As a gamer, there’s nothing worse than watching your carefully orchestrated victory disintegrate because your system groans under the weight of frame drops. You may have already blamed your hardware or ISP – but what if the culprit is a few sneaky Windows settings, quietly working against you?
Yes, some Windows 11 default settings, designed to enhance your system's functionality or security, could be hurting your FPS (frames per second) in games. But don't worry – we'll unpack these features, explain how they work, and guide you on safely tweaking them to coax more performance out of your setup.
Let’s break this down feature by feature, shall we?
Microsoft itself admits performance gains are limited to “certain scenarios and configurations,” meaning results will vary. On some systems, keeping these features enabled might even have uncertain benefits.
How to Disable Memory Integrity
How to Disable Hyper-V
How to Disable Nagle’s Algorithm (Advanced Users Only)
Before proceeding, back up your system and create a restore point – Registry edits are unforgiving if done incorrectly.
If you’re unsure about whether tweaking these settings is actually helping, monitor your FPS using tools like MSI Afterburner or the built-in Xbox Game Bar. Sometimes, peace of mind in knowing your system is both performant and secure can add more to your gaming confidence than a few extra frames.
Which settings worked wonders for you? Or did turning off Nagle's Algorithm finally let you land those impossible hits in your last match? Let us know in the forum threads! Your experience can help a fellow gamer out.
Source: How-To Geek These 3 Windows Settings Are Hurting Your Game FPS
Yes, some Windows 11 default settings, designed to enhance your system's functionality or security, could be hurting your FPS (frames per second) in games. But don't worry – we'll unpack these features, explain how they work, and guide you on safely tweaking them to coax more performance out of your setup.
Let’s break this down feature by feature, shall we?
1. Memory Integrity and Virtual Machine Platform (VMP): Security at the Cost of Performance?
What Are These Features?
- Memory Integrity (Core Isolation): An integral security feature in Windows, this is part of Microsoft's layered shielding for your system. Think of it as a bouncer at the club door, keeping unsigned or suspicious drivers from partying on your PC.
- Virtual Machine Platform (VMP): A foundation service that allows for the virtualization of operating systems. This supports not just running multiple OS instances on one machine but also powers security features like Windows Subsystem for Linux and Hyper-V.
Why They Affect Gaming Performance
While these features are handy from a security standpoint, they consume a chunk of system resources. Gamers have reported 4–7% FPS improvements in demanding titles like Cyberpunk 2077 and Shadow of the Tomb Raider simply by disabling Memory Integrity and VMP.Microsoft itself admits performance gains are limited to “certain scenarios and configurations,” meaning results will vary. On some systems, keeping these features enabled might even have uncertain benefits.
How to Disable Memory Integrity
- Press
Start
and search for Windows Security, then hit Enter. - Navigate to Device Security > Core Isolation Details.
- Toggle Memory Integrity off.
- Open the Start Menu, search for Turn Windows features on or off, and press Enter.
- Uncheck the box next to Virtual Machine Platform.
- Restart your PC to apply changes.
Should You Disable Them Permanently?
No – security is important! Think of turning these off as donning sports gear for match day, then putting your regular clothes (and security features) back on after the game.2. Hyper-V: The King of Virtualization Plays a Bit Too Hard
What Is It?
Hyper-V is Windows' built-in virtualization tech, allowing users to run virtual machines (VMs). It's ideal for coders, testers, or anyone who wants to explore multiple operating systems without dual-booting. But there’s a catch: On gaming systems with limited resources (especially older PCs with moderate RAM), Hyper-V can hog system bandwidth like an over-eager gamer downloading updates during a raid.How to Disable Hyper-V
- Head to the Turn Windows features on or off dialog box.
- Scroll down until you find Hyper-V and uncheck it.
- Restart for the changes to take effect.
Should Modern PCs Worry?
Gamers with beefy rigs can usually ignore Hyper-V's background pull – it’s older or less powerful systems that suffer. Disable it temporarily to test if it ramps up your FPS.3. Nagle’s Algorithm: Networking Efficiency or Gaming Buzzkill?
What Is It?
Nagle's Algorithm is like an efficiency expert for your data packets. Instead of sending smaller data packets instantly, it bundles them into larger chunks to reduce internet congestion. Great in theory, except this batching can introduce lag in fast-paced multiplayer games where every millisecond counts.How to Disable Nagle’s Algorithm (Advanced Users Only)
Before proceeding, back up your system and create a restore point – Registry edits are unforgiving if done incorrectly.
- Open a Command Prompt and type
ipconfig
, noting down your IPv4 address. - Run Registry Editor (
regedit
) and navigate to:
Code:HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\Tcpip\Parameters\Interfaces
- Look through the subkeys under "Interfaces" for your IPv4 address in the DhcpIPAddress field.
- In this matching key:
- Create a value called
TcpAckFrequency
(DWORD, 32-bit) and set it to1
. - Create another value called
TCPNoDelay
(DWORD, 32-bit) and set it to1
. - Restart your computer.
Does It Always Help?
Some games have already optimized networking to override Nagle’s Algorithm. If disabling it doesn’t yield tangible benefits (less lag, smoother FPS), then it’s safe to leave it as-is.Broader FPS Improvement Tips: Covering All Bases
Disabling these Windows features might help, but don’t stop there. Supercharge your gaming rig further with these essentials:1. Keep Drivers Updated
Graphics and network drivers updated to their latest versions can significantly boost performance.2. Debloat Your Startup Apps
Ensure that non-essential background apps aren’t eating your RAM. Use the Task Manager to manage startup items.3. Power Settings
Switch to a High-Performance power plan under Settings > System > Power & Battery.4. Keep Windows Updated
Always check for updates – Microsoft frequently releases optimizations, game-specific fixes, and improvements to Windows 11.Final Words: Is It Worth the Trade-Off?
Tweaking Windows settings, especially features like Memory Integrity or VMP, may unlock noticeable performance gains in demanding games – but the trade-off is security and functionality. This is why it’s critical to strike a balance: turn off what you need when you game and turn it back on when you’re done.If you’re unsure about whether tweaking these settings is actually helping, monitor your FPS using tools like MSI Afterburner or the built-in Xbox Game Bar. Sometimes, peace of mind in knowing your system is both performant and secure can add more to your gaming confidence than a few extra frames.
Which settings worked wonders for you? Or did turning off Nagle's Algorithm finally let you land those impossible hits in your last match? Let us know in the forum threads! Your experience can help a fellow gamer out.
Source: How-To Geek These 3 Windows Settings Are Hurting Your Game FPS