Windows updates can enhance system stability and performance, but they often lead to issues such as stutters and slowdowns due to the unpredictable nature of how updates affect system behavior. Microsoft's release notes do not provide comprehensive details about changes, which can include adjustments to task scheduling, background services, and driver interactions. Independent driver updates, particularly for GPUs and chipsets, can also impact performance negatively. Users have reported significant performance declines after updates, sometimes requiring hotfixes.
To manage updates effectively, users can treat Windows updates as optional, be conservative with driver updates, stabilize power management settings, and ensure rollback options are available. This approach can lead to a more predictable and stable system performance.