Solution Library
Proven fixes for FPS drops, stuttering, and performance issues.
Disable HPET (High Precision Event Timer)
HPET (High Precision Event Timer) is a hardware timer used by Windows for timing and scheduling. On some PCs, it can contribute to micro-stutters, uneven frame pacing, or input latency in games. Disabling HPET (or letting Windows choose the best timer automatically) can sometimes reduce micro-stuttering, improve frame pacing, reduce input delay, and improve overall gameplay smoothness.
Disable Fullscreen Optimizations
Some games on Windows suffer from FPS stuttering or input lag because of Fullscreen Optimizations. Disabling this feature forces the game to run in classic fullscreen mode instead of Windows' hybrid fullscreen/borderless mode, which can reduce frame stuttering, reduce input delay, and improve overall performance stability.
Set Windows Timer Resolution
Windows uses a system timer resolution (tick interval) to schedule sleep/timer-based work. For some games/systems, forcing a higher timer frequency (i.e., a lower interval like 0.5ms) can improve frame pacing and reduce micro-stutter by making timing/scheduling more precise. A popular way to force this is using ISLC (Intelligent Standby List Cleaner) by Wagnard, which includes an option to set a custom timer resolution.
Disable Windows Game Mode
Windows includes Game Mode that is supposed to improve gaming performance by prioritizing the game and limiting background activity. However, in some games it can actually cause FPS stuttering, frame drops, or input lag because of how it manages system resources and interacts with overlays and background services. Disabling it can reduce random stutters, make frame times more stable, and improve overall smoothness.
Use Ultimate Performance Power Plan
Windows includes a special (often hidden) power plan called Ultimate Performance. It's designed to reduce power-saving behaviors that can cause CPU throttling, slower boost response, or inconsistent performance—especially during demanding tasks like gaming. Enabling this plan can keep CPU clocks more consistent under load, improve responsiveness, and stabilize performance in CPU-heavy games.
Disable Core Isolation / VBS
Core Isolation (often tied to VBS – Virtualization-Based Security) is a Windows security feature that uses virtualization to protect your system. Memory integrity (HVCI) can add overhead and reduce performance in some games—especially on CPU-limited systems. Turning it off can improve FPS and frame-time consistency, reduce micro-stutters in CPU-heavy games, and lower virtualization overhead.