Microsoft to use your CPU for faster Windows 11 apps and animations
▼ Summary
– Microsoft is improving Windows 11 performance by adding a “low latency profile” that temporarily boosts CPU speed when opening Start, apps, or context menus.
– Tests on test builds show a noticeable increase in speed and responsiveness compared to the current public version of Windows 11.
– Some users criticized the approach, fearing it would increase power usage and decrease battery life.
– Microsoft’s Scott Hanselman defended the feature, stating it is used alongside other software optimizations and is standard in modern operating systems like macOS and Linux.
– The “race to sleep” principle explains that short bursts of high power can save energy overall if the CPU quickly returns to a low power state after completing tasks.
Microsoft has spent much of this year addressing user feedback about Windows 11, and the company is making a concerted effort to communicate exactly what’s changing and why. Among the top priorities is improving how core system elements like the Start menu and File Explorer perform.
One key tactic involves a feature Microsoft calls the “low latency profile.” This approach temporarily gives the CPU a burst of extra speed when users open the Start menu, launch apps, or access context menus. The result is a noticeable jump in responsiveness without requiring new hardware.
Testing by Windows Central on preview builds of Windows 11 25H2 confirms that this low latency profile delivers a clear speed boost on the same hardware compared to the current public version. The improvement in system responsiveness is measurable and visible.
However, the move sparked criticism on social media. Some users worry that relying on CPU boosting will increase power draw and drain battery life, accusing Microsoft of prioritizing hardware shortcuts over genuine software optimization. Scott Hanselman, a Vice President at Microsoft and GitHub, pushed back firmly.
“All modern operating systems do this, including macOS and Linux,” Hanselman wrote. “It’s not ‘cheating’; this is how modern systems make apps feel fast: they temporarily boost the CPU speed and prioritize interactive tasks to reduce latency.” He added that “everything is a conspiracy when you don’t know how anything works.”
There is a counterintuitive power benefit to this approach. By letting the CPU or GPU use more energy in short, intense bursts, the system can actually save power overall. This principle, known as “race to sleep,” is standard in modern processor design. As long as the CPU can quickly drop back to a low-power state after completing a task, it improves both responsiveness and energy efficiency.
(Source: Ars Technica)
