I've been wondering if alt-tabbing out of games affects their performance. I have OCD, so sometimes I can't shake the feeling that my PC performs worse after I switch away from a game and then go back. I notice some mild performance dips, but I'm not sure if it's all in my head or if there's something to it. Has anyone experienced changes in performance after alt-tabbing?
4 Answers
From my experience, a lot of games don't handle being paused and alt-tabbed very well. Initially, things might seem fine, but after a long gaming session, it can lead to bugs or crashes, especially with specific titles like the Yakuza series. So, yes, it might not be just in your head!
I prefer running games in borderless window mode for easier alt-tabbing! Generally, it doesn't usually mess with performance much, but some games, especially older ones, can get weird or crash when you switch. Just be aware that some games do reduce FPS when alt-tabbed to save power, so if it feels choppy when you return, that's why!
Nobody's really done a formal test on it, but I'd guess that as long as there aren't any bugs, alt-tabbing shouldn't impact performance much. If anything, performance dips would probably be from the game itself when switching back and forth, not the alt-tab action.
It's a bit of a tricky subject! Ideally, when you alt-tab out of a game and back in, there shouldn't be any noticeable performance drop. But every game is unique and some can behave oddly, especially if they interact poorly with drivers or Windows settings. Personally, I've had issues where switching from true full-screen to borderless full-screen can cause problems. Make sure to check how your specific games handle alt-tabbing.
That's the downside of borderless mode, right? It might make alt-tabbing smoother, but it can take a hit on performance. But it’s usually worth it for the convenience!