What Axion changes, and why

How Windows schedules your game, powers your CPU and GPU, and gets frames to the screen.

• Hardware GPU scheduling (HAGS)Turns on hardware GPU scheduling, so the graphics card manages its own memory instead of the CPU.
• Xbox Game DVRTurns off Xbox Game DVR, the background capture hook that loads with every game.
• Multi-plane overlay (MPO)Turns off multi-plane overlay, a known cause of flicker and micro-stutter on some NVIDIA and Windows 11 setups.
• Game process priorityRuns your games at a higher CPU and disk priority and keeps Windows from power-throttling them.
• Fullscreen optimizations offTurns off fullscreen optimizations for your games, so they run in true fullscreen with one layer less.
• Paging fileGives the paging file a fixed floor, so Windows stops resizing it in the middle of a game.
• Pin the game to the dedicated GPUMakes sure your games run on the dedicated graphics card, not the one built into the CPU.
• Windows Game Mode onMakes sure Windows Game Mode is on. Other tools sometimes turn it off.
• Optimizations for windowed gamesMoves windowed and borderless games to the modern flip model for lower latency.
• Global timer resolutionLets a game's high-precision timer request apply system-wide again, like before Windows 11.
• Display refresh rate to maximumSets your monitor to the highest refresh rate it supports at the resolution you use.
• Remove the frame limit in every game foundRemoves the frame limit, V-Sync and dynamic resolution in every supported game on this PC.
• Shader cache on and uncappedMakes sure the shader cache is on and unlimited, so shaders aren't rebuilt at every launch.
• Cap frames at the screen's refresh rateOff until you turn it onCaps every supported game at your screen's refresh rate instead of removing the limit.
• Stop Windows Update replacing your graphics driverAsks before it runsSets ExcludeWUDriversInQualityUpdate, the documented Windows Update policy for 'do not include drivers'. Security and quality updates keep installing.
• Potato graphics in every game foundAsks before it runsTurns the graphics settings down in every supported game. Each settings file is backed up first.
• Render at a lower internal resolutionAsks before it runsRenders supported games at a lower internal resolution and scales the picture back up.
• Remove every CPU power limitAsks before it runsRemoves every CPU power limit on a desktop: no idle states, no core parking, processor always at 100%. Skipped on laptops.

Less delay on the small packets a game sends, and priority for game traffic.

• Adapter offloads that trade latency for throughputTurns off adapter features that hold packets back to save CPU or power.
• Adapter power saving and Energy Efficient Ethernet offOff until you turn it onTurns off the power saving your wired adapter’s driver does between packets. Off until you turn it on.

Programs and Windows features that run in the background and compete with your game.

• Background apps offStops Store apps running and updating in the background while you play.
• Discord: hardware acceleration and autostart offTurns off Discord's hardware acceleration and stops it starting with Windows.
• Chrome: stop running after you close itMakes Chrome really close when you close it, instead of staying in the tray.
• Stop the heavy programs starting with WindowsAsks before it runsStops known heavy programs starting with Windows. Shows what it found first.
• Startup list: dead entries and everything else that is not MicrosoftAsks before it runsCleans out dead startup entries and lists the other programs that start with Windows.
• Close the heavy background programs that are running right nowCan't be undone by AxionCloses heavy background programs like RGB, fan control and overlay apps that are running now.
• Disable startup appsOff until you turn it onStops launchers like Steam, Epic and Discord starting with Windows.
• Teams and OneDrive do not start with WindowsStops Teams and OneDrive starting with Windows. Both still work when you open them.

Mouse and keyboard settings for steadier aim and quicker response.

• Mouse acceleration offTurns off mouse acceleration, so the same hand movement always moves your aim the same distance.
• Faster key repeatMakes a held key start repeating in about half the time.
• Sticky Keys and Filter Keys popups offStops the Sticky Keys and Filter Keys popups from throwing you out of a game.

Deeper latency and power tuning for PCs that are mainly for gaming. This group is off until you turn it on, and the app explains each tweak first.

• Unhide the hidden power settingsUnhides the advanced power settings Windows keeps out of sight.
• GPU interrupts: MSI mode, priority and core affinityAsks before it runsMoves the graphics card to MSI interrupts with high priority on a CPU core of its own.
• PCIe link power and firmware settingsTurns off PCIe link power saving, so the graphics card never waits to wake up.
• NVIDIA driver profile for every game foundAsks before it runsWrites a performance driver profile for every NVIDIA game found.

The few tweaks that turn a Windows protection off, or tell Defender to leave a folder alone. They are off until you turn them on, each one says what it costs, and Revert all puts them back.

• Memory Integrity (VBS/HVCI) offOnly when picked on its ownTurns off Memory Integrity to win back CPU time. Off by default because it removes a security protection.
• Spectre and Meltdown mitigations off (older CPUs only)Asks before it runsTurns off the Spectre and Meltdown mitigations, only on older CPUs where they cost real speed. Removes real protection.