Guides/Windows
Best Windows power plan for gaming
Switching to High performance or Ultimate Performance is on every tweak list. On current processors the default Balanced plan already boosts to full speed when a game needs it, so the difference is smaller than the lists suggest, but not always zero.
What the plans change#
- Balanced: the processor lowers its speed and parks cores when idle and boosts fast under load.
- High performance: keeps the minimum processor speed higher and parks fewer cores, so the processor reacts faster to sudden load.
- Ultimate Performance: hidden by default; removes the remaining power saving. Made for workstations, rarely measurable in games.
Where to switch it#
Press Win + R, type powercfg.cpl and pick a plan. On Windows 11, laptops and many desktops also have Settings → System → Power & battery → Power mode, which works on top of the plan: set it to Best performance for gaming.
Laptops#
On battery, gaming laptops hold back the processor and the graphics card heavily, whatever the plan. Play plugged in. Many laptops also have their own performance mode in the manufacturer's app (for example Turbo or Performance); that usually matters more than the Windows plan.
AMD Ryzen#
Install the AMD chipset driver from AMD's website. Older Ryzen chipset drivers added their own Ryzen Balanced plan; current ones work with Windows' Balanced plan. Either is fine for gaming.
Questions#
Does the High performance power plan increase FPS?
Why is Ultimate Performance missing?
Frametide has this setting under Tweaks, says what it does, and switches it and back with one click (some settings need Premium). With Premium it also measures FPS, 1% lows and stutters in your own game, so you see whether it helps on your PC.