Microsoft Windows 11’s Performance Is Not About the Hardware

Windows 11 offers many improvements over Windows 10. However, Microsoft claims that the speed and responsiveness of the new OS are not tied to the hardware on which it is installed.

Steve Dispensa, Microsoft’s VP for Windows Management Team, explained how Windows 11 feels faster than its predecessor. He demonstrated how hardware and software work together to support Windows 11 in a way Windows 10 didn’t.

Tom’s Hardware reported that Windows 11’s biggest change was its improved resource management system. The new OS implements higher priority levels than Windows 10 for programs currently working on windows.

If you are typing in Google Docs in a window on your main screen, then the OS will focus all its resources on that window. This means that any other apps in the background won’t get much processing power. All of this happens in real-time depending on which program window the user is currently focusing on. This is in contrast to Windows 10, where you will need to manually set priority programs.

Optimizing the Operating System

According to Computer Repairs Virginia that the performance gains are due to a 32% reduction in memory usage and 37% lower CPU usage. This is what Microsoft calls “tab sleeping,” and it could prove to be a lifesaver to those who are running Windows 11 on low-spec hardware.

If you’re looking for the best details, here is the complete video on the Microsoft Mechanics YouTube Channel:

Dispenza mentioned that Windows 11 update downloads are now almost 40% faster, which frees up CPU and memory resources. The new update engine, which is optimized for downloading only the most important files from Microsoft servers, makes this possible.

Are Windows 11 Speed Improvements Important Elsewhere

Microsoft famously said that Windows 11 was designed for gaming when it first launched in June. Does this mean that tab sleeping will result in improved gaming performance?

This is where the differences begin. You won’t get an FPS increase from more memory or CPU overhead. FPS is directly tied to the hardware that you have in your computer (i.e. Your CPU, memory and graphics card. Windows 11 will not help you with more frames if you have very few components.

If you still want Windows 10, you can upgrade. Your current Windows 10 OS will continue to work even if you don’t upgrade when Windows 11 is released. Don’t believe the rumor mills that tell you that you must upgrade to Windows 11 immediately you receive an update prompt.