What Windows 11 Core Isolation Memory Integrity Actually Does to Game FPS
- 11 steps
- Needs administrator rights
- Includes a restart or sign-out
Windows 11 Core Isolation Memory Integrity is a built-in security feature that runs a key part of Windows inside a protected virtual container, a sealed area walled off from the rest of the system. Microsoft turns it on by default on many new PCs and on clean installs of Windows 11 on supported hardware. On some systems it can cut game speed by 5 to 15 percent, and more on older hardware.
Turning off Memory Integrity can give back some of those frames and make heavy apps run smoother. It takes a few clicks and one restart. This guide covers what the feature does, how much it costs, how to check it and switch it off, and when to leave it on.
Core Isolation Memory Integrity is a Windows 11 security feature that isolates system processes in a protected virtual container to block kernel-level attacks. It causes 5 to 15 percent frame rate drops in games on most systems, more on older hardware, because your processor spends extra cycles checking drivers and code. Turning it off restores lost frames but removes the protection.
What Is Core Isolation Memory Integrity?
Core isolation memory integrity is a Windows 11 security feature. It uses hardware virtualization to isolate core operating system processes from untrusted software and malicious code. It builds a protected area around sensitive system memory, so harmful programs cannot take control of your device at a deep level. You may also see it called Hypervisor-protected Code Integrity (HVCI), which is the technical name for the same thing.
Attackers often go after Windows through harmful drivers. Drivers are small programs that let Windows talk to your hardware. A bad driver can put malicious code straight into the kernel, the core of the operating system. Security people call this a kernel-level attack. Normal virus scanners struggle to stop one because the code runs with the same trust as Windows itself.
Think of Core Isolation as a security guard for your system memory. It uses processor features to create a small, sealed virtual environment next to your normal Windows session. Inside that area, Memory Integrity checks every driver that tries to load into kernel memory. If a driver is not trusted, or is known to be vulnerable, it cannot load. That keeps unauthorized code out of your main system memory.
How Memory Integrity Impacts Gaming Performance
Core isolation memory integrity affects gaming performance because your processor has to do extra security work on code that runs in kernel memory. Each check is tiny. But the work happens constantly in the background, so it can lower frame rates, add stutter, and take processing time away from your game.
Add up that small delay hundreds of times every second and you get a measurable drop in game speed. Here is how the slowdown tends to show up:
- Lower Average Frame Rates (FPS)Games run slower overall. Expect drops from 5% to over 20% in the worst cases, depending on the processor and the game. Many modern systems lose far less than that, and some tests show almost no difference.
- Micro-StuttersYour average FPS may look fine, but sudden hitches can appear when you move fast through a game world. The processor gets bogged down by security checks during busy moments, and that shows up as uneven frame times.
- Longer Loading TimesGames can take longer to start and to load new levels, because the computer spends extra time checking drivers and code as they load.
Older processors feel the slowdown the most. Newer chips have hardware support that makes the checks cheap. Older chips, roughly those released before 2018, have to do the same work in a slower way. On one of these, turning on Memory Integrity makes the processor do heavy security work that the hardware was not built for. That often drops game frame rates by 5 to 15 percent.
The only way to know what it costs on your PC is to test. Run the same game scene or benchmark with the setting on, then again with it off. Compare average FPS and stutter between the two runs, and change only this one setting between them.
How to Check If Memory Integrity Is On
You can check whether core isolation memory integrity is on by opening the Windows Security app, going to Device security, and opening Core isolation details. That page shows the current state of the Memory integrity switch. The steps are the same on Home and Pro editions of a currently supported Windows 11 version (25H2 or 26H2). Microsoft ended updates for 24H2 Home and Pro on October 13, 2026, so update if you are still on it.
Follow these steps to find out:
- Click the Start button on your taskbar and type Windows Security into the search box. The Windows Security app appears in the search results.
- Click the Windows Security app in the search results. The Windows Security window opens.
- Click Device security in the left-hand menu. The page shows the security features your hardware supports.
- Under the Core isolation section, click the Core isolation details link. A page with one or more switches opens.
- Look at the switch labeled Memory integrity. It reads either On or Off.
That’s it. If the switch is On, your computer is actively using memory integrity protection. If it is Off, your system runs without this layer of security.
If you cannot find the Core isolation section, your hardware may not support it, or virtualization may be turned off in your BIOS/UEFI. On Intel PCs that setting is usually called Intel VT-x or Virtualization Technology. On AMD PCs it is usually called SVM Mode. The BIOS/UEFI is the low-level setup screen you reach during startup, and its menus differ by manufacturer.
How to Turn Off Memory Integrity for Better Gaming FPS
You can turn off core isolation memory integrity by opening Windows Security, going to Device security and Core isolation details, and switching the Memory integrity toggle to Off. Restarting your computer applies the change, and it can free up processor resources for higher frame rates.
Follow these steps to turn it off:
- Open the Start menu, type Windows Security, and open the app.
- Click Device security on the left side.
- Click Core isolation details. The Memory integrity switch appears.
- Click the toggle switch under Memory integrity to move it to Off. Approve the User Account Control prompt if one appears. This step needs an administrator account.
- Read the message if Windows warns that your device may be vulnerable. If you accept the risk for gaming, continue.
- Restart your computer when prompted. Click Restart now, or restart manually when you are ready.
You should now have Memory Integrity switched off once the PC restarts. The change does not take effect until then. Start your favorite game afterward and check your speed. The biggest gain shows up on older processors, while on newer hardware the difference may be small.
To undo this, follow the same steps, move the switch back to On, and restart. If the toggle is greyed out, an organization probably manages your PC, or a policy controls virtualization-based security. In that case an administrator has to change it.
Hidden Angle: The Hidden Trap of Incompatible Drivers
Memory Integrity can block older drivers used by gaming mice, custom keyboards, steering wheels, flight sticks, and sound cards. When the feature is on, Windows checks each driver as it loads. If a driver is outdated or uses code that attackers could exploit, Windows will not let it run. This protects your system, but the device may stop working.
That can suddenly break your favorite gaming tools. When you try to turn Memory Integrity on, Windows may show a list of incompatible drivers. Use that list to see which device is the problem, then look for an updated driver from the manufacturer.
Updated drivers may not exist for older hardware. If you own older gaming gear with no update available, turning off Memory Integrity is often the only way to make it work properly with Windows 11.
Hidden Angle: The Hidden Trap of Vanguard and Competitive Anti-Cheat Software
Core isolation memory integrity can conflict with competitive anti-cheat software because both work at the deepest kernel level of Windows 11. Depending on the game and its drivers, this can stop a multiplayer game from launching until you change the security setting.
Anti-cheat tools run at the kernel level, the same deep level that Memory Integrity protects. Because of that, anti-cheat drivers and Windows security rules can clash. Some games will crash or refuse to start if the anti-cheat driver is blocked or flagged.
Other games, such as Valorant on Windows 11, have security requirements of their own, like TPM 2.0 and Secure Boot. They may complain if a related security feature is missing or a driver on your PC is flagged. The exact rules change with game and anti-cheat updates, so trust the error message and the game’s support page over a general rule.
If you play a lot of competitive multiplayer games, check the system requirements for each one. You may end up turning Memory Integrity on and off depending on which game you want to play that night. Remember that each change needs a restart.
Weighing Security Versus Performance: Is It Worth It?
Whether to keep core isolation memory integrity on or off for gaming depends on whether you value security or the highest possible frame rates. Keep it on if your PC handles sensitive data. Turn it off if you play demanding games and want the most performance from your hardware.
Keep Memory Integrity ON if:
- Your computer is used for work, managing sensitive financial data, or web browsing where security is your highest priority.
- You play casual games that already run at very high speeds, so a small drop in performance does not ruin your fun.
- Your computer has a recent, high-end processor that handles virtualization work well, so the FPS cost is small.
Turn Memory Integrity OFF if:
- Your computer is a dedicated gaming machine where top speeds and smooth graphics matter most.
- You use an older processor and need every bit of performance you can get.
- You own older gaming gear that refuses to work while the security setting is on.
If you turn it off, keep Windows updated, keep Microsoft Defender running, and only install drivers from sources you trust. That covers part of the protection you are giving up.
Heads-up: Microsoft has announced a memory integrity protection expansion across eligible devices. It says this will provide stronger kernel-level protection by default, with little or no additional configuration. Microsoft expects it in October 2026, and it is not in Windows yet. The steps in this guide stay the same for now, and you can still check your setting in Windows Security.
Summary
Windows 11 core isolation memory integrity protects your computer from advanced malware by isolating system memory. The cost is extra processing work that can lower game frame rates, plus blocked older hardware drivers. Turning it off can boost gaming speed and fix compatibility problems, but it reduces your overall protection. Test your own games, check for incompatible drivers, and pick the setting that fits how you use your PC.
Questions readers asked
Why can't I find the Core isolation details link in Windows Security?
The link may not appear if this PC cannot run the feature, or if it is turned off. First, scroll down the Device security page, since Core isolation may be lower on the screen. Next, install any pending Windows updates and check again. If it still doesn't appear, turn on virtualization in your BIOS/UEFI. It is often called Intel VT-x or AMD SVM Mode. On a work or school computer, your organization may hide this section, so ask your IT team.
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About the Author
Richard
Tech Writer, IT Professional
Richard is a writer at Geek Rewind who turns complex IT tasks into clear, step-by-step guides. He draws on years of hands-on experience in system administration and enterprise IT operations, focusing on Windows, Linux and WordPress: the problems people actually run into, and the fixes that work. His server and WordPress guides come from systems he runs himself. Richard builds and maintains the platform behind Geek Rewind, from its Ubuntu servers and Nginx configuration to its custom WordPress plugins. Many new tutorials start with readers' questions, and he's always glad to answer them in the comments.
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