Usually, no. For everyday use, keep your PC’s manufacturer-recommended setting or Windows Balanced. Consider a higher-performance setting only if a particular workload benefits in repeatable tests on your own computer—and the extra power use, heat, or reduced battery life is acceptable.
What the Ultimate Performance plan changes
A Windows power plan is a collection of settings that manages system and hardware behavior; it does not upgrade your processor or graphics hardware. Windows also offers user-facing power modes that trade performance against energy use, but available controls vary by device and manufacturer configuration. A plan and a power mode are related, but they are not the same thing. Microsoft explains power plans and describes changing power mode.
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Microsoft describes Balanced as automatically balancing performance and power consumption. Its policy table describes High Performance as prioritizing maximum performance at the cost of higher power consumption. Those descriptions do not establish a universal speed advantage for Ultimate Performance over Balanced on Windows 11 PCs. See Microsoft’s power-plan policy guidance.
When to keep Balanced or the manufacturer default
Laptops and ordinary use
For browsing, office work, video calls, and other everyday tasks, stay with Balanced or the setting recommended by the PC manufacturer. Microsoft warns that choosing Best performance increases power consumption; on laptops, that can mean faster battery drain and a warmer device. This is a general warning about performance mode, not a quantified prediction for Ultimate Performance on every laptop. Microsoft’s performance tips explain the tradeoff.
#1 Best Overall
- 1.1 GHz (boost up to 2.4GHz) Intel Celeron N5030 Quad-Core
Desktops and demanding workloads
On a desktop connected to reliable power, testing a higher-performance setting can make sense if you have a specific CPU-bound task and want to see whether it benefits. Do not assume this will raise gaming frame rates or make applications faster: the reviewed Microsoft guidance does not provide a general Ultimate Performance-versus-Balanced benchmark. Measure your own workload before keeping a change.
Does Ultimate Performance improve FPS or drain laptop battery faster?
There is no universal FPS gain established by the cited guidance. Frame rates depend on the game, hardware, graphics settings, cooling, drivers, and other factors; a power-plan change alone is not a guaranteed improvement. Compare the same game and settings on the same PC if you want to know whether it changes your results.
Rank #2
- 256 GB SSD of storage.
- Multitasking is easy with 16GB of RAM
- Equipped with a blazing fast Core i5 2.00 GHz processor.
On a laptop, a higher-performance mode can use more power and make the computer warmer, so battery life may fall. Microsoft does not give a universal battery-life reduction or temperature increase for Ultimate Performance. The actual effect depends on the device, workload, and whether it is plugged in.
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Why Ultimate Performance may be missing
Plan availability depends on device design and configuration. Microsoft says devices using Modern Standby support Balanced or plans derived from Balanced. The Windows power slider is also available only when Balanced or a plan derived from Balanced is selected. As a result, a missing Ultimate Performance entry—or a missing slider after selecting a different plan—does not by itself mean Windows is broken. Microsoft’s Modern Standby guidance and power-slider documentation explain these configuration constraints.
Rank #3
- 14" diagonal, 1366x768 resolution, HD BrightView LED, Glossy NON-TOUCH Display
How to test a different plan without losing track of your settings
Use Windows’ documented powercfg commands to inspect the current setup before making a change. Microsoft notes that creating a new plan does not automatically activate it. See the powercfg command-line reference.
- Open Command Prompt or Windows Terminal and run
powercfg /listto list available power schemes. - Run
powercfg /getactiveschemeand note the active plan’s name and identifier. - If you want a reversible test and a plan is available to duplicate, run
powercfg /duplicatescheme <scheme_GUID>, replacing<scheme_GUID>with the identifier of the plan you want to copy. Record the new identifier shown by Windows. - Activate the plan you want to test with
powercfg /setactive <scheme_GUID>, using its identifier. Creating a copy alone does not activate it. - Run the same workload under the same conditions before and after the change. Compare task completion time or frame-time consistency alongside power draw or battery drain, heat and fan behavior, and plugged-in versus battery operation.
- When finished, use
powercfg /setactive <scheme_GUID>with the identifier you recorded in step 2 to return to your original plan.
For broader energy-use testing, Microsoft documents an energy-efficiency assessment for evaluating power consumption and mobile battery life. It is a measurement method, not evidence of a fixed benefit from Ultimate Performance. Read Microsoft’s assessment guidance.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- 【Efficient Performance】 Powered by Intel Core i3 processor (2 cores, 4 threads, up to 3.4GHz) with 12GB RAM and 256GB SSD. Handles multitasking, office software, online classes, and HD video streaming smoothly. Integrated Intel UHD Graphics 620
- Backlit Keyboard & Complete Package】Comes with a cool backlit keyboard. Comes with awebcam, dual stereo speakers (8Ω/1.0W each), DC charger, and user manual – ready for late-night studying, online classes, video conferencing, and daily productivity
- 【Vibrant Display】 15.6-inch Full HD (1920x1080) anti-glare screen with 16:9 aspect ratio delivers crisp images and vivid colors – perfect for studying, watching lectures, or entertainment. Thin-bezel design maximizes viewing area
- 【Fast Connectivity & Expansion】 Equipped with WiFi 6 (802.11ax) and Bluetooth 5.2 for stable, high-speed wireless. Features 3 x USB 3.0, HDMI 2.1, Type-C (supports PD3.0 fast charging), and a TF card slot expandable up to 2TB – easily connect external monitors, mice, drives, or expand storage for all your files
- 【Long Battery Life & Portable】 Built-in 11.55V 5000mAh/57.75Wh high-capacity battery delivers approximately 7 hours of mixed-use battery life – enough for a full day of classes and assignments. Lightweight at just 1.63kg (3.6 lbs) and 19.5mm thin, plus a compact packing size – easily slips into a backpack for campus, library, or coffee shop
Rank #4
- EFFORTLESS EVERYDAY PERFORMANCE: Powered by Intel Celeron N4020 processor and Windows 11 Home system, delivering reliable, low-power efficiency for daily tasks like document editing, email, online classes, and web browsing
- 15.6-INCH FULL HD DISPLAY: Enjoy immersive visuals on the 15.6" FHD (1920x1080) anti-glare screen with micro-edge bezels. Delivers clear details and comfortable viewing for long study sessions, working on spreadsheets, and video playback
- RESPONSIVE MULTITASKING & STORAGE: Built with 4GB LPDDR4 RAM and 128GB eMMC storage for smooth daily essential use. Expand your storage by up to 1TB via the integrated TF card slot to easily store movies, photos, and working files
- ADVANCED CONNECTIVITY: Outfitted with 2x Full-Featured Type-C ports for data transfer, fast charging, and dual-monitor output, alongside 2x USB 3.2 Gen1 ports and a 3.5mm audio jack for complete peripheral compatibility
- LIGHTWEIGHT & SILENT OPERATION: Slim and portable for effortless travel or commuting. Features a 1MP HD webcam for remote meetings, 38Wh battery with 45W Type-C fast charging, and a fanless silent design for peaceful work environments.
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