Microsoft has updated Windows 11 to be less sluggish when opening apps or the Start Menu. The change is rolling out for all users but won't necessarily be switched on for everyone right away.

The change is called Low Latency Profile and involves the CPU, the main processor on a computer. Normally CPUs are set to run a little slower than their maximum possible speed. Running at the full speed permanently could theoretically cause overheating problems or shorten its lifespan. In many systems the PC will automatically reboot or crash before this happens.

Eliminating Interface Lag

Low Latency Profile is designed to deal with some slowness when a Windows 11 computer opens an app or uses user interface features such as menus. While the speed of these features starting isn't necessarily a practical problem, and they aren't necessarily that slow compared with other activities, any delay is extremely noticeable.

That's because when users click or tap to open an app or menu, they expect an instant response. If any delay is long enough to register, it can make the computer feel sluggish, particularly if it happens many times a day.

The idea of Low Latency Profile is simple enough. The CPU speed is increased for between one and three seconds when the user triggers a relevant action, such as opening an app, then returns to normal speed. (Source: videocardz.com)

Gradual Rollout Strategy

Tech enthusiasts have noted that the increase is so brief, it doesn't even register on the Task Manager monitoring tool. That means it's difficult to be certain if the feature is switched on. Microsoft has installed the code for the feature on all Windows 11 computers with the latest major update but is switching in on for different users gradually. That's usually a way to identify any unforeseen problems that might affect particular PCs or setups by testing on small groups first.

It is possible to check if the feature is working using third party tools that monitor CPU speeds in finer detail than Task Manager. However, for the average user this may not be worthwhile. Knowing it is actually active doesn't really make any difference as what really matters is whether it has a meaningful effect on sluggishness for the particular user. (Source: pcworld.com)

What's Your Opinion?

Does Windows 11 feel sluggish to you on your current hardware? Are you concerned that boosting CPU speeds could impact your computer's lifespan? Is a one-second speed boost enough to change your perception of how a PC performs?