Every gamer has faced this dilemma at least once: should you run your game in fullscreen, borderless windowed, or regular windowed mode? It might seem like a minor setting tucked away in the graphics menu, but this choice can seriously impact your frame rates, input lag, and overall gaming experience. Let’s break down the real performance differences between these display modes and help you squeeze every last frame from your GPU.
Understanding the Three Display Modes
Before we dive into performance metrics, let’s clarify what each mode actually does under the hood. The technical differences between fullscreen vs borderless windowed modes go way deeper than just visual appearance.
Exclusive Fullscreen Mode
When you enable exclusive fullscreen, your game takes complete control of your display and graphics processing unit. Windows essentially steps back and lets the game communicate directly with your GPU hardware. The Desktop Window Manager, which normally handles rendering your desktop and all windows, gets disabled for that specific display.
This direct hardware access translates to maximum performance potential. Your graphics card can dedicate all its resources to rendering game frames without any operating system overhead getting in the way. Think of it like giving your game a VIP pass straight to the GPU without waiting in line.
Borderless Windowed Mode
Borderless windowed mode creates a window that perfectly matches your screen resolution, giving the illusion of fullscreen while technically running as a desktop window. The Desktop Window Manager stays active in this mode, compositing your game window along with everything else on your desktop.
This mode offers incredible convenience for multi-monitor setups and multitasking. Switching between your game and other applications happens instantly without any screen flickering or delay. However, that convenience comes with a performance cost since Windows continues managing the desktop compositor in the background.
Regular Windowed Mode
Standard windowed mode displays your game in a resizable window with visible borders and title bar. It operates identically to borderless mode from a technical standpoint, but with additional screen space consumed by window decorations. This mode typically delivers the weakest gaming performance of the three options.
Performance Benchmarks: The Real Numbers
Theoretical explanations only go so far. What really matters is how these modes affect your actual frame rates during gameplay. Multiple independent benchmarks across different games and hardware configurations reveal some interesting patterns.
Frame Rate Differences Across Graphics APIs
The performance gap between display modes varies significantly depending on which graphics API your game uses. Older DirectX 11 and DirectX 9 titles show the most substantial differences, while modern DirectX 12 and Vulkan games have narrowed the gap considerably.
In DirectX 11 games, exclusive fullscreen consistently delivers one to five percent higher average frame rates compared to borderless windowed mode. More importantly, the minimum frame rates and one-percent lows show even greater improvement, translating to smoother gameplay with fewer stutters.
DirectX 12 implementations have changed the game significantly. Many modern titles using DX12 show virtually identical performance between fullscreen and borderless modes, sometimes with differences as small as half a frame per second. This is because DX12 allows for more efficient rendering paths even when the Desktop Window Manager remains active.
Input Lag Considerations
Frame rates tell only part of the story. Input latency matters enormously for competitive gaming, and display mode selection directly affects how quickly your actions translate to on-screen movement.
Exclusive fullscreen mode typically offers the lowest input lag because frames go directly from GPU to display without additional processing layers. Borderless windowed mode introduces extra latency through the Desktop Window Manager composition pipeline, though modern Windows versions have significantly reduced this overhead.
| Display Mode | Average FPS Impact | Input Latency | Alt-Tab Speed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Exclusive Fullscreen | Baseline (Best) | Lowest | Slow (2-3 seconds) |
| Borderless Windowed | -1% to -5% | Slightly Higher | Instant |
| Regular Windowed | -3% to -7% | Highest | Instant |
Windows Version and Optimization Features
Microsoft has continuously refined how Windows handles fullscreen applications, particularly in Windows 10 and Windows 11. Understanding these operating system features helps you make informed decisions about display mode selection.
Fullscreen Optimizations in Windows 10 and 11
Windows 10 introduced fullscreen optimizations that attempt to provide the best of both worlds. This feature allows games running in borderless windowed mode to receive some performance benefits traditionally exclusive to fullscreen mode. The operating system attempts to reduce Desktop Window Manager overhead for gaming applications.
However, fullscreen optimizations don’t work perfectly with every game. Some titles experience stuttering or reduced performance when this feature remains enabled. You can disable fullscreen optimizations on a per-game basis through the executable properties, which sometimes resolves performance issues.
Hardware Accelerated GPU Scheduling
Modern Windows versions support hardware accelerated GPU scheduling, which can reduce latency and improve frame pacing in borderless windowed mode. This feature shifts scheduling responsibilities from CPU to GPU, potentially narrowing the performance gap between display modes on compatible hardware.
Variable Refresh Rate Technology Compatibility
If you’ve invested in a monitor with FreeSync or G-Sync technology, your display mode choice becomes even more critical. These adaptive sync technologies behave differently depending on whether you’re running fullscreen or windowed modes.
G-Sync and FreeSync Behavior
Traditional G-Sync and FreeSync implementations only work properly in exclusive fullscreen mode. The variable refresh rate synchronization requires direct communication between game and display that borderless windowed mode interrupts through Desktop Window Manager composition.
Newer G-Sync Compatible monitors and Windows updates have introduced windowed mode support for variable refresh rate, but functionality varies by hardware and driver versions. If you notice screen tearing in borderless mode despite having adaptive sync enabled, switching to fullscreen will likely resolve the issue.
Choosing the Right Mode for Your Gaming Scenario
There’s no universal best answer for everyone. The optimal display mode depends on your specific hardware, the games you play, and how you use your computer while gaming.
Competitive Gaming Priority
For competitive multiplayer games where every frame and millisecond matters, exclusive fullscreen mode remains the gold standard. The performance advantage and reduced input latency provide tangible benefits in fast-paced competitive environments.
- Maximum frame rate potential
- Lowest possible input lag
- Proper adaptive sync functionality
- Consistent frame pacing
Multi-Monitor and Streaming Setups
If you run multiple monitors or frequently switch between your game and other applications like streaming software, Discord, or browsers, borderless windowed mode offers superior convenience. The minor performance sacrifice becomes worthwhile for the seamless multitasking experience.
Streamers particularly benefit from borderless mode since it eliminates the screen blackouts that occur when Alt-Tabbing out of fullscreen games. Your stream maintains consistent video output without interruptions or awkward pauses.
Lower-End Hardware Considerations
Gaming on modest hardware requires extracting every possible frame. Exclusive fullscreen mode typically provides the best results, but testing both modes is worthwhile since some game engines handle borderless mode more efficiently than others.
Always benchmark your specific games with your actual hardware. Performance differences vary significantly between titles, and what works best for one game might not apply to another.
Advanced Tips for Optimizing Display Performance
Beyond simply selecting a display mode, several additional tweaks can further optimize your gaming performance regardless of which mode you choose.
Graphics Driver Settings
Both NVIDIA and AMD control panels offer settings that affect windowed and fullscreen performance. Check your graphics driver software for options related to fullscreen optimization, V-Sync behavior, and low latency modes. These settings can sometimes provide borderless mode performance closer to fullscreen levels.
In-Game V-Sync Configuration
V-Sync interaction with display modes creates another layer of complexity. In borderless windowed mode, Windows forces its own form of V-Sync through the Desktop Window Manager, which can conflict with in-game V-Sync settings and cause stuttering or increased latency. Disabling in-game V-Sync while using borderless mode often produces smoother results.
Resolution Scaling Techniques
If you’re struggling to maintain acceptable frame rates, consider using resolution scaling features before switching display modes. Technologies like DLSS, FSR, or simple resolution reduction can boost performance dramatically while maintaining the display mode that best fits your workflow.
Common Issues and Troubleshooting
Display mode selection sometimes creates unexpected problems. Understanding common issues helps you quickly resolve performance hiccups.
Screen Flickering and Black Screens
Exclusive fullscreen mode occasionally causes brief black screens when Alt-Tabbing or when notifications appear. This happens because the display must switch between different video modes. If these interruptions become too disruptive, borderless mode eliminates them entirely at the cost of slight performance reduction.
Frame Rate Capping Unexpectedly
Some games in borderless windowed mode experience frame rate caps matching your monitor refresh rate even without V-Sync enabled. This occurs due to Desktop Window Manager composition limits. Switching to fullscreen or adjusting Windows graphics settings can remove these artificial limitations.
Multi-Monitor Resolution Problems
Running fullscreen on one monitor while using others can cause resolution or scaling issues, particularly with mixed refresh rate or resolution setups. Borderless windowed mode handles multi-monitor configurations more gracefully without forcing resolution changes on secondary displays.
Testing Your Own System
Rather than relying solely on general recommendations, testing your specific system provides the most accurate guidance for your situation.
Benchmarking Tools and Methods
Use frame rate monitoring tools like MSI Afterburner, Fraps, or built-in game benchmarks to compare display modes scientifically. Run the same benchmark sequence three times in each mode and average the results for accuracy. Pay attention to minimum frame rates and frame time consistency, not just average FPS.
Subjective Feel Testing
Numbers don’t tell the complete story. Spend extended gaming sessions in each mode to evaluate subjective smoothness and responsiveness. Some performance differences are too subtle for benchmarks but noticeable during actual gameplay.
The Verdict on Display Modes
Exclusive fullscreen mode maintains its crown as the performance king, especially for competitive gaming and older titles using DirectX 11 or earlier graphics APIs. The direct hardware access and elimination of Desktop Window Manager overhead provide measurable advantages in frame rates and input latency.
However, borderless windowed mode has evolved into a genuinely viable alternative, particularly in modern DirectX 12 games and on Windows 11 systems with hardware accelerated GPU scheduling. The convenience factor for multi-monitor setups and content creation workflows often outweighs minor performance differences.
Your ideal choice ultimately depends on balancing performance needs against convenience preferences. Competitive gamers chasing every advantage should stick with fullscreen, while streamers and multitaskers will appreciate borderless mode’s flexibility. Test both options with your favorite games and trust your own measurements over general recommendations.
Which display mode gives the highest FPS?
Exclusive fullscreen mode typically delivers the highest frame rates, especially in DirectX 11 games where it can provide one to five percent better performance than borderless windowed mode. DirectX 12 games show smaller differences, sometimes less than one percent between modes.
Does borderless windowed mode cause input lag?
Borderless windowed mode does introduce slightly higher input latency compared to exclusive fullscreen due to Desktop Window Manager composition. However, modern Windows versions and hardware accelerated GPU scheduling have reduced this difference to barely noticeable levels for most users.
Can I use G-Sync or FreeSync in borderless windowed mode?
Traditional G-Sync and FreeSync only work properly in exclusive fullscreen mode. However, newer monitors with G-Sync Compatible certification and recent Windows updates support variable refresh rate in windowed modes, though compatibility varies by specific hardware and driver versions.
Why do some games perform better in borderless mode?
Certain game engines handle borderless windowed mode more efficiently due to optimization techniques or bugs in fullscreen implementation. Additionally, some systems benefit from Windows fullscreen optimizations that improve borderless performance. Always test both modes with your specific games and hardware.
Should I disable fullscreen optimizations in Windows?
Disabling fullscreen optimizations can help if you experience stuttering or performance issues in specific games. However, many titles benefit from this feature enabled. Test your games both ways through the executable properties to determine which configuration works best for each title.
What’s the best mode for multi-monitor gaming?
Borderless windowed mode works best for multi-monitor setups because it allows instant switching between displays without minimizing the game. Exclusive fullscreen can cause resolution changes and black screens on secondary monitors when Alt-Tabbing between screens.