Memory Integrity can reduce game performance on some Windows 11 PCs, but there is no dependable FPS penalty that applies to everyone. The effect depends on the processor, game, graphics API and test conditions. Switching it off removes a layer of protection for Windows’ kernel, so measure the difference on your own PC before deciding whether any gain is worth that trade-off.
What Core Isolation and Memory Integrity mean
Core isolation is the Windows Security grouping for protections that isolate core Windows processes in a virtualized environment. Memory Integrity is the Windows interface name for Hypervisor-protected Code Integrity (HVCI), a security feature that uses virtualization-based security (VBS).
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
VBS provides the isolated environment; HVCI uses it to check kernel-mode code and restrict certain kernel memory allocations that could be abused in attacks. The terms are related, but VBS, Memory Integrity and the full set of Core isolation features are not interchangeable. Microsoft describes Memory Integrity as running kernel-mode code integrity “within the isolated virtual environment of VBS” (Microsoft Learn: Enable virtualization-based protection of code integrity).
How much can Memory Integrity affect FPS?
It can affect performance, but the amount is hardware- and workload-dependent. Microsoft notes that newer processors can use hardware execution controls for HVCI: Intel Kaby Lake and later support Mode-Based Execution Control, while AMD Zen 2 and later support Guest Mode Execute Trap. Older processors may use Restricted User Mode emulation, which Microsoft says has a larger performance impact. This is one reason a result from one PC cannot predict the effect on another (Microsoft Learn).
#1 Best Overall
- Unleash Upgraded power - Employing PCIe Gen4x4 High Speed Interface, SIX X7400 nvme m.2 ssd confer it UP to 7350MB/s read speeds. With faster transfer speeds and high-performance bandwidth and throughput.
- Work and Play - Whether you pursue science or culture, X7400 m.2 ssd 1TB accentuates ferocious performance for heavy computing and immersive gameplay. Get up to 40% fast performance for heavy-duty applications in data analytics, content creation, gaming and more.
- Match ur Next-level M.2 SSD - Compatibility ready for laptop, desktop or PS5 storage expansion, X7400 internal 1TB ssd is easy to install to extend lifecycle and storage. Speed up your bootups, file transfers, and game loads for tech-savvy users or hardcore gamer.
- Purpose Built - SIX X7400 m.2 nvme ssd ps5 is built for achieving immersive gameplay, experiencing uninterrupted gameplay and incredibly short load times. Breathe in. Focus. Breathe out, X7400 lightning-fast loading are ready for your final boss.
- 5 Years Limited Warranty & What u Get - Your X7400 nvme m.2 ssd is safeguarded for 5 years by SIX Limited Warranty Service. To improve your installation experience, X7400 provide all you need for installation(such as screw, screwdrivers, heatsink and so on).
A useful historical reference is Paul Alcorn’s Tom’s Hardware testing, published October 9, 2021. In its tested configurations, the 11th-generation Intel system averaged about a 5% gaming-performance impact, with a 7% peak in one title; the Ryzen 5000 system averaged about 4%, with an 8% outlier in one title. These are results for those systems and the security configurations in that test—not a current forecast for all Windows 11 PCs, nor a clean estimate of Memory Integrity alone (Tom’s Hardware, 2021).
The game and graphics API mattered in that test. Grand Theft Auto V lost roughly 1% with VBS enabled, Far Cry 5 about 5%, and Project Cars 3 about 6%. Red Dead Redemption 2 showed a measured loss of 7.3% with DX12 and 4.4% with Vulkan; Vulkan was tested in only one title. Tom’s Hardware separated VBS-only configurations from VBS plus HVCI, so these figures should not be presented as the effect of Memory Integrity by itself (Tom’s Hardware, 2021).
Rank #2
- Unleash Next-Gen Dominance: Experience Lexar DDR5 RAM performance with the Lexar THOR Z Series RGB DDR5 RAM 32GB Kit (2x16GB). Clocking at a blistering 6000MHz with low CL38 latency, this DDR5 desktop memory delivers up to 6000 MT/s for a full-throttle advantage. Whether you're building a high-end gaming rig or a professional workstation, this Lexar 32GB RAM kit ensures your system keeps pace with next-gen titles
- Sleek & Robust Thermal Design: Engineered for both aesthetics and endurance, this Lexar DDR5 RAM 6000MHz features an all-new streamlined design. The solid, sandblasted aluminum heatsink fuses a minimalist, razor-sharp aesthetic with uncompromising thermal control. This Lexar THOR Z Series armor ensures your DDR5 memory stays cool under pressure, delivering sustained peak performance during intense gaming sessions
- Game in Style with Brighter RGB Lighting: Elevate your build's aesthetics with the enhanced customizable RGB lighting on this Lexar RGB DDR5 RAM. Brighter and more vibrant than previous generations, the Lexar THOR Z Series RGB DDR5 RAM allows you to synchronize lighting effects with your components, creating a truly immersive gaming atmosphere that stands out from the crowd
- On-die ECC & PMIC for Rock-Solid Stability: Go beyond speed with reliability. This Lexar DDR5 RAM kit integrates On-die Error Correction Code (ECC) to automatically correct data errors, vastly improving stability and reliability for your critical tasks. The onboard Power Management Integrated Circuit (PMIC) ensures efficient power delivery, boosting the overall power efficiency of your DDR5 desktop memory for a longer-lasting, more stable system
- Seamless Compatibility with Intel & AMD: Worry-free upgrade guaranteed. The Lexar THOR Z Series DDR5 RAM is built for broad compatibility with the latest platforms. It fully supports Intel XMP 3.0 and AMD EXPO one-click overclocking, making it effortless to achieve the rated speeds. Trust Lexar DDR5 RAM to deliver seamless performance with mainstream DDR5 motherboards
How to check whether it matters on your PC
For a meaningful comparison, change one setting and keep the rest of the test as consistent as possible. Use the same game, scene, resolution, graphics settings, drivers and background applications. Use the same measurement method, and repeat runs so a one-off result does not drive the decision.
Free tools Windows power users keep installed
One-click scans. No signup required.
- Record your usual performance with Memory Integrity in its current state. Compare average FPS and, if your measurement tool provides it, frame-time consistency.
- Open Windows Security > Device security > Core isolation details > Memory integrity. The setting’s availability and the features shown can vary by Windows version and installed hardware (Microsoft Support: Device security in the Windows Security app).
- If you choose to turn Memory Integrity off for comparison, restart if Windows asks, then repeat the same game test under the same conditions.
- Compare repeated results rather than relying on a single run. If the difference is small or inconsistent, it may not be a useful gaming trade-off for you.
- After testing, choose deliberately whether to keep the protection enabled. Turning it off removes HVCI’s kernel-protection layer; it is not a risk-free FPS setting.
What you give up by turning it off
HVCI helps harden Windows against attacks that target the kernel by moving code-integrity checks into a secure virtual environment. Disabling Memory Integrity removes that layer of protection. Whether a measured performance difference justifies that change depends on your own results and security needs; the historical benchmark figures above cannot settle that choice for your PC.
Rank #3
- Disclaimer: Maximum Speed requires overclocking/PC BIOS adjustments. Maximum speed and performance depend on system components, including motherboard and CPU
- Hand-sorted memory chips ensure high performance with generous overclocking headroom
- VENGEANCE LPX is optimized for wide compatibility with the latest Intel and AMD DDR4 motherboards
- A low-profile height of just 34mm ensures that VENGEANCE LPX even fits in most small-form-factor builds
- A solid aluminum heatspreader efficiently dissipates heat from each module so that they consistently run at high clock speeds
When enabling it causes compatibility problems
Some applications and hardware drivers may malfunction with Memory Integrity enabled. Microsoft also warns that, rarely, enabling the feature can cause a boot failure. If a particular driver or app stops working, use Microsoft’s troubleshooting guidance rather than treating the setting as a routine performance switch (Microsoft Support).
Windows 11 rollout status
A September 2026 Tom’s Hardware report said Microsoft planned to expand Memory Integrity enablement to additional eligible PCs through quality updates beginning in October 2026. The report described readiness checks for hardware, compatibility and performance, and said PCs where users had deliberately disabled the feature would retain that configuration. This is reported rollout behavior, not an FPS benchmark (Tom’s Hardware, September 2026).
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
Recommended Free Tools
