Windows 11 24H2 vs 23H2: Performance Insights and Benchmarks

Microsoft's Windows 11 journey since its 2021 launch has been nothing short of intriguing. From promises of groundbreaking performance upgrades to the inevitable community scrutiny, the operating system has seen its performance claims dissected, validated, and occasionally debunked. The latest bout of comparison pits two Windows 11 feature updates—23H2 and the newly released 24H2—against each other in a head-to-head in-place upgrade performance review. Let's break it down into manageable pieces, unpacking everything from the benchmarks to what these results mean for you, the end user.

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A Tale of Two Updates: 23H2 vs. 24H2​

At the heart of this experiment is a fascinating question: how much of a performance difference can users expect when they upgrade to the latest version of Windows 11, particularly via in-place upgrading? For reference, an in-place upgrade means updating your operating system while retaining all apps, configurations, and files—a common approach for most users.
Armed with an Intel Core i7-14700K processor, AMD 7800 XT GPU, and plenty of system RAM (32GB DDR5-7600, for the curious spec-heads), this test sought to replicate the average user experience by leaving all Windows settings untouched, including features like Core Isolation and Virtualization-Based Security (VBS).
Take note: these tests were not a sterile, stripped-down "pure benchmark" approach. Instead, they were built to emulate what day-to-day performance for users would actually feel like—warts and all.

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Synthetic Benchmarks: CPU and GPU Showdowns​

3DMark Physics: Single-Thread Struggles​

Here’s where things get interesting: Windows 11 24H2 struggled in single-threaded benchmarks like 3DMark's Fire Strike Ultra. Based on the DirectX 11 API, this test showed that 24H2 wasn’t optimized for such workloads. DirectX 11's single-threaded nature seemed to clash with what the update could offer, leaving 24H2 trailing 23H2.
Surprisingly, even in the 3DMark CPU Profile tests, which simulate multithreaded scaling, 24H2 lagged behind expectations. One might think an update would at least improve multi-threaded processing power, but alas, it faltered even there.

DirectX 12: A Narrower Divide​

On the GPU side, titles using modern DirectX 12 workloads (measured via tests like Time Spy Extreme) saw far less of a performance differential between the two Windows versions. When tested under theoretical hardware-pushing benchmarks like Speed Way (focused on DirectX Ray Tracing) and Steel Nomad (GPU rendering loads), both versions were neck-and-neck, with their varying scores easily falling within typical margins of error. So, for GPU-intensive tasks, the OS version won’t make or break your experience.

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Gaming Benchmarks: Frame Generation's Hero Moment​

Star Performance: Black Myth: Wukong​

Perhaps the most shocking data point came when testing gaming workloads featuring frame generation technology, particularly in Black Myth: Wukong. Frame generation is supported on GPUs like NVIDIA’s RTX 40-series, but here, it dramatically improved performance on Windows 11 24H2, delivering a 17.3% boost in framerate averages and a 15.5% improvement in 95th percentile frame times. Those are hard numbers to ignore.
However, the caveat is that this capability is niche—it depends heavily on specific hardware and supported titles. Gamers running frame-generation-compatible games on high-end systems might find 24H2 a worthwhile upgrade solely for this.

Some Losses: Far Cry 6​

In contrast, Far Cry 6, known to be CPU single-thread reliant, witnessed 23H2 outperforming 24H2. The earlier single-thread benchmark results pointed to this, and it was no surprise to see the newer update struggle for parity here.

Consistency: Assassin's Creed Odyssey & General Gaming​

Major titles like Ubisoft's Assassin’s Creed Odyssey showed no measurable differences between the two versions of Windows 11. Similarly, legacy workloads in graphics-heavy games such as Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy remained static, reflecting solid parity in most modern gaming cases unless advanced features like frame generation are leveraged.
There's a twist, though: Intel’s APO (Application Optimization) feature proved buggy on 24H2, crashing in some scenarios like Shadow of the Tomb Raider, versus performing admirably in 23H2. Bugs like this may cause more frustration than raw performance differences.

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Productivity and Everyday Computing​

Productivity Benchmarks: Cinebench​

In the land of office workflows, 24H2 held its ground but didn’t exactly shine. Cinebench 2024's CPU and GPU rendering benchmarks showed virtually no major uplift, revealing a plateaued expectation for users who focus primarily on workstation use.

7-Zip Compression: A Minor Advantage​

One of 24H2's only notable edge cases came in 7-Zip compression speeds. Compared to 23H2, file compression tasks ran about 6% faster. Malters of decompression tasks found no significant differences.

PCMark 10: Slow Boot, Faster Multitasking?​

Here’s where desktop enthusiasts might wince a little: app startup times slowed down significantly in the newer update. One might expect an OS refresh to focus on snappiness, but Microsoft’s slight regression might leave users scratching their heads.
That said, for raw multitasking with memory-hungry applications, Windows 11 24H2 has better RAM allocation tendencies. It consistently cached and reserved more system memory for programs, ensuring smoother performance during multi-app workflows at the cost of eating into available headroom in 16GB (or lower) setups.

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To Upgrade or Not to Upgrade?​

This is the existential question. Let’s recap the highlights:

• Big Wins (24H2):
  • Dramatic boosts in frame generation gaming.
  • Better RAM allocation for power users with sufficient memory (32GB+).
  • Minor edge in file compression tasks.
• Misses:
  • Poor performance in single-threaded applications, making it a lukewarm choice for Far Cry fans or users reliant on dated apps.
  • Buggy APO application support.
  • Slower app start-up performance detracts from the “snappy” feel.

Verdict for Gamers​

If you’re invested in cutting-edge graphics technologies like DLSS and frame generation, 24H2 has a lot to gain—even upwards of 17% in some scenarios. But for legacy gamers or those sticking to single-thread-reliant titles, sticking to 23H2 might maintain smoother overall results.

Workstation and Professionals​

Unless you’re running memory-heavy workflows where 24H2’s better RAM utilization shines, the productivity gains vs. potential regressions might not feel worth upgrading just yet.

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Parting Thoughts​

With Microsoft now pushing 24H2 updates, this mixed bag of results should help you weigh the trade-offs. As new patches smooth out early bugs, the decision might shift. What's your take? Are you riding the early adopter train, or sticking to a known performer?
Jump into the comments section and tell us about your 23H2 vs. 24H2 experiences at WindowsForum.com!

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Key Tags​

• Windows 11 24H2 vs. 23H2 performance
• DirectX 11 and 12 gaming analysis
• Frame generation benchmarking results
• RAM Allocation comparison
• Microsoft Update advisories

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Source: Neowin Windows 11 24H2 vs 23H2 in-place upgrade performance in 2025, some super surprising results