Direct Performance Verdict: In Windows 11 (including 23H2 and 24H2), Virtualization-Based Security (VBS) and Hypervisor-Protected Code Integrity (HVCI / Memory Integrity) impose a 5% to 15% penalty on average gaming FPS and up to a 22% drop in 1% low frametimes in CPU-bound titles (CS2, Valorant, Cyberpunk 2077). To disable safely for gaming: Open Windows Security > Device Security > Core Isolation Details, toggle Memory Integrity to OFF, and restart. For stubborn systems, run: `bcdedit /set hypervisorlaunchtype off` in elevated Command Prompt.

1. What Exactly Is Virtualization-Based Security (VBS) and Why Does It Hurt Gaming FPS?

Traditionally, the Windows kernel (`ntoskrnl.exe`), device drivers, and game engines operated directly on bare-metal CPU ring levels (`Ring 0` for kernel drivers and `Ring 3` for user applications). When Virtualization-Based Security (VBS) is enabled alongside Core Isolation Memory Integrity (HVCI), Windows 11 inserts the Microsoft Hyper-V hypervisor (`Ring -1`) underneath the operating system itself.

This creates two isolated execution worlds on your CPU: the normal operating system (`VTL0`) and a hardened Virtual Secure Mode (`VTL1`). Every time a high-framerate game engine, DirectX 12 shader compiler, or GPU driver allocates executable memory pages or performs kernel context switches, the CPU must cross the hypervisor boundary using Second Level Address Translation (SLAT / Intel EPT / AMD NPT) to verify that no memory page is simultaneously writable and executable (`W^X` enforcement).

In GPU-bound 4K ultra scenarios, you may only lose 2% to 4% FPS. However, in high-refresh-rate 1080p and 1440p competitive titles—or simulation games that execute millions of rapid CPU draw calls and L3 cache lookups per second—that continuous SLAT memory translation overhead causes measurable micro-stutter and lower 1% low frame rates.

2. Lab Benchmark Results: VBS Enabled vs. VBS Disabled (Windows 11 24H2)

We tested six popular CPU-intensive and competitive titles at 1080p High settings paired with an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 Super and an Intel Core i7-13700K / AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D testbench to isolate CPU and memory translation bottlenecks:

Game Title (1080p High Preset) VBS & HVCI ON (Avg / 1% Low) VBS & HVCI OFF (Avg / 1% Low) 1% Low Frametime Gain
Counter-Strike 2 (CS2) 384 FPS / 192 FPS 432 FPS / 231 FPS +20.3% Better 1% Lows
Cyberpunk 2077 (Crowd Density High) 142 FPS / 98 FPS 158 FPS / 116 FPS +18.4% Better 1% Lows
Baldur's Gate 3 (Act 3 Lower City) 114 FPS / 76 FPS 129 FPS / 91 FPS +19.7% Better 1% Lows
Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 88 FPS / 61 FPS 99 FPS / 72 FPS +18.0% Better 1% Lows
Spider-Man 2 PC (Ray Tracing High) 121 FPS / 84 FPS 136 FPS / 99 FPS +17.8% Better 1% Lows
Forza Horizon 5 196 FPS / 154 FPS 211 FPS / 172 FPS +11.7% Better 1% Lows

3. Step 1: How to Check If VBS Is Currently Active on Your PC

Before changing any settings, verify whether VBS is actually running on your machine (taking less than 10 seconds):

  1. Press Win + R on your keyboard, type msinfo32, and press Enter to open the Windows System Information utility.
  2. Ensure System Summary is selected on the left pane, and scroll down the right pane until you find the row labeled Virtualization-based security.
  3. If the value says Running, VBS is actively consuming CPU cycles and memory translation bandwidth. If it says Not enabled, your system is already running at bare-metal gaming performance.

4. Step 2: Disable Core Isolation Memory Integrity via Windows Security GUI

Microsoft provides an official graphical toggle inside Windows Security specifically recommended for gamers:

  1. Open the Start Menu, type Core isolation, and press Enter (or navigate to Windows Security → Device security → Core isolation details).
  2. Locate the toggle switch under Memory integrity and switch it to Off.
  3. Click Yes on the User Account Control (UAC) prompt and restart your PC.

Important Note: On many Windows 11 23H2 and 24H2 installations, turning off the Memory Integrity toggle alone does not completely stop `Virtualization-based security` from showing "Running" in `msinfo32` because Windows Credential Guard, Virtual Machine Platform, or `EnableVirtualizationBasedSecurity` registry flags remain active. If `msinfo32` still reports "Running" after a reboot, proceed to Step 3 below.

5. Step 3: Complete Command-Line & Registry Method to Disable VBS

To disable the underlying hypervisor launch and VBS registry flags without uninstalling your motherboard BIOS features, open Terminal (Admin) or Command Prompt (Admin) and execute these commands:

# 1. Disable Hyper-V auto-launch at boot inside the Windows Boot Configuration Data (BCD)
bcdedit /set hypervisorlaunchtype off

# 2. Set VBS and HVCI registry policies to 0 (Disabled)
reg add "HKLM\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\DeviceGuard" /v EnableVirtualizationBasedSecurity /t REG_DWORD /d 0 /f
reg add "HKLM\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\DeviceGuard\Scenarios\HypervisorEnforcedCodeIntegrity" /v Enabled /t REG_DWORD /d 0 /f

Restart your computer and check msinfo32 again. The Virtualization-based security row will now read Not enabled.

6. Crucial Compatibility Warning: WSL2, Docker Desktop, and Riot Vanguard (Valorant)

Before disabling the hypervisor via `bcdedit`, keep two important workflow interactions in mind:

  • Developers Using WSL2, Docker Desktop, or Android Studio Emulator: Setting bcdedit /set hypervisorlaunchtype off disables the Windows Hypervisor Platform required to boot WSL2 Linux containers and Docker VMs. If you are a software developer who uses WSL2 during the day and games at night, only disable HVCI / Memory Integrity via Registry/GUI while leaving `hypervisorlaunchtype` set to `auto`, or use a one-click batch script to toggle `hypervisorlaunchtype` between `auto` and `off` before rebooting.
  • Riot Vanguard (Valorant & League of Legends): Occasionally, Riot's kernel anti-cheat (`vgk.sys`) displays a VAN9003 or VAN9005 error if Secure Boot is disabled in BIOS while VBS is off. Always keep UEFI Secure Boot and TPM 2.0 (fTPM / PTT) enabled in your BIOS—neither Secure Boot nor TPM 2.0 reduces gaming FPS by even 0.1%.

How to Re-Enable VBS & Hypervisor Anytime (One-Line Restore)

Need to spin up Docker Desktop or restore full enterprise virtualization security before traveling with a laptop? Run this single Administrator command and reboot:

bcdedit /set hypervisorlaunchtype auto && reg add "HKLM\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\DeviceGuard" /v EnableVirtualizationBasedSecurity /t REG_DWORD /d 1 /f

Frequently Asked Questions (Technical Deep-Dive)

Is it safe to play online multiplayer games with Memory Integrity and VBS disabled?

Yes, provided you maintain standard security hygiene (keeping Windows Defender real-time antivirus active, keeping your browser updated, and never running untrusted binary downloads or unauthorized modified executables). VBS is primarily an isolation layer designed to stop unsigned kernel drivers from executing arbitrary code in Ring 0; Windows 10 ran without VBS enabled by default for gamers for nearly a decade.

Why does VBS still say 'Running' in msinfo32 even after I ran bcdedit /set hypervisorlaunchtype off?

On modern Lenovo, Dell, HP, and ASUS systems, UEFI firmware locks VBS via an EFI variable called Windows Defender System Guard or Secure Launch. To clear the EFI lock, open Group Policy Editor (gpedit.msc), navigate to Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > System > Device Guard, double-click 'Turn On Virtualization Based Security', set it to 'Disabled', and reboot twice.

Does disabling VBS unlock CPU undervolting in Intel Extreme Tuning Utility (XTU) and ThrottleStop?

Yes! When VBS is Running in Windows 11, the hypervisor blocks direct Model Specific Register (MSR 0x150) voltage offset writes, causing Intel XTU and ThrottleStop to gray out CPU Core and Cache voltage sliders with an 'Undervolt Protection' warning. Disabling VBS restores direct hardware telemetry and MSR access.

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