Plain language, precise meaning
Performance glossary
The terms behind Windows tuning, gaming benchmarks and troubleshooting—without the marketing fog.
- 1% low
- A percentile-oriented FPS summary representing the slower end of captured frames. Useful for consistency, but methodology varies by tool.
- Commit charge
- Virtual memory that Windows has promised to processes. The commit limit is backed mainly by RAM plus page files.
- DPC / ISR latency
- Time spent servicing deferred procedure calls and interrupts in kernel drivers. Large stalls can affect real-time audio and responsiveness.
- Frame time
- The time required to produce one frame, usually measured in milliseconds. Lower and more consistent is better.
- Game Mode
- A supported Windows feature that prioritizes the game experience and reduces disruptive background activity.
- HAGS
- Hardware-accelerated GPU scheduling. A Windows graphics option that shifts more scheduling work to compatible GPU hardware. Results vary.
- HVCI / Memory integrity
- A virtualization-based Windows security feature that protects kernel code integrity.
- Jitter
- Variation in network latency over time. A stable 30 ms can feel better than a connection oscillating between 15 and 90 ms.
- Page file
- Disk-backed storage Windows uses as part of virtual memory and for some crash dumps. Disabling it reduces the commit limit.
- PresentMon
- An open-source frame-presentation capture technology used by performance tools to analyze frame timing.
- ReBAR / SAM
- Resizable BAR / Smart Access Memory lets the CPU map a larger portion of GPU memory when supported by firmware, GPU, driver and game.
- S.M.A.R.T.
- Drive self-monitoring attributes that can expose temperature, wear, errors and other health indicators.
- Shader compilation
- Translation of shader code into hardware-specific instructions. First-use compilation can produce stutter.
- Standby memory
- Cached data in RAM that Windows can reclaim when applications need it. It is not the same as unavailable memory.
- Thermal throttling
- A protective reduction in clock or power when temperature limits are reached.
- TRIM / retrim
- A command that tells an SSD which blocks are no longer in use so internal management can work efficiently.
- VBS
- Virtualization-based security, which uses the Windows hypervisor to isolate protected security operations.
- VRAM
- Graphics memory used for textures, render targets and other GPU resources. Exceeding practical budget can cause stutter.
- VRR
- Variable refresh rate lets a display synchronize refresh timing to delivered frames within its supported range.
- WHEA
- Windows Hardware Error Architecture, used to report hardware and firmware errors such as corrected CPU or memory events.