Experiencing microstutters in video games or sluggish performance when accessing applications can often be attributed to power settings on Windows systems. Users may find that their computers, regardless of hardware quality, aren't delivering optimal performance due to energy-saving features implemented by Microsoft.
The operating system offers three primary power modes: Best Power Efficiency, Balanced, and Best Performance. While these modes are designed to manage power consumption effectively, the default Balanced setting may not provide the expected performance level, particularly when the system is idle. It can lead to active power-saving measures that detract from user experience.
For those seeking enhanced performance, users can adjust settings via Settings > System > Power & Battery or the Control Panel under Hardware and Sound > Power Options. Although the high-performance preset may not always be visible, it can be restored with a registry modification. However, this step is often unnecessary as fine-tuning the current settings can yield significant improvements.