Boost Your FPS by Disabling These 3 Windows Settings

Tech News Boost Your FPS by Disabling These 3 Windows Settings
Tech News

Boost Your FPS by Disabling These 3 Windows Settings

January 17, 2025

Are you struggling with low FPS in your favorite games? While poor internet connection or outdated hardware often gets the blame, did you know that some Windows settings can silently affect your gaming performance? These settings, although designed to improve security or add functionality, can sometimes take a toll on your system’s resources, resulting in a less-than-optimal gaming experience.

In this guide, we will walk you through three Windows settings that you can disable to potentially boost your FPS and improve your overall gaming performance. Let’s dive in.

1. Disable Memory Integrity and Virtual Machine Platform

Why Disable These?

  • Memory Integrity is part of the Core Isolation feature in Windows, aimed at protecting your system from malicious code and unauthorized drivers. It adds an extra layer of security by isolating critical parts of your system memory. However, this security feature can also consume valuable resources, leading to a performance drop in games.
  • Similarly, Virtual Machine Platform (VMP) supports virtualization services in Windows, enabling you to run virtual environments. While this is great for developers and testers, it’s not necessary for gaming and can impact performance.

In performance benchmarks, disabling these features has shown a 4-7% improvement in FPS for resource-intensive games like Cyberpunk 2077 and Shadow of the Tomb Raider. If you’re not actively using virtualization or need the highest level of memory protection, turning these off can give your system a much-needed boost.

How to Disable:

Disabling Memory Integrity:

  1. Open Settings and go to Privacy & Security.
  2. Click on Windows Security > Device Security.
  3. Under Core Isolation, click on Core Isolation Details.
  4. Toggle Memory Integrity off. You might need to restart your PC for the changes to take effect.

Disabling Virtual Machine Platform:

  1. Search for Turn Windows features on or off in the Start menu.
  2. Scroll down to find Virtual Machine Platform.
  3. Uncheck the box next to it and click OK.
  4. Restart your PC when prompted.

2. Disable Hyper-V

Why Disable It?

  • Hyper-V is Microsoft’s virtualization technology, allowing you to create and manage virtual machines. While it’s an excellent tool for developers and IT professionals, it’s generally unnecessary for gaming. Hyper-V reserves resources for virtualization, which can limit the performance of games running directly on your system.
  • Disabling Hyper-V can free up these resources, especially on older systems or those with limited RAM and CPU power. This ensures that your hardware is fully dedicated to gaming.

How to Disable:

  1. Open the Start menu and search for Turn Windows features on or off.
  2. In the list of Windows features, locate Hyper-V.
  3. Uncheck the box next to it and click OK.
  4. Restart your system to apply the changes.

By disabling Hyper-V, your system will stop reserving resources for virtualization, leaving more power for your games.

3. Disable Nagle’s Algorithm

Why Disable It?

  • Nagle’s Algorithm is a networking feature designed to improve efficiency by combining smaller packets of data into larger ones. While this can reduce network congestion in general use, it’s not ideal for online gaming. In gaming, latency and real-time communication are crucial, and Nagle’s Algorithm can introduce delays.
  • By disabling Nagle’s Algorithm, you can reduce latency in online games, leading to smoother gameplay and faster response times.

How to Disable:

Step 1: Find Your IP Address

  1. Open Command Prompt (Run as Administrator).
  2. Type ipconfig and press Enter.
  3. Note the IPv4 Address for your active network connection.

Step 2: Modify the Registry

  1. Open Registry Editor by typing regedit in the Start menu.
  2. Navigate to the following path:HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\Tcpip\Parameters\Interfaces
  3. You’ll see multiple subkeys representing different network adapters. Find the one that matches your IP address.
  4. Right-click in the right pane and create two new DWORD (32-bit) values:
    • TCPAckFrequency: Set its value to 1.
    • TCPNoDelay: Set its value to 1.
  5. Restart your PC to apply the changes.

Disabling Nagle’s Algorithm can significantly enhance your online gaming experience by ensuring that data packets are sent immediately, reducing input lag and improving overall responsiveness.

Additional Tips for Optimizing Windows for Gaming

While disabling these three settings can give your FPS a noticeable boost, here are some additional tips to optimize your Windows system for gaming:

1. Update Your Graphics Drivers

  • Keeping your GPU drivers up to date ensures that you’re getting the best performance and compatibility for the latest games.
  • Visit the official website of your GPU manufacturer (NVIDIA, AMD, or Intel) to download and install the latest drivers.

2. Adjust Power Settings

  • Switch to the High Performance or Ultimate Performance power plan in Windows.
  • Go to Control Panel > Power Options and select the plan that prioritizes performance over energy savings.

3. Disable Background Apps

  • Many background apps consume CPU and RAM, even when you’re not using them.
  • Open Task Manager, go to the Startup tab, and disable unnecessary programs from starting up with Windows.

4. Use Game Mode

  • Windows 10 and 11 have a built-in Game Mode that prioritizes system resources for gaming.
  • Open Settings > Gaming > Game Mode and ensure it’s turned on.

5. Monitor System Temperatures

  • Overheating can throttle your CPU and GPU, reducing performance.
  • Use tools like MSI Afterburner or HWMonitor to keep an eye on your system temperatures and ensure proper cooling.

Final Thoughts

By disabling Memory Integrity, Virtual Machine Platform, and Hyper-V, as well as tweaking Nagle’s Algorithm, you can potentially achieve a noticeable boost in FPS and smoother gameplay. These optimizations free up valuable system resources and reduce network latency, ensuring that your gaming experience is as seamless as possible.

However, it’s important to note that these changes come with trade-offs. Disabling certain features may reduce security or functionality in other areas of your system. Always weigh the benefits against the risks and make adjustments based on your specific gaming needs.

Don’t forget to test your games after applying these tweaks. Share your results and let us know how much your FPS improved! With these optimizations in place, you’re ready to enjoy lag-free, high-performance gaming.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

1. How can I optimize my Windows PC for gaming without upgrading hardware?

You can optimize your PC by tweaking in-game graphics settings, disabling unnecessary background apps, updating your graphics drivers, and configuring power settings for high performance. Additionally, adjusting Windows features such as Game Mode and Virtual Memory can enhance performance without needing hardware upgrades.

2. What are the most effective settings to adjust in Windows for better gaming performance?

Key adjustments include enabling Game Mode, disabling unnecessary startup programs, adjusting power settings to “High Performance,” and updating graphics card drivers. For advanced optimization, consider modifying virtual memory and disabling visual effects.

3. Can disabling certain Windows features or services improve gaming speed?

Yes, disabling unnecessary Windows features and services, such as background indexing, Cortana, or telemetry services, can free up system resources and improve gaming speed. Be cautious to avoid disabling critical services required for system functionality.

4. How do I optimize my graphics settings and drivers for gaming?

Ensure your graphics drivers are up-to-date by using tools like NVIDIA GeForce Experience or AMD Software. Adjust in-game graphics settings such as resolution, texture quality, and anti-aliasing to balance performance and visual quality.

5. Is overclocking my CPU or GPU safe for gaming performance improvement?

Overclocking can boost gaming performance but comes with risks, including overheating and system instability. It’s crucial to use reliable software, ensure adequate cooling, and monitor temperatures to minimize risks. Always proceed with caution and only overclock within safe limits.

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