Windows 11 Gaming Benchmarks: Averages Parity, Lows Can Drop

I installed Windows 11 on my gaming PC, ran a battery of real‑world benchmarks, and found that — on the hardware I use — raw gaming averages stayed essentially unchanged from Windows 10, but percentile lows and stability showed notable variance that every serious gamer should understand before upgrading.

Background / Overview​

Microsoft has set a firm deadline: Windows 10 reaches end of support on October 14, 2025, meaning security and feature updates will cease for mainstream Windows 10 consumers on that date. The official Microsoft lifecycle documentation and support guidance make this explicit, and Microsoft is offering a limited Extended Security Updates (ESU) program that runs through October 13, 2026. (learn.microsoft.com, support.microsoft.com)
That timeline is the single biggest practical reason many gamers are deciding whether to upgrade now or hold off. Valve’s Steam Hardware & Software Survey shows Windows 11 is already the dominant OS among Steam users (roughly 60% in June 2025), but a significant Windows 10 install base remains — which helps explain the cautious attitudes in the community. (store.steampowered.com)
At the same time, Microsoft and silicon partners have shipped OS-level optimizations and platform features (DirectStorage, Auto HDR, scheduler and branch‑prediction tweaks, and support for frame‑generation technologies) that can benefit modern hardware. Some of those changes matter only with specific CPUs, GPUs, games, or driver stacks; others are broadly useful. Independent testing over the last two years has produced a mixed, title‑dependent picture. (techspot.com, theverge.com)

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What the Windows Central test did — and what it found​

The test rig and methodology​

The Windows Central test used a modern, high‑end gaming PC:

• CPU: AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D (liquid cooled)
• GPU: NVIDIA RTX 5070 Ti (ASUS TUF)
• RAM: 32 GB DDR5‑6000
• Motherboard: MSI MAG B650 Tomahawk WiFi
• Storage: NVMe PCIe 4.0 M.2 SSDs
• Display: 3440×1440 ultrawide

Benchmarks were taken on Windows 10 (baseline) and then repeated on a fresh install of Windows 11 24H2 with stock settings. The author ran seven demanding games (a mix of older and newer titles), left in‑game settings identical, and compared average FPS and low‑percentile minimums. The resulting table shows nearly identical average FPS across most titles, but some notable drops in FPS minimums after the upgrade.

Headline results​

• Average frame rates were effectively unchanged in most titles — differences were on the order of a single frame per second or within the normal margin of benchmark variance.
• Several games showed wider FPS variance and deeper minimums after upgrading to Windows 11: GTA V Enhanced and DOOM: The Dark Ages reported significant drops in FPS minima, and Black Myth: Wukong saw the largest minimum fall in that limited test set (from 71 fps minimum on Windows 10 to 29 fps minimum on Windows 11 in the author’s runs).
• The author interpreted the results as practical parity for average FPS, but flagged the minimums and the potential for update‑driven regressions or multi‑monitor issues as reasons for caution.

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How does that square with other independent tests?​

The Windows Central finding — average parity with occasional outliers — matches the broad consensus from multiple independent outlets, but there are important exceptions.

Where tests agree​

• Multiple long‑form comparisons show small or negligible average FPS differences between Windows 10 and Windows 11 on identical hardware in the majority of titles. For many players this means no perceptible change in typical gameplay averages. TechSpot’s side‑by‑side testing found only small differences across a larger slate of games and CPUs. (techspot.com)
• When Windows 11 showed wins, they were often tied to specific platform or driver optimizations rather than a universal OS advantage. Conversely, when Windows 10 looked better, the reasons often traced to default security features or scheduler/driver interactions. (techspot.com)

Where tests diverge: the Ryzen / 24H2 story​

• In mid‑2024, Windows 11 24H2 (preview builds at the time) introduced AMD‑targeted optimizations that produced material gains for many Ryzen CPUs in certain gaming workloads. Hardware Unboxed’s testing and subsequent coverage found average improvements in the low‑double digits for Ryzen 7000/9000 family CPUs in many titles; some games showed very large gains in isolated cases. That blew an important hole in the “no difference” narrative — but those gains are targeted and hardware‑dependent. (pcworld.com, forbes.com)
• Conversely, other testers and community reports pointed to worse 1% and 0.1% lows, micro‑stutters, and frame‑time anomalies with some Windows 11 builds (24H2 or earlier) on certain Ryzen and hybrid Intel CPUs. Those regressions disproportionately affected percentile lows rather than averages, and their presence was often tied to drivers, overlays, or enabled virtualization‑based security features. (reddit.com)

The upshot: Windows 11 can be both an uplift and a liability depending on CPU microarchitecture, the exact OS build, the graphics driver, and per‑game engine behavior.

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Why average FPS can lie — and why percentile lows matter more for some gamers​

Average FPS is a headline metric, but it hides important behavior that affects perceived smoothness:

• 1% and 0.1% lows measure the worst frame‑time performance. A game with the same average FPS but much lower 1% lows will feel less smooth and more jittery, especially to competitive players and those using high‑refresh monitors.
• Frame pacing and micro‑stutters are often the real experience killers. Small, infrequent spikes in frame time produce visible stutters even when averages look fine.
• OS‑level changes — scheduler tweaks, security mitigations like Virtualization‑Based Security (VBS) / Memory Integrity, driver certification changes — tend to affect frame pacing and low percentiles more than overall averages.

Windows Central’s test exposed this exact pattern: average parity, but larger minima in several titles — a practical signal that moving to Windows 11 won’t necessarily “feel” identical for every game.

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Technical factors behind the differences​

Scheduler and hybrid core behavior​

Windows 11 introduced scheduler improvements for hybrid‑core CPUs (P‑cores and E‑cores). Those changes benefit some workloads and processors but can also introduce edge‑case behavior when paired with older drivers or games that rely on different thread affinity assumptions. Independent testing shows that gains or losses here are highly dependent on CPU microarchitecture and the OS build. (theverge.com)

Virtualization‑based security (VBS) / Memory Integrity​

Windows 11 ships with some virtualization‑backed security features enabled or more aggressively promoted by default on modern hardware. These protections can reduce raw performance in some workloads, and TechSpot and others documented scenarios where disabling Memory Integrity improved gaming performance. That’s a tradeoff: improved security vs. reduced performance. (techspot.com)

GPU driver interaction, overlays, and SDK services​

Several post‑22H2 stutter reports were attributed to interactions with GPU overlays and vendor services (e.g., NVIDIA FrameView SDK or GeForce overlays). Disabling or updating these components frequently resolved problems, which points to the driver/utility layer as a common culprit for stutter after OS upgrades. Appuals and multiple forum reports catalogues these steps and fixes. (appuals.com)

New features that require modern hardware​

• DirectStorage can shrink load times and reduce CPU overhead for asset streaming, but it requires NVMe and engine support.
• Auto HDR improves visuals without changing FPS.
• Frame generation (NVIDIA DLSS Frame Generation / AMD FSR frame gen equivalents) can produce large perceived fps gains on supported GPUs, but those are dependent on vendor runtimes and are orthogonal to OS averages unless one OS enables a better runtime path. These features are value-adds rather than blanket FPS boosters. (techspot.com, theverge.com)

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Practical risks and caveats​

• Single‑PC tests can’t be blindly extrapolated to every system. The Windows Central test is useful but small‑sample; broader replication across CPUs, GPUs, and drivers is necessary before drawing universal conclusions. Flag any single‑machine claim as tentative until corroborated.
• Windows 11 updates have occasionally caused regressions that required follow‑up patches. That’s a recurring pattern: some cumulative updates or feature releases fixed issues for many users and introduced new ones for others. Gamers who rely on consistent competitive performance should be prepared for OS patch‑day risk.
• Consumer Extended Security Updates (ESU) are available but come with strings attached: enrolling requires a Microsoft account, and the free‑tier requires syncing PC settings (or redeeming 1,000 Microsoft Rewards points) — otherwise you can pay a one‑time fee (~$30 USD) for coverage through October 13, 2026. That choice matters for users who plan to keep Windows 10 after October 2025. Microsoft’s documentation and the public blog explain enrollment options. (support.microsoft.com, blogs.windows.com)

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Recommendations for gamers deciding whether to upgrade now​

If you need a concise checklist, here’s an actionable plan for a safe, informed transition.

• Inventory and verify compatibility
• Run Microsoft’s PC Health Check to confirm TPM and other Windows 11 requirements.
• Check GPU and motherboard vendor driver release notes for Windows 11 24H2 compatibility.
• Backup and benchmark before you touch anything
• Create a full image backup or at least backup settings and game saves.
• Run representative benchmarks (your regular competitive game(s) at your typical settings) and record averages plus 1%/0.1% lows on Windows 10.
• Try Windows 11 in a controlled way
• If possible, copy your system drive and install Windows 11 on a second SSD or as a dual‑boot. This preserves the Windows 10 environment for quick fallback.
• When you test Windows 11, use the same driver versions and in‑game settings you used for the Windows 10 baseline for true apples‑to‑apples comparison.
• Watch percentile lows, not just averages
• Prioritize 1%/0.1% lows and frame‑time plots. If minima widen significantly, investigate drivers, overlays, and Core Isolation settings.
• Tune before you panic
• Disable overlays and testing utilities one at a time (GeForce overlays, FrameView SDK, third‑party OSDs) to isolate stutter causes.
• Temporarily toggle Memory Integrity (Core Isolation) off if you need raw performance and are comfortable with the tradeoff — but understand this reduces one layer of system protection. Document any changes in case you revert.
• If you’re competitive or sensitive to stutter, delay non‑urgent upgrades
• If your primary concern is consistent competitive latency and percentile low stability, there’s little harm in staying on Windows 10 until you must upgrade — but plan for ESU or a replacement/upgrade path after October 14, 2025. Microsoft’s consumer ESU program offers a no‑cost enrollment path if you sync settings to the cloud, or paid options otherwise. (support.microsoft.com)
• Keep drivers and BIOS up to date
• Many regressions are resolved via updated GPU drivers or motherboard firmware. Check vendor forums and the Windows Update catalog for known compatibility advisories.

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The broader context: feature vs. raw FPS debate​

Upgrading to Windows 11 is not a binary performance choice — it’s also about new platform capabilities, security posture, and future‑proofing.

• For many users the feature set (DirectStorage, Auto HDR, improved API/driver support for frame generation and local AI offloads) will be more compelling than a marginal FPS change.
• For users on older hardware that cannot run Windows 11, the ESU program gives a bridge — but it is temporary and requires enrollment steps that push users toward Microsoft accounts and cloud sync. (support.microsoft.com, blogs.windows.com)
• Emerging alternatives (SteamOS and optimized Linux stacks) are gaining traction among handheld and niche gaming rigs. Steam’s survey shows a small but growing Linux presence in gaming, and some users report superior battery life and performance on certain hardware/software combinations, especially handhelds. That’s a different migration path and the tradeoffs (compatibility, support, game library) are non‑trivial. (store.steampowered.com, techradar.com)

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Strengths and weaknesses — a critical appraisal​

Strengths of upgrading to Windows 11 now​

• Access to new platform features that can improve load times, visuals, and future AI‑driven features.
• Ongoing security and feature updates beyond Windows 10’s end of life.
• Improvements targeted at modern silicon (e.g., Ryzen optimizations in 24H2) can produce meaningful gains for specific systems. (pcworld.com, forbes.com)

Key weaknesses and risks​

• Upgrade risk: OS updates occasionally introduce regressions that affect percentile lows or introduce micro‑stutter for specific configurations. Single‑system reports and small test suites can understate risk. (reddit.com, appuals.com)
• Fragmentation: The diversity of PC hardware makes it impossible to guarantee uniform outcomes — your mileage will vary more than it did with console upgrades.
• Consumer ESU caveats: If you choose to stay on Windows 10 past the cutoff, ESU enrollment requires a Microsoft account and a deliberate enrollment step (or paying the one‑time fee). That’s a practical and policy risk for privacy‑sensitive users. (support.microsoft.com)

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Final verdict for serious gamers​

• If your priority is absolute stability and consistent low‑latency competitive play and your current Windows 10 setup performs reliably: document your baseline, enroll in ESU if you plan to keep Windows 10 past October 14, 2025, and delay upgrading until you can test an identical setup or until Windows 11 updates and driver stacks mature for your specific hardware configuration. (support.microsoft.com)
• If you want access to modern features (DirectStorage, Auto HDR, frame generation) and your rig already uses modern NVMe storage and a supported GPU — and you’re prepared to troubleshoot overlays/drivers — the Windows 11 upgrade is a reasonable move. Expect to spend an hour or two validating drivers and settings after the first upgrade. (techspot.com, theverge.com)
• If you run Ryzen 7000/9000 series hardware in particular, Windows 11 24H2 has shown real, measurable gains in many independent tests: it’s worth checking vendor guidance and running a controlled test on your machine. Conversely, if you see widened 1%/0.1% lows after upgrading, work through driver and overlay isolation steps before concluding the OS is at fault. (pcworld.com, forbes.com)

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Closing thoughts​

The Windows Central test is useful because it reflects a real‑world, single‑system experience that many readers will relate to: average FPS parity with some concerning minima. That pattern is echoed across other reputable tests and community reports: Windows 11 does not universally destroy gaming performance, nor does it universally improve it. The difference lies in hardware, drivers, OS build, and specific game engines.
For most gamers, the smart path is measured: back up, benchmark, test Windows 11 in a controlled way, and be prepared to tweak settings (overlays, Memory Integrity, drivers) to restore the experience you expect. If you opt to remain on Windows 10 temporarily, plan for ESU enrollment or hardware upgrade before October 14, 2025 — Microsoft’s policies and the community‑reported realities make this an operational necessity rather than mere preference. (support.microsoft.com, blogs.windows.com)
In practice, leaving Windows 10 behind does not mean an immediate FPS windfall — but it does open the door to platform features and future performance improvements that will increasingly be optimized for Windows 11 and modern silicon. The safest, most future‑resilient choice is to test, prepare, and upgrade on your timetable — not on the schedule of the next cumulative patch.

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Source: Windows Central I finally installed Windows 11 on my gaming PC — Here's how performance compares to Windows 10