{
  "schemaVersion": 1,
  "path": "/benchmarks/cs2-game-mode",
  "date": "2026-10-19",
  "title": "CS2: Windows Game Mode Off vs On",
  "description": "CS2: Windows Game Mode Off vs On. Four measured tests per setting, paired PresentMon frame timings, methodology and downloadable results.",
  "verdict": "No clear performance advantage in this test",
  "conclusion": "Game Mode on recorded a 0.61% higher median average FPS, a 3.62% higher 1% low and a 4.26% lower p99 frame time. Ranges overlapped; no metric met the declared decision rule.",
  "sourceSha256": "8b8b89e14e1c6cacc0ee708723747d77ef097df7d3d80e6d11736ba6596e650b",
  "sourceArtifact": "Three independent CS2 tweaks · completed 19 October 2026",
  "labels": [
    "Game Mode OFF",
    "Game Mode ON"
  ],
  "setup": {
    "CPU": "AMD Ryzen 5 7600X3D",
    "GPU": "NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060",
    "Driver": "32.0.16.1742",
    "OS": "Windows 11 Pro 10.0.26300",
    "CS2 build": "25966348",
    "Scene": "FPSHeaven Ancient · workshop 3472126051",
    "Display": "1440 × 1080 · 144 Hz",
    "Fixed controls": "High performance power plan · fullscreen · 4× MSAA",
    "Capture": "PresentMon 2.6.0 · fixed60-offset10-v1"
  },
  "metrics": [
    {
      "key": "avg_fps",
      "label": "Average FPS",
      "unit": "FPS",
      "direction": "Higher is better"
    },
    {
      "key": "one_percent_low_fps",
      "label": "1% low FPS",
      "unit": "FPS",
      "direction": "Higher is better"
    },
    {
      "key": "p99_frame_ms",
      "label": "p99 frame time",
      "unit": "ms",
      "direction": "Lower is better"
    }
  ],
  "method": [
    "Only the Windows Game Mode preference changed in this comparison. Other controls remained fixed. The game relaunched for each test.",
    "Two warmups (A → B), followed by four measured pairs: A → B, B → A, B → A, A → B. Warmups never enter the summaries.",
    "PresentMon covers exactly 60 seconds, starting 10 seconds after the observed VProf start. Average FPS = 1,000 / mean consecutive CPU frame-start interval in ms; 1% low = 1,000 / mean of the slowest ceil(1%) intervals; p99 uses the nearest-rank 99th percentile.",
    "The declared decision rule requires at least a 2% median difference, all four paired differences in the same direction and non-overlapping ranges. Failure to meet it does not prove equivalence or statistical significance."
  ],
  "quality": [
    "The combined three-comparison session completed 30 tests: 6 warmups and 24 measurements. Earlier incomplete sessions were kept separate.",
    "All 10,185 sampled foreground observations matched the owned game process; maximum observation gap was 0.388 seconds. Sampling cannot rule out brief changes between checks.",
    "Collectors completed. Original CFG hashes and attributes, Windows power plan, Game Mode, NVIDIA state and display state were independently verified after restoration."
  ],
  "limitations": [
    "One PC; four measured passes per condition; not statistical certainty",
    "Existing power plans, not assumed factory defaults",
    "Game Mode preference verified in UI; scheduler activation not independently instrumented",
    "No input latency or unsupported power-consumption claims",
    "VProf full interval differs from PresentMon fixed60-offset10-v1",
    "Non-windowed Game Bar hosts permitted; recording and visible overlays prohibited"
  ],
  "comparisons": [
    {
      "metric": "avg_fps",
      "a_values": [
        186.90631876090438,
        187.93730876097524,
        188.44660091627026,
        188.9409654195247
      ],
      "b_values": [
        189.8503315602932,
        188.84721706598586,
        190.20918878538032,
        187.84212428363065
      ],
      "a_median": 188.19195483862273,
      "b_median": 189.34877431313953,
      "b_minus_a_pct": 0.614701874747392,
      "paired_pct": [
        1.575127485740535,
        0.48415522761788843,
        0.9353248403207948,
        -0.5815790839504675
      ],
      "ranges_overlap": true,
      "advantage": "none"
    },
    {
      "metric": "one_percent_low_fps",
      "a_values": [
        72.76310753317992,
        77.27240711751128,
        78.03611305955495,
        80.11096915222264
      ],
      "b_values": [
        78.48723429218818,
        82.44748691729832,
        82.69862736106256,
        78.29680475589892
      ],
      "a_median": 77.6542600885331,
      "b_median": 80.46736060474325,
      "b_minus_a_pct": 3.622596510484999,
      "paired_pct": [
        7.866798097371053,
        6.69718984153953,
        5.974816169981856,
        -2.2645642856679693
      ],
      "ranges_overlap": true,
      "advantage": "none"
    },
    {
      "metric": "p99_frame_ms",
      "a_values": [
        11.777400000028138,
        11.172900000019581,
        10.784499999772379,
        10.498000000097818
      ],
      "b_values": [
        11.06919999983802,
        9.9078000002919,
        9.99050000018542,
        11.030600000140112
      ],
      "a_median": 10.97869999989598,
      "b_median": 10.510550000162766,
      "b_minus_a_pct": -4.264166064631059,
      "paired_pct": [
        -6.013211746127545,
        -11.322933166191984,
        -7.362418281827776,
        5.073347304604026
      ],
      "ranges_overlap": true,
      "advantage": "none"
    }
  ],
  "runs": [
    {
      "run": 11,
      "label": "Game Mode OFF",
      "round": 0,
      "warmup": true,
      "avg_fps": 188.57750704465954,
      "one_percent_low_fps": 80.82430009524676,
      "p99_frame_ms": 10.082899999815709,
      "frames": 11315,
      "vprof_avg_fps": 371.4,
      "vprof_p1": 128.3
    },
    {
      "run": 12,
      "label": "Game Mode ON",
      "round": 0,
      "warmup": true,
      "avg_fps": 190.2797661600359,
      "one_percent_low_fps": 79.52519997986516,
      "p99_frame_ms": 10.787300000174582,
      "frames": 11417,
      "vprof_avg_fps": 371.8,
      "vprof_p1": 126.1
    },
    {
      "run": 13,
      "label": "Game Mode OFF",
      "round": 1,
      "warmup": false,
      "avg_fps": 186.90631876090438,
      "one_percent_low_fps": 72.76310753317992,
      "p99_frame_ms": 11.777400000028138,
      "frames": 11214,
      "vprof_avg_fps": 369.2,
      "vprof_p1": 110.7
    },
    {
      "run": 14,
      "label": "Game Mode ON",
      "round": 1,
      "warmup": false,
      "avg_fps": 189.8503315602932,
      "one_percent_low_fps": 78.48723429218818,
      "p99_frame_ms": 11.06919999983802,
      "frames": 11390,
      "vprof_avg_fps": 371.8,
      "vprof_p1": 113.9
    },
    {
      "run": 15,
      "label": "Game Mode ON",
      "round": 2,
      "warmup": false,
      "avg_fps": 188.84721706598586,
      "one_percent_low_fps": 82.44748691729832,
      "p99_frame_ms": 9.9078000002919,
      "frames": 11331,
      "vprof_avg_fps": 370.4,
      "vprof_p1": 118
    },
    {
      "run": 16,
      "label": "Game Mode OFF",
      "round": 2,
      "warmup": false,
      "avg_fps": 187.93730876097524,
      "one_percent_low_fps": 77.27240711751128,
      "p99_frame_ms": 11.172900000019581,
      "frames": 11276,
      "vprof_avg_fps": 369.7,
      "vprof_p1": 98.5
    },
    {
      "run": 17,
      "label": "Game Mode ON",
      "round": 3,
      "warmup": false,
      "avg_fps": 190.20918878538032,
      "one_percent_low_fps": 82.69862736106256,
      "p99_frame_ms": 9.99050000018542,
      "frames": 11412,
      "vprof_avg_fps": 373.2,
      "vprof_p1": 118.9
    },
    {
      "run": 18,
      "label": "Game Mode OFF",
      "round": 3,
      "warmup": false,
      "avg_fps": 188.44660091627026,
      "one_percent_low_fps": 78.03611305955495,
      "p99_frame_ms": 10.784499999772379,
      "frames": 11307,
      "vprof_avg_fps": 370.7,
      "vprof_p1": 108.8
    },
    {
      "run": 19,
      "label": "Game Mode OFF",
      "round": 4,
      "warmup": false,
      "avg_fps": 188.9409654195247,
      "one_percent_low_fps": 80.11096915222264,
      "p99_frame_ms": 10.498000000097818,
      "frames": 11336,
      "vprof_avg_fps": 370.9,
      "vprof_p1": 114.8
    },
    {
      "run": 20,
      "label": "Game Mode ON",
      "round": 4,
      "warmup": false,
      "avg_fps": 187.84212428363065,
      "one_percent_low_fps": 78.29680475589892,
      "p99_frame_ms": 11.030600000140112,
      "frames": 11270,
      "vprof_avg_fps": 370.1,
      "vprof_p1": 114.8
    }
  ],
  "summaries": [
    {
      "label": "Game Mode OFF",
      "metrics": [
        {
          "key": "avg_fps",
          "median": 188.19195483862273,
          "min": 186.90631876090438,
          "max": 188.9409654195247,
          "count": 4
        },
        {
          "key": "one_percent_low_fps",
          "median": 77.6542600885331,
          "min": 72.76310753317992,
          "max": 80.11096915222264,
          "count": 4
        },
        {
          "key": "p99_frame_ms",
          "median": 10.97869999989598,
          "min": 10.498000000097818,
          "max": 11.777400000028138,
          "count": 4
        }
      ]
    },
    {
      "label": "Game Mode ON",
      "metrics": [
        {
          "key": "avg_fps",
          "median": 189.34877431313953,
          "min": 187.84212428363065,
          "max": 190.20918878538032,
          "count": 4
        },
        {
          "key": "one_percent_low_fps",
          "median": 80.46736060474325,
          "min": 78.29680475589892,
          "max": 82.69862736106256,
          "count": 4
        },
        {
          "key": "p99_frame_ms",
          "median": 10.510550000162766,
          "min": 9.9078000002919,
          "max": 11.06919999983802,
          "count": 4
        }
      ]
    }
  ]
}