadata
- Posted at: 21 days ago





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