The hidden Windows 11 feature that costs you 5-25% of your frames
You built a solid gaming rig. Or maybe you just want your laptop to run games smoothly. But something feels off. Your FPS is lower than benchmarks suggest. Games stutter when they should not.
The culprit might be a security feature you never turned on and probably did not know existed: Virtualization-Based Security, or VBS.
What Is VBS?
Virtualization-Based Security is a Windows feature that uses hardware virtualization to create an isolated memory region for security-sensitive operations. It is designed to protect your system from malware and kernel-level attacks.
The main component most people interact with is Memory Integrity (also called HVCI - Hypervisor-protected Code Integrity). This feature verifies the integrity of code running in the Windows kernel.
Why It Exists
VBS protects against:
- Kernel-mode malware
- Driver exploits
- Credential theft attacks
- Memory-based attacks
For enterprise environments and high-security workloads, VBS is valuable. Microsoft enables it by default on new Windows 11 installations for this reason.
The Gaming Performance Problem
Here is the issue: VBS runs a hypervisor underneath Windows. Every memory operation goes through an additional layer of verification. That overhead adds up, especially in games where you are pushing hardware to its limits.
Real-World Performance Impact
Multiple independent benchmarks have measured the performance hit:
- Tom's Hardware found up to 10% FPS drops in various games with VBS enabled, even on high-end hardware like the RTX 4090
- Neowin reported ongoing performance impacts across Windows 11 versions
- Multiple Reddit threads and forum discussions document similar results across different hardware configurations
Games Most Affected
CPU-bound games and titles with high draw calls see the biggest impact:
- Competitive shooters (CS2, Valorant, Fortnite)
- Strategy games with lots of units
- Open-world games with complex AI
- Games running on older or mid-range CPUs
How to Check If VBS Is Enabled
Before disabling anything, check your current status.
Method 1: System Information
- Press Win + R, type
msinfo32, press Enter - Scroll down to Virtualization-based security
- If it says Running, VBS is active
- If it says Not enabled, you are already in the clear
Method 2: Windows Security
- Open Settings > Privacy & security > Windows Security
- Click Device security
- Click Core isolation details
- Check if Memory integrity is On or Off
How to Disable VBS (Memory Integrity)
If VBS is running and you want those frames back, here is how to turn it off.
Step 1: Open Core Isolation Settings
- Press the Start button and search for Core isolation
- Click Core isolation from the results
Step 2: Disable Memory Integrity
- Find Memory integrity
- Toggle it to Off
- You will see a warning about reduced security. That is expected.
- Close the window
Step 3: Restart Your PC
The change will not take effect until you restart. After reboot, VBS should be disabled.
Step 4: Verify It Is Off
- Press Win + R, type
msinfo32, press Enter - Check Virtualization-based security
- It should now say Not enabled
What You Are Giving Up
Disabling VBS reduces your protection against certain attack types. Be honest with yourself about your threat model.
You Should Keep VBS Enabled If:
- You handle sensitive work data on this PC
- You frequently download software from untrusted sources
- Your PC is used by multiple people
- You are in a corporate or enterprise environment
- Security is more important to you than gaming performance
It Is Probably Fine to Disable VBS If:
- This is a dedicated gaming PC
- You only install software from trusted sources (Steam, Epic, GOG, official sites)
- You have good security habits (not clicking suspicious links, using a password manager, etc.)
- You keep Windows and drivers updated
- You are the only user on the machine
Other Security Layers Still Protect You
Disabling VBS does not leave you completely exposed. You still have:
- Windows Defender real-time protection
- SmartScreen filtering
- Secure Boot
- Windows Firewall
- Browser security features
VBS is one layer in a defense-in-depth strategy. Removing it increases risk, but it is not catastrophic for personal gaming machines with good security hygiene.
How to Re-Enable VBS
Changed your mind? Need to turn it back on?
- Open Core isolation (search in Start menu)
- Toggle Memory integrity to On
- Restart your PC
- Verify with
msinfo32that VBS is running
Test Your Performance
After disabling VBS, run some benchmarks to see your actual gains.
Free Benchmarking Tools
- 3DMark Demo (Steam) - Standard GPU benchmark
- UserBenchmark - Quick overall system test
- Built-in game benchmarks (many games have these in graphics settings)
Before/After Testing
For the best comparison:
- Run benchmarks with VBS enabled, note your scores
- Disable VBS, restart
- Run the same benchmarks again
- Compare the results
Your mileage will vary based on your hardware and the games you play.
TL;DR
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| What is VBS? | Windows security feature using hardware virtualization |
| Why does it hurt gaming? | Adds overhead to memory operations |
| How much performance loss? | 5-25% depending on game and hardware |
| Should I disable it? | For dedicated gaming PCs with good security habits, probably yes |
| How do I disable it? | Core isolation > Memory integrity > Off > Restart |
| Can I turn it back on? | Yes, same steps but toggle On |
Resources
- Microsoft: Virtualization-based Security - Official documentation
- Tom's Hardware: VBS Harms Performance - Independent benchmarks
- Neowin: VBS/HVCI Still Hurts Performance - Ongoing performance analysis