Windows 10 vs. Windows 11: Which OS Offers Better Gaming Performance?

In a recent study by Steve from the YouTube channel Hardware Unboxed, the performance of gaming on Windows 10 was compared against Windows 11. Despite the latter being Microsoft's newer operating system, Windows 10 appears to retain its crown when it comes to delivering the best gaming experience.

Overview of the Study​

The tests involved running a selection of 13 popular video games across both Windows 10 and Windows 11 platforms. Games such as Baldur’s Gate 3 and The Last of Us Part 1 showed minimal performance differences. However, notable disparities emerged with titles like Cyberpunk 2077 and A Plague Tale: Requiem, which performed up to 10% faster on Windows 10.

Key Insights from the Performance Test​

• Performance Across Different Games:
• A total of 13 games were tested to gauge performance variations.
• Five games showed a significant performance advantage on Windows 10.
• Titles that exhibited roughly equal performance included Baldur's Gate 3 and The Last of Us Part 1. [*Hardware Configuration:
• The tests utilized high-end configurations, including AMD’s Ryzen 7 7700X and 7800X3D processors alongside Intel's Core i7 12700K and 14700K.
• An Nvidia RTX 4090 graphics card was employed to ensure that the tests reflected the capabilities of cutting-edge hardware. [*Resolution and Settings:
• All performance tests were conducted at 1080p resolution, which is critical for determining performance in competitive gaming scenarios.
• While higher resolutions might exhibit less noticeable differences, staying at 1080p is standard for competitive gaming enthusiasts.
  

  Windows Features and Their Impact​

  One factor influencing these results is Windows 11's Memory Integrity feature. This feature, aimed at enhancing security by preventing code injection, is enabled by default in Windows 11. In contrast, Windows 10 disables this feature, potentially leading to better performance in gaming applications. Steve's benchmarks revealed that having Memory Integrity enabled can reduce frame rates, with performance drops of up to 7% in certain games. For gamers intent on maximizing frame rates, disabling this option may seem advantageous.
  

  The Case for Continuing with Windows 10​

  Windows 10 remains a popular choice, particularly among gamers who value performance above all else. Despite the improvements in Windows 11, several gamers and PC enthusiasts are still resistant to upgrade. For many, "if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it" is a guiding principle. Windows 10's legacy is reinforced by its compatibility with a broad range of hardware and configurations. Critical Points to Note:
• Windows 10 not only offers better performance but is also easier to configure and optimize for gaming.
• This operating system has been around long enough that many users are familiar with its quirks and optimizations, allowing them to tailor their setups more effectively.
• As Windows 11 continues to learn from user feedback and undergo updates, its performance might improve over time, but for now, it seems that it won't surpass Windows 10 for the gaming community.
  

  Conclusion​

  The findings from Hardware Unboxed suggest that Windows 10 is still the optimal choice for gamers seeking the highest framerates. While Windows 11 offers new features and improvements across a wide range of tasks and applications, it appears to struggle in the gaming sector when compared directly to its predecessor. Thus, gamers invested in maximizing their performance may find it prudent to stick with Windows 10, at least for the foreseeable future. As Windows continues to evolve, the prospect of a Windows 12 or further enhancements in Windows 11 may eventually change the landscape of gaming performance. As Microsoft looks to the future, it remains to be seen whether they will address the performance issues in Windows 11 to better cater to the gaming community. Nonetheless, for now, Windows 10 reigns supreme for those with gaming as a priority. Source: Hardware Unboxed on YouTube