Is Windows 10 GPU Hardware Scheduling Worth Turning On?

You can try enabling the Windows 10 GPU hardware scheduling if you are looking for a way to improve your computer performance.

Introduced in the May 2020 update of Microsoft, this feature has been used by many gamers to see if it helps them.

But, it might not be supported by your computer’s GPU.

Here, in this article, we will talk about Windows 10 GPU hardware scheduling and if it should be enabled.

How does the GPU Hardware Scheduling work?

Multiple processes that submit tasks to the GPU are mostly managed by the Windows Display Driver Model (WDDM) GPU scheduler. The CPU is responsible for planning and sending the tasks to the GPU, while the GPU is responsible for rendering them.

The CPU will submit commands in batches instead of one at a time, to make the process more efficient.

This technique increases performance by producing better framerate and is called frame buffering. But, as it also increases input latency, this process comes at a cost. So, even when you press the button, no effect can be seen till the CPU submits the new batch to the GPU.

Some of the high-priority tasks, that are usually managed by your CPU and then passed on to a dedicated GPU-based scheduling processor, are taken by the hardware-accelerated GPU scheduling. This process, theoretically, takes some pressure off the CPU and reduces the input lag.

Should You Enable it?

The GPU hardware scheduling feature might be worth turning on if your computer has a low or mid-tier CPU. If your CPU reaches 100% load in a few games then you should surely give this a try.

There are a couple of ways you can improve your computer performance without upgrading if the feature is not available for you. For instance, you could turn off frame buffering either by in-game options or through the GPU driver control panel.

The final decision is obviously yours. You might test it with different games and see no changes. Microsoft has stated that the users should not notice any major differences in the game but there might be some positive changes in your CPU’s load and temperature.

Technical Requirements for Enabling the Windows 10 GPU Hardware Scheduling

You need a very new PC for the GPU Hardware Scheduling feature, as it has become available very recently, in 2020. You must have a supported GPU installed on your PC and need to be running Windows 10 2004 or a newer version.

Mostly, NVidia GPU’s support hardware scheduling. Even Intel and AMD are working on support for the feature in their future updates.

After you have confirmed that you have a compatible GPU, just check again if it has the latest drivers to your GPU. Then, if every box is ticked, your computer is ready to enable the GPU hardware scheduling feature in Windows 10.

How to Turn On the Windows 10 GPU Hardware Scheduling

Using Windows Settings

Follow the given steps:

1. First, click Start, then move to Settings, then System.

2. Select Display, from the left-hand menu.

3. Click Graphics settings below Multiple Displays.

4. Then, switch on the toggle for Hardware-accelerated GPU scheduling.

5. Finally, Restart your computer.

Using the Registry Editor

You need to enable the option from Registry Editor if you can’t find it within Settings.

1. Search for registry editor and select Run as administrator in the Start menu search bar.

2. Move to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE, then SYSTEM, then CurrentControlSet, then Control, and finally GraphicsDrivers.

3. Locate and open HwSchMode.

4. Then, ensure Base is set to Hexadecimal.

5. Set Value data to 2.

6. Save the settings by clicking Ok.

7. Finally, restart your computer.

Try It Once

You might be able to test the GPU hardware acceleration feature, although it is not available to all Windows users. You can either enable it from the Windows 10 Settings or use Registry Editor.

Conclusion

Enabling Windows 10 GPU hardware scheduling may improve computer performance, but it may not be supported by all GPUs. This feature offloads some high-priority tasks from the CPU to the GPU-based scheduling processor, which can reduce input lag and CPU load.

However, it may increase input latency and may not have a noticeable impact on some games. It's important to have a compatible GPU and Windows 10 version, and to update the GPU drivers before enabling this feature. Users can enable GPU hardware scheduling through Windows Settings or Registry Editor.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Can I turn off Windows 10 GPU hardware scheduling if I don't like it?

Yes, you can turn off Windows 10 GPU hardware scheduling at any time by going to your system's Display settings, clicking on "Graphics settings," and toggling the "Hardware-accelerated GPU scheduling" option to "Off."

2. Is Windows 10 GPU hardware scheduling worth turning on?

Whether or not Windows 10 GPU hardware scheduling is worth turning on depends on your specific hardware and usage patterns. Some users have reported significant performance improvements with the feature enabled, while others have not noticed any difference.

3. What are some benefits of turning on Windows 10 GPU hardware scheduling?

Some benefits of turning on Windows 10 GPU hardware scheduling include improved gaming performance, reduced input lag, and smoother video playback.

4. Are there any downsides to turning on Windows 10 GPU hardware scheduling?

There are some downsides to turning on Windows such as crashes or lower performance in certain applications while most users have reported positive results with Windows 10 GPU hardware scheduling.