Windows 10 Ultimate Performance Power Plan: What It Does
Windows 10’s “Ultimate Performance” power plan is a hidden preset that removes micro-delays in power management to squeeze out slightly more responsiveness and speed, mainly for high-end workstations. You enable it by running a single command in PowerShell, then selecting it in the Power Options control panel. This article explains exactly what it changes, whether it helps gaming or everyday PCs, and how to turn it on safely.
What the Ultimate Performance Plan Actually Changes
Every Windows power plan is a collection of settings that tell the operating system how aggressively to save power. The default “Balanced” plan lets the CPU and storage devices drop into low-power states almost instantly when idle, and ramp back up when needed. That ramp-up takes a few milliseconds. The Ultimate Performance plan disables those low-power states entirely, so components stay at full readiness at all times.
Microsoft created this plan for advanced workloads where even tiny delays add up: rendering 3D scenes, compiling large codebases, running scientific simulations, or processing video. The plan is hidden by default because it increases electricity use and heat output, which is why it never appears in the default Power Options list. It is not a magic speed booster; it removes a small layer of latency, not a bottleneck like a slow CPU or insufficient RAM.
How to Enable It (Two Methods)
The plan is not visible in the Power Options window until you activate it. The easiest way is through PowerShell or Command Prompt with administrator rights.
- Right-click the Start button and select Windows PowerShell (Admin) (or Command Prompt (Admin)).
- Type or paste this command and press Enter:
powercfg -duplicatescheme e9a42b02-d5df-448d-aa00-03f14749eb61 - You will see a message like: “Power Scheme GUID: … (Ultimate Performance)”
- Open Control Panel → Hardware and Sound → Power Options.
- Select Ultimate Performance from the list. If you don’t see it, click the arrow next to “Show additional plans.”
If you prefer the Settings app, go to Settings → System → Power & sleep → Additional power settings, then follow steps 4 and 5. The plan will appear under “Additional plans” after the command runs.
Does It Improve Gaming or Everyday Performance?
For most users, the answer is no. Games are usually limited by the GPU, and modern GPUs manage their own power states independently of the Windows CPU plan. The CPU’s low-power states (C-states) are already very fast—switching back to full speed takes microseconds, not milliseconds. In a typical game, you will not see a measurable frame rate increase.
Where it can matter is in professional software that runs short, bursty tasks in a loop—like compiling code or exporting video frames. In those cases, the CPU never has to wait for a power-state transition, which can shave a few percent off total time. Some users also report slightly lower input latency in games, but the difference is usually within the margin of error of testing tools.
Common Problems and How to Fix Them
If the plan does not appear after running the command, check that you used an elevated (admin) PowerShell window. On Windows 10 Home, the plan is available; on Windows 10 in S Mode, you cannot run PowerShell as admin, so the command will fail.
If you see the plan but it does not seem to change anything, remember that the plan only affects CPU and storage power management. It does not change GPU settings, fan curves, or overclocking. Also, if your laptop is on battery, Windows may automatically switch to a more conservative plan—the Ultimate Performance plan is designed for desktop workstations and may not be selectable on battery in some laptop models.
Another issue: after a Windows feature update, the plan might disappear. Simply re-run the command to restore it.
Power Consumption, Heat, and Battery Life
The most significant downside is energy use. Because the CPU never enters its deepest idle states, it draws more power even when the system is doing nothing. On a desktop, this means higher electricity bills and more heat in the room. On a laptop, it will drain the battery noticeably faster and may cause the fans to spin up more often.
If you enable this plan, monitor your temperatures with a tool like HWiNFO or Core Temp. If your CPU cooler is not adequate for sustained load, you could see higher temperatures, though the plan itself does not overclock anything. It simply prevents the CPU from slowing down as much when idle.
How It Compares to Other Power Plans
Windows 10 includes three default plans: Balanced, High Performance, and Power Saver. The Ultimate Performance plan is a superset of High Performance—it applies the same aggressive settings but also disables certain internal power-saving features that High Performance leaves on. For example, it disables the “PCI Express Link State Power Management” and sets the “Processor Idle Disable” policy to 0, meaning the CPU will not enter idle states.
In practice, the difference between High Performance and Ultimate Performance is tiny. Most users will not notice any difference. The plan is really aimed at systems where every millisecond counts and where the extra power draw is acceptable.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Ultimate Performance safe to use?
Yes, it is a legitimate Microsoft power plan. It does not modify any hardware settings or void warranties. The only risk is increased heat and power consumption, which is why it is hidden by default.
Will it damage my CPU?
No. The CPU is designed to run at full speed continuously. However, if your cooling is inadequate, the extra heat could shorten component lifespan. Ensure your cooling is adequate for sustained load.
Can I use it on a laptop?
Technically yes, but it will drastically reduce battery life and generate more heat. It is not recommended for laptops unless you are plugged in and need maximum performance for a short task.
Does it improve FPS in games?
In most games, no. The GPU is the bottleneck, and the CPU power plan has minimal effect. You might see a small improvement in CPU-bound games at high refresh rates, but it is often within the margin of error.
How do I revert to the Balanced plan?
Simply open Power Options and select your original plan. You can also delete the Ultimate Performance plan by running powercfg -delete e9a42b02-d5df-448d-aa00-03f14749eb61 in an admin command prompt.
Why is the plan hidden by default?
Microsoft hides it because it is intended for specialized workstation use. For the average user, the extra power draw is not worth the negligible performance gain, and the company wants to avoid unnecessary energy consumption.
Related
Method: the standard formula for this calculation, rounded as each result states. See how the calculators work or report an error.