Windows 11 could be stealth-nerfing graphics cards – even the RTX 4090

The recent uproar among computer graphics enthusiasts regarding Windows 11’s potential stealth-nerfing of graphics cards, including the flagship RTX 4090, is well-founded and serious. For years, companies such as NVIDIA and AMD have strived to create powerful hardware that can run the latest games and programs at maximum graphical quality. However, with the re-introduction of Windows 11, it appears Microsoft could be implementing a type of ‘hardware-capping’ that could limit the performance of GPUs, primarily those from the high-end RTX series.

The sparse details available suggest that this could be a system designed to limit or tone down the performance of high-end GPUs to prevent system instability due to too much power being used. While this could be seen as a preventative measure, there is a considerable downside in that it could reduce the performance of existing graphics cards and even limit the possibility of getting a new smoother graphics experience.

Although there is no direct evidence that Microsoft is imposing a stealth-nerfing feature across the board, there are certain actions they’ve taken which fans point to as potential red flags. The primary example of this was the recent Windows 11 update, which saw a scaling back of shader speeds to make game performance more consistent across different card models.

At the moment, it’s impossible to tell if this is an intentional attempt to reduce the performance of GPUs, or just another example of an imperfectly optimised driver update. However, with the limited information available, it’s clear that graphics card enthusiasts are concerned with the potential performance impacts that Windows 11 could have on their hardware.

Even though it’s uncertain whether this is a deliberate attempt by Microsoft to restrict the performance of graphics cards or not, it’s important to remain vigilant as the issue could be revisited as Windows 11 matures. Until then, it’s recommended that graphics card owners stick to the latest driver updates to minimise any potential performance impact and hope that this nervousness dissipates in the coming months.