Best Windows Power Plan for Gaming: High Performance vs Ultimate
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Windows’ default Balanced plan saves power by parking CPU cores and dropping frequencies whenever load dips — and the milliseconds it takes to ramp back up are frame-time spikes in disguise. Setting a proper performance plan is a two-minute fix for a whole class of “small stutters in CPU-heavy moments.”
A parked core is a late frame. Keep the CPU awake while you play.
The plans, compared
| Plan | What it does | Use it? |
|---|---|---|
| Balanced | Parks cores, scales frequency aggressively | Desktop default — fine for everything except gaming |
| High Performance | Minimum processor state 100%, no core parking | Gaming default |
| Ultimate Performance | High Performance plus finer micro-latency tweaks | Optional; marginal over High Performance |
| Power Saver | Throttles everything | Never for gaming |
On Windows 11, also check Settings → System → Power → Power mode → Best performance — on many systems this overlays the classic plans.
Set it up
- Win+R →
powercfg.cpl→ select High performance (expand “Show additional plans” if hidden). - If Ultimate Performance isn’t listed and you want it, run in an admin terminal:
powercfg -duplicatescheme e9a42b02-d5df-448d-aa00-03f14749eb61- In Change plan settings → Advanced, confirm Processor power management → Minimum processor state = 100% while gaming.
The modern-CPU caveat
Recent CPUs (especially hybrid Intel designs and X3D AMD parts) manage their own states well, and some games schedule better on Balanced with Windows 11’s newer schedulers. The honest advice:
- Default to High Performance.
- If you have a very recent CPU and want certainty, A/B test it: same game, same scene, frame-time overlay up, five minutes per plan. Keep whichever graph is flatter.
What it does and doesn’t fix
A performance plan fixes ramp-up stutter — the hitches when load swings. It won’t raise your FPS ceiling (bottleneck guide) or fix shader stutter (cache guide). It pairs naturally with:
- Disabling Game Bar/DVR
- XMP/EXPO
- A raised timer resolution via Tier1Timer — the same “keep Windows responsive” principle applied to the system timer
Related guides
Frequently asked questions
Does the High Performance power plan increase FPS?
It mainly lifts minimum FPS and responsiveness by keeping CPU cores clocked instead of parking them. Average FPS gains are small; the consistency gain in CPU-bound games is what you feel.
Is Ultimate Performance better than High Performance for gaming?
Marginally at best — it removes a few more micro-latencies in power state transitions. If it is available on your system it is fine to use, but do not expect a measurable FPS jump over High Performance.
Should laptops use the High Performance plan for gaming?
Plugged in, yes. On battery it will drain extremely fast and most gaming laptops throttle on battery anyway — game plugged in, with the manufacturer's performance mode enabled.
Why does my CPU downclock in the middle of gaming?
Balanced power plans park cores and drop frequencies during brief idle moments, and the ramp back up costs you frame time. A performance plan with minimum processor state at 100% prevents it.