Windows 11 vs Windows 10 for Gaming: Which OS is Faster and More Efficient?

Windows 10 vs Windows 11: Gaming Performance Comparison

Are you curious about the gaming performance difference between Windows 10 and Windows 11? With the recent updates, Windows 10 is still widely used today, making it a relevant comparison.

For this update, we’re focusing exclusively on gaming performance. We’ve tested both operating systems on four hardware configurations, ensuring each install is fresh and includes the latest chipset drivers, display drivers, and testing software, as well as the 13 games we’re benchmarking.

Testing Environment

We used two TeamGroup Cardea A440 4TB SSDs, one with a fresh install of Windows 10 and the other with Windows 11, allowing us to seamlessly switch between them to verify settings and results.

Benchmarks

Baldur’s Gate 3
No performance difference was observed between Windows 10 and Windows 11 for either the AMD or Intel CPUs tested.

Counter-Strike 2
Windows 10 was consistently faster, with the 7800X3D showing a 3% boost and the 7700X a 10% boost.

Starfield
Windows 10 provided a 4% boost for the 7800X3D and a 2% boost for the 7700X.

Horizon Forbidden West
No performance difference was observed between the two operating systems.

Hitman 3
Up to a 1.5% difference was observed between the two operating systems, with Windows 10 performing slightly better.

Watch Dogs: Legion
A few more frames were observed with Windows 10, but the difference was only up to 2%.

Which Version of Windows Do You Like Better?

Of the 13 games tested, 5 displayed a notable performance advantage in favor of Windows 10. We’ve found that both operating systems generally deliver similar gaming performance, and in some cases, Windows 11 might even offer a performance advantage.

Conclusion

While we’re not entirely sure why these games performed better on Windows 10, it’s possible a recent Windows 11 update is to blame or even a display driver issue. Realistically, the list of possible causes is almost endless. If you’re not satisfied with Windows 11 and still happy gaming on Windows 10, then there’s no need to upgrade. However, if you do upgrade, a fresh install is recommended to ensure better performance and stability.