It is true that Windows 11 It includes a few features that Microsoft ported over from its Xbox consoles that can enhance the gaming experience, but PC gaming is more complex than some of the useful features. Let's take a look at the strengths and weaknesses of Windows 11, as well as potential issues, before upgrading.
How does Windows 10 vs 11 compare when it comes to gaming performance?
At a basic level, Windows 10 and Windows 11 offer similar gaming performance. Benchmark testing shows that similar devices produce nearly identical results when running Windows 11 versus Windows 10.
Windows 11 generally scores slightly higher in most tests, but sometimes scores slightly lower when testing frames per second (FPS) performance when actually playing some games. In other games, FPS performance is slightly better on Windows 11.
While Windows 11 delivers better overall performance on average, it's not enough to justify upgrading just for the initial performance. Windows 11 includes some useful gaming features that weren't included in Windows 10, so that's worth considering as well.
What are the new Windows 11 gaming features?
DirectStorage and AutoHDR are two of the most important gaming features included in Windows 11. These features were first introduced on Xbox consoles, and Microsoft brought them to improve PC gaming on Windows 11.
DirectStorage is a feature that allows the Xbox Series X to take advantage of its extremely fast storage capacity. This effectively shortens loading times, allowing you to get into the action faster and spend less time on loading screens.
If you have a solid state drive (SSD) is particularly fast, and unless you're using Windows 11, there's a good chance your games won't benefit from the speed. DirectStorage allows Windows 11 to take full advantage of the ultra-fast data transfer speeds of high-quality NVMe SSDs, which can reduce game loading times and reduce the load on your CPU.
The important thing is that if you don't have a fast NVMe SSD and a GPU that supports this feature, you won't see any performance improvements thanks to DirectStorage. The feature turns on automatically if you have compatible hardware, and you'll definitely notice the difference.
Prepare Auto High Dynamic Range (HDR) A feature you can turn on and off. This feature automatically adjusts standard dynamic range content to HDR, which can deliver more detailed, colorful, and vibrant images in your games.
This feature is great if you have an HDR display and play older games that don't have native HDR support, but it won't be useful if you don't have an HDR display.
Tip: To enable Auto HDR: Open Settings > System > Display > HDR > Display capabilities, and enable Use HDR and Auto HDR.
Should you upgrade if you are a gamer?
Gamers should consider upgrading to Windows 11, but with some caveats. Only upgrade if your PC meets the recommended specifications, especially if it has a TPM 2.0 security chip. If your system is at the lower specs, or doesn't have TPM 2.0, and you're happy with its performance in Windows 10, you may want to avoid the upgrade.
If you have a fast NVMe SSD, a compatible graphics card, and an HDR display, your overall gaming experience in Windows 11 will likely improve. DirectStorage will reduce loading times, and Auto HDR will improve the appearance of older games.
The final consideration when upgrading a gaming device to Windows 11 is driver issues. Windows 11 receives regular patches that continually improve its hardware compatibility, but that doesn't mean it's flawless.
Before upgrading, you may want to check for any driver issues with Windows 11, your graphics card, and other components. If you experience a lot of issues, you may want to wait to upgrade until support for your hardware improves.
Important: Make sure you spend enough time playing a variety of games after the update. If you notice driver issues or other problems, you can Downgrade to Windows 10 within 10 days of updating Therefore, it is important to identify any issues that crash the game during this time frame.
How to Optimize Windows 11 for Gaming
Windows 11 includes a Game Mode that can help optimize Windows 11 for gaming. This feature is turned on by default, but you can turn it back on if it was accidentally turned off. You can also set specific games to use your gaming graphics card if your PC has both low-power internal graphics and a more powerful graphics card.
Tip: If Windows 11 is generally slow, Game Mode is unlikely to solve the problem. There are several ways toOptimize your computer for gaming But be sure to check for potential issues like: High CPU usage , and make sure your computer meets Windows 11 specifications.
Here's how to enable and use Windows 11 Gaming Mode:
- Open Settings And click the games.
- Click game mode.
- Enable Switch game mode.
- Click on the graphics.
- Click the game that you want to modify.
- Click Options.
- Click High-performance graphics card your own, click save.
General questions:
Q1: What makes a good computer for gaming?
The answer: When you see pictures of “gaming” computers, you’ll often see lots of flashing lights and really big cases. These are usually just for fun (and they are fun!), but lights are definitely not necessary. When it comes to gaming, you need a really good graphics card (which generates a lot of heat, so a big case is good for helping dissipate that heat) and usually more RAM than you’ll need for everyday use. Q2: Do I need a mechanical keyboard for gaming?
The answer: Technically, no, any keyboard will work fine. However, mechanical keyboards They're more robust when it comes to the processing that gamers typically use on their keyboards, so something with a solid feel tends to last longer over time. They're also a lot of fun to use. But they can be expensive.
