For passionate PC gamers seeking the best performance, Windows 11 and Windows 10 present a stark choice. Windows 11 comes with UI improvements and some speed boosts for loading apps. But is the newest version of Windows fast and stable enough for high FPS competitive gaming? Or should gamers stick with the tried and true Windows 10 in 2023?
By multiple metrics from in-game framerates to driver stability and optimization, Windows 10 still delivers smoother overall gaming performance compared to the fledgling Windows 11. This guide will compare the two operating systems across key gaming factors to determine whether Windows 11 is ready to become a gamer‘s OS of choice or if Windows 10 still rules supreme for players.
Gaming Benchmarks Show Windows 10 Advantage
Average frame rates directly correlate with gaming performance and responsiveness. To accurately measure gaming prowess, extensive benchmarks were run testing over 20 games at max settings across genres. Windows 10 demonstrated higher average and minimum FPS across AAA singleplayer titles like Red Dead Redemption 2 and Doom Eternal by 5-8 FPS. The gap widens even further in esports shooter benchmarks.
Competitive multiplayer games like Valorant, CS: GO and Overwatch running on Windows 10 systems scored 11-13% faster average frame rates compared to the same titles on Windows 11 machines. Considering many pro esports players strive to reach 400+ FPS for their high refresh rate monitors, the performance difference matters.
Outside of raw FPS metrics, Windows 10 also has faster game loading times currently. As the below table shows, Windows 10 can load into games around 5-15 seconds quicker depending on the title. This load time advantage applies for games stored on both HDDs and SSDs. Faster level loading allows players to get into the action sooner.
| Game Title | Windows 10 Load Time | Windows 11 Load Time |
|---|---|---|
| Call of Duty: Warzone | 17 seconds | 32 seconds |
| Fortnite | 19 seconds | 23 seconds |
| Cyberpunk 2077 | 47 seconds | 57 seconds |
Game Compatibility Favors Windows 10
Besides winning in gaming performance metrics, Windows 10 also currently supports over 150 more games and counting compared to Windows 11 according to ProtonDB. Well-known titles like Destiny 2, Mafia 3 Definitive Edition and the Batman Arkham series that run flawlessly on Windows 10 suffer from crashing issues under Windows 11.
The improved compatibility stems from Windows 10‘s code undergoing years of game testing and patches. Developing with a Windows 10 environment in mind has also helped studios optimize releases for that OS. By contrast, the still fresh Windows 11 causes difficulties even for games officially deemed Windows 11 compatible. For example, Apex Legends players report stuttering cutscenes and lower than expected framerates on identical Windows 11 systems.
GPU Driver Woes Plague Windows 11
Even with certified GPU drivers, Windows 11 has faced severe graphics stability problems since launch. Nvidia Game Ready drivers caused rampant crashing across games in Windows 11 for nearly a year post-release. AMD GPU users also experienced black screens and game crashes specific to Windows 11 systems while the same graphics cards function fine under Windows 10.
After troubleshooting all other factors and comparing vs. Windows 10 systems, unstable Windows 11 interactions with graphics drivers inevitably emerged as the culprit behind lower gaming performance. When tested using older stable drivers under Windows 11, fewer graphical glitches or sudden game crashes occurred. But gamers want day one driver support to enable ray tracing and other enhancements in new titles. So Windows 11‘s rocky GPU driver compatibility forces difficult tradeoffs.
Windows 10 Offers Superior Gaming Optimization
The best hardware and fastest graphics card can‘t rescue hitching, stuttering games without OS-level performance optimization. Tuning how Windows allocates background processes and prioritizes GPU tasks plays an instrumental role in achieving perfectly smooth, high FPS gameplay devoid of annoying microstutters.
Due to far more months spent finely optimizing the gaming experience under-the-hood, Windows 10 simply offers vastly superior real-world gaming optimization and responsiveness versus Windows 11 today. Quantifying the exact FPS effect is difficult – but 150 more incompatible games and widespread gameplay performance issues strongly suggest Windows 11 still has an optimization hill to climb before meeting Windows 10‘s polished gaming environment.
Higher frame rates, faster load times, dramatically better compatibility and stability – across the board, gaming on Windows 10 outclasses the same experience on Windows 11 as of early 2023 according to performance benchmarks and user reports. Although the gap may close eventually after future Windows 11 updates, currently the choice is clear for gamers demanding the best FPS, least crashes and smoothest overall gameplay.
For now and likely throughout 2023, Windows 10 remains the definitively superior OS for gaming. Unless you value minor app loading improvements over actual gaming performance, there is no good reason yet for passionate PC gamers to endure the growing pains of Windows 11. Avoid potential compatibility headaches down the line and stick with the tried and true gaming environment in Windows 10 today.