Your Intel-powered PC won’t be operating at full velocity proper now, and you may blame Windows Defender, the anti-malware instrument that’s preinstalled in your system. A bug, found by TechPowerUp affiliate software program writer Kevin Glynn, causes Windows Defender to “randomly start using all seven hardware performance counters provided by Intel Core processors.” A utility Glynn created that displays and logs efficiency counters on Intel Core CPUs since 2008 discovered that the unusual habits leads to considerably lowered efficiency.

Bogged down by Defender hogging CPU time, a Core i9-10850K operating at 5GHz loses 1,000 Cinebench factors, which is a couple of 6% drop from the norm. Owners with Intel Core eighth, ninth, tenth, and eleventh Gen processors, on each desktops and laptops, have famous comparable efficiency hits. AMD processors are usually not affected by the bug and a few customers report that twelfth Gen Intel chips are additionally protected. We haven’t independently verified these claims.

As TechPowerUp notes, the underlying downside is that Windows Defender will randomly begin utilizing all seven {hardware} efficiency counters, together with three fixed-function ones. Each counter may be programmed to a unique privilege mode and is shared amongst a number of packages. For no matter cause, Defender is randomly altering the privilege degree of the counters, making a battle with the packages attempting to make use of them at a unique degree. It can occur at boot and sporadically thereafter.

To be clear, this isn’t a difficulty with Intel processors, as a result of manually overriding the counters and resetting them returns a system to regular efficiency. There is not any technique to forestall Windows Defender from harassing your Intel processor except you obtain third-party software program. You in all probability received’t even know your CPU is being slowed down except you’re actively monitoring its efficiency.

How do I cease this Windows Defender bug from slowing down my Intel CPU?

You might theoretically disable Windows Defender, however we don’t suggest doing so, because the safety positive aspects this system offers you outweigh these efficiency knocks. Another means of overcoming this bug is by downloading software program created by Glynn referred to as Counter Control, which identifies when Defender begins utilizing all seven efficiency counters and “resets” them to their applicable state.

A extra everlasting answer is to obtain TechPowerUp’s ThrottleStop v9.5 software and allow a function referred to as “Windows Defender Boost” in “Options.” This setting prompts a programmable timer that Defender sees and reacts to by ceasing to make use of all of the counters.

We have reached out to Microsoft for remark and can replace this text. Hopefully, the corporate is conscious of this downside and actively engaged on an answer so that you don’t have to decide on between efficiency and safety.