Performance Insights on Windows Platforms

As the tech landscape evolves, users of AMD’s Ryzen 9 9950X3D may find themselves at a crossroads regarding their operating system choice. Recent tests conducted by YouTuber Tech YES City reveal that Windows 10 can outperform Windows 11 by as much as 20% in certain gaming scenarios, particularly in Fortnite. This performance disparity, while not universal across all titles, suggests that gamers might want to consider their options carefully.

  • Windows 10 shows a notable edge in performance, especially at 1080p resolution.
  • Virtualization-Based Security (VBS), a feature recommended by Microsoft for Windows 11, appears to contribute to this performance gap.
  • While the difference is significant at lower resolutions, it diminishes entirely at 4K, where both operating systems perform comparably.

Despite the impending end of support for Windows 10, the findings indicate that users with high-performance CPUs like the Ryzen 9 9950X3D might benefit from holding onto the older operating system a bit longer. The testing revealed that when VBS is enabled on Windows 11, it can lead to a slight performance loss, particularly noticeable in CPU-intensive games.

Understanding Virtualization-Based Security

The crux of the performance issues lies in VBS, also known as Core Isolation. This security feature isolates the OS kernel within a virtualized environment, a strategy that Microsoft advocates for enhanced security in Windows 11. However, it has been a point of contention among gamers, with many opting to disable it in Windows 10 for better performance.

Tech YES City’s tests highlighted a nearly 20% performance increase in Windows 10 compared to Windows 11 with VBS enabled. In scenarios where VBS was turned off, the performance gap narrowed to about 9%. These tests were primarily conducted using Fortnite at low settings and 1080p resolution, showcasing how CPU performance can be affected by the operating system’s architecture.

In addition to Fortnite, Windows 10 also demonstrated superior performance in titles such as Counter-Strike 2, Baldur’s Gate 3, and Kingdom Come Deliverance 2, albeit to a lesser extent. The tests were conducted on a high-end setup featuring Nvidia’s RTX 5090, emphasizing the importance of a balanced system where both CPU and GPU can operate optimally.

Implications for Gamers

While the performance gap at 1080p is significant, it’s worth noting that most users with the Ryzen 9 9950X3D are likely to engage in gaming at higher resolutions. Testing at 4K with high settings in Kingdom Come Deliverance 2 revealed that the performance advantage of Windows 10 evaporated, regardless of VBS settings. This suggests that for users pushing their hardware to the limits, the choice of operating system may be less critical.

Ultimately, while these insights provide a fascinating glimpse into the interplay between operating systems and CPU performance, they should not deter users from transitioning to Windows 11, especially as Windows 10 approaches its end-of-life. The evolving landscape of technology necessitates adaptability, and users must weigh performance against security and support considerations.