GPU and display
Hardware-accelerated GPU scheduling (HwSchMode)
What moving scheduling onto the GPU changes, and why the answer is 'test it'
Last updated
Should you enable hardware-accelerated GPU scheduling?
Hardware-accelerated GPU scheduling moves management of the GPU's command queue from a Windows-side scheduler onto a dedicated processor on the graphics card. It reduces one layer of CPU involvement in frame submission. Whether it helps, hurts, or does nothing depends on your GPU, driver version and title, which is why it ships as a toggle rather than a default.
Registry location and values
HwSchMode
- Location
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\GraphicsDrivers- Value name
HwSchMode- Type
REG_DWORD- Default
- 2 on supported hardware in current Windows builds
| Value | What it does |
|---|---|
1 | Disabled. |
2 | Enabled. |
What Windows actually does with this
Without it, the Windows GPU scheduler batches and submits work to the GPU, with the CPU handling queue management. With it enabled, a scheduling processor on the GPU takes over queue management, removing some CPU overhead from the submission path and shortening the chain between an application producing a frame and the GPU starting it.
What it affects
CPU overhead in the graphics submission path, and in some configurations frame pacing and latency. It is a prerequisite for some vendor latency features.
Is it worth changing?
Worth testing rather than assuming. On CPU-limited systems it can help because it removes CPU work. On some driver and title combinations it has introduced stutter. It requires a supported GPU and a WDDM 2.7 or later driver, and it needs a restart. Test with a frame-time graph on and off, in the game you actually play, and keep whichever is smoother.
What can go wrong
Low, and easily reversed. Some capture and overlay software has historically misbehaved with it enabled.
How to undo it
Settings → System → Display → Graphics → Change default graphics settings, and toggle it. A restart is required. Or set HwSchMode to 1.
Create a System Restore Point before editing the registry. Every setting on this page is reversible, but a restore point is the difference between undoing one change and reinstalling Windows.
Which Windows versions this applies to
Windows 10 version 2004 and later, Windows 11. Requires supported hardware and a WDDM 2.7+ driver.
Hardware-accelerated GPU scheduling (HwSchMode): common questions
Does it increase FPS?
Not directly. It removes CPU overhead from frame submission, so on a CPU-limited system it can raise frame rate as a side effect. On a GPU-limited system expect no change in average frame rate.
Is it needed for frame generation or latency features?
Some vendor features list it as a requirement. Check your GPU vendor's documentation for your specific feature and driver version.
Sources
Does JINSHI Tweaks change this?
This page documents a setting that corresponds to the following toggle in JINSHI PC Tweaks: Hardware-Accelerated GPU Scheduling.
The reference above is written to be usable without the product. Everything here can be applied by hand for free. What the application adds is that the change is applied in one pass, a System Restore Point is created first, and each toggle can be reversed individually.