Unlock the full speed of your Windows system with the Ultimate Performance Power Plan. Learn the command to enable it, who should use it, real-world benefits, and common pitfalls to avoid.
Modern Windows systems offer a variety of power plans designed to balance performance with energy efficiency. For most users, the default “Balanced” plan meets daily computing needs well. However, power users—those running intensive applications, rendering software, or handling large datasets—often demand more. The Ultimate Performance power plan, introduced in Windows 10 (version 1803) and extended to Windows 11, is a solution tailored to maximize hardware utilization and minimize system latency. While it isn’t enabled by default on most systems, a simple command can unlock this high-octane mode, giving advanced users an edge in performance-critical environments.
The Ultimate Performance power plan is not another incremental boost—it’s Microsoft’s answer to the needs of power users and workstations running demanding workloads. Where other plans throttle components to save energy, Ultimate Performance minimizes micro-latencies, keeps processors running at higher clock speeds, and prevents hardware from idling unless necessary.
This plan is particularly relevant in the following contexts:
– Professional video editing and 3D rendering
– High-end gaming and simulation
– Data science and large-scale computations
– Software development involving virtual machines or containers
Unlike the High Performance plan, which also aims to maintain high system responsiveness, Ultimate Performance removes even more aggressive power management features. One subtle difference is that this plan disables “core parking”—a technique where unused CPU cores are put to sleep to save power. This means all cores remain at the ready, reducing wait times when new computational tasks arise.
“The Ultimate Performance plan is best suited for systems where every millisecond counts, such as workstations crunching big datasets or running live production applications,” says Max Engel, a senior systems engineer at a Fortune 500 IT firm.
While some high-end workstations may show the Ultimate Performance plan by default, most consumer and even many professional systems do not. Fortunately, adding it requires only a brief interaction with the Windows Command Prompt or PowerShell.
Open Command Prompt as Administrator
Right-click the Start button and choose “Windows Terminal (Admin)” or “Command Prompt (Admin).”
Enter the Ultimate Performance Command
Paste the following command and press Enter:
powercfg -duplicatescheme e9a42b02-d5df-448d-aa00-03f14749eb61
This command tells Windows to duplicate the Ultimate Performance scheme and make it available among your power plans.
Select the Plan
Microsoft initially limited Ultimate Performance to Windows workstations and desktops due to the significant increase in power consumption. Laptop users can still enable it via the command, but should be wary of battery drain and heat.
Enabling the Ultimate Performance plan can provide measurable yet context-dependent benefits. Benchmarks from enthusiast forums and IT professionals have shown smoother multitasking under demanding loads, faster rendering times in suites like Adobe Premiere Pro, and minor but sometimes noticeable improvements in game frame rates or latency-sensitive tasks.
However, gains tend to be most pronounced in scenarios where the bottleneck is processor responsiveness or input/output latency—not raw GPU horsepower. For users running virtual machines or Docker containers, keeping all cores active can help reduce lag in launching and switching between environments.
At a boutique film production studio, switching their editing workstations to Ultimate Performance led to timeline scrubbing in DaVinci Resolve feeling noticeably “snappier.” While overall export times improved by only a few percentage points, the perceived responsiveness improved editor productivity and user satisfaction—key for creative environments racing against deadlines.
Despite its name, the Ultimate Performance power plan is not a universal solution. It comes with several trade-offs that savvy users should consider:
Even seasoned users occasionally run into hiccups when enabling the Ultimate Performance power plan. Here’s how to address some typical issues:
Ultimate Performance not visible:
Ensure Windows is up-to-date. The plan is available only on Windows 10 version 1803 onward and all Windows 11 editions.
Plan disappears after reboot:
Occasionally, Windows updates or OEM utilities may hide non-default power plans. Re-running the command reinstates the plan.
No significant speedup observed:
If workloads are GPU-limited, disk-bound, or network-constrained, switching power plans might not yield lower latency or faster completion.
The Ultimate Performance power plan command is a potent tool for squeezing every ounce of speed from a capable Windows system. For those who demand peak responsiveness—editors, engineers, data analysts, and PC enthusiasts—the extra agility can translate to tangible productivity gains. However, judicious use is advised, particularly for laptop owners or anyone sensitive to noise, heat, or energy use. As with any advanced setting, it’s best to benchmark your own workflows and monitor system stability.
What does the Ultimate Performance power plan actually do?
It minimizes micro-latencies and keeps PC components like the processor and hard drives running at maximum efficiency, sacrificing energy savings for speed.
Is it safe to enable Ultimate Performance on a laptop?
Technically yes, but it will drain the battery faster and may increase system temperature. It’s recommended only for plugged-in use with adequate cooling.
Will gaming benefit from the Ultimate Performance plan?
Some games may show improved responsiveness, especially CPU-limited titles, but the difference is often minor compared to upgrading hardware.
Can enabling Ultimate Performance void a warranty or damage hardware?
No, it does not void hardware warranties. However, consistently running your system at high power without proper cooling can accelerate wear over time.
How do I disable or remove the plan once enabled?
Simply switch to another power plan via the Control Panel. The Ultimate Performance plan can also be removed with the “powercfg -delete” command if desired.
Are there risks in using this plan for everyday computing?
For basic productivity or browsing, Ultimate Performance offers little benefit while increasing energy use. It’s best reserved for specific power-user scenarios.
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