If your FPS, frame times, input responsiveness, temperatures, or overall system performance became worse after applying EXM optimizations, do not worry. Performance tuning can behave differently depending on your hardware, drivers, Windows configuration, and the games you play.
An optimization that improves performance on one system may not provide the same result on another.
This guide will help you identify the cause and restore your previous performance.
1. Restart Your PC
After applying optimizations, always restart your PC before testing performance.
Some Windows, networking, driver, and system-level changes may not fully apply until after a reboot.
After restarting:
Launch the same game or benchmark you normally use.
Use the same graphics settings.
Test in the same map, area, or scenario when possible.
Compare your results again.
Avoid judging performance from a single FPS number.
Pay attention to:
Average FPS
1% lows
Frame times
Stuttering
Input responsiveness
CPU usage
GPU usage
Temperatures
2. Make Sure Your Test Is Consistent
Game performance can naturally change between sessions.
Different maps, players, weather effects, background processes, shader compilation, and game updates can all affect FPS.
For an accurate comparison, test under similar conditions.
For example:
Use the same game
Use the same resolution
Use the same graphics settings
Use the same benchmark or map
Close unnecessary background applications
Allow shaders to finish compiling
Run multiple tests
A difference of a few FPS does not necessarily mean performance became worse.
3. Revert Recently Applied Optimizations
If the problem started immediately after applying a specific optimization, revert that optimization first.
We recommend reverting changes one at a time when possible.
This makes it easier to identify which setting caused the problem.
Open EXM and revert the most recent optimizations you applied, then:
Restart your PC.
Test performance again.
Re-enable optimizations individually if needed.
If performance returns to normal, one of the reverted settings may not have been ideal for your specific hardware or workload.
4. Check Your Power Plan
Power-plan changes can affect CPU frequency, temperatures, power consumption, and performance.
If you recently changed your EXM power plan, try switching back to your previous Windows power plan.
To test:
Open Windows Power Options.
Select your previous power plan.
Restart your PC.
Test your game again.
Laptop users should also make sure the device is plugged into AC power while testing.
Battery-powered performance may be significantly lower.
5. Check CPU and GPU Temperatures
Higher temperatures can cause your CPU or GPU to reduce clock speeds through thermal throttling.
Monitor your temperatures while gaming.
If temperatures increased significantly after applying optimizations, verify:
Your CPU cooler is working correctly
Your GPU fans are operating
Your case has sufficient airflow
Your system is free of excessive dust
Your fan curves have not changed
Your CPU or GPU is not thermal throttling
Performance tuning cannot compensate for hardware that is overheating.
6. Check Your GPU Driver
A graphics-driver issue can cause:
Lower FPS
Stuttering
Driver crashes
High frame times
GPU utilization problems
If performance became worse after a driver update or driver-related optimization, reinstalling your graphics driver may help.
EXM includes an advanced graphics-driver installation option designed to help install a clean, optimized driver configuration.
You can also perform a clean reinstall of your graphics driver before testing again.
7. Allow Games to Rebuild Shader Cache
After changing graphics drivers or certain Windows settings, some games may need to rebuild their shader cache.
During this process, you may temporarily experience:
Stuttering
Lower FPS
Longer loading times
Uneven frame times
Play the game for a short period and allow shader compilation to complete before comparing performance.
This is particularly common after reinstalling graphics drivers.
8. Check for Background Applications
Background software can affect performance independently of EXM.
Check for applications such as:
Game launchers
Web browsers
RGB software
Hardware monitoring software
Recording software
Overlays
Antivirus scans
Windows Update
Cloud synchronization
Other PC optimization tools
Running multiple optimization utilities simultaneously can also cause conflicting settings.
For best results, avoid using multiple system-tweaking applications at the same time.
9. Check CPU and GPU Usage
Low FPS does not always mean your system is incorrectly optimized.
Monitor your hardware usage while gaming.
High GPU Usage
If your GPU is consistently around 95 to 100% usage, your game is likely GPU-limited.
Reducing graphics settings or resolution may improve FPS.
Low GPU Usage
Low GPU usage may indicate:
CPU bottleneck
FPS cap
V-Sync
Game-engine limitation
Background software
Power-management issue
Driver issue
EXM cannot remove every hardware or game-engine bottleneck.
10. Check for FPS Caps and V-Sync
Make sure your FPS is not being limited by:
In-game FPS limits
V-Sync
NVIDIA Control Panel
AMD Software
RTSS
Game launch options
Laptop power settings
If your FPS appears locked to a specific value such as 60, 120, 144, or 165 FPS, check for an active frame-rate limit.
11. Revert Network Tweaks If the Issue Is Only Online
If offline performance is normal but online gameplay feels worse, the issue may be related to networking rather than FPS.
Symptoms may include:
Higher ping
Packet loss
Rubber-banding
Delayed hit registration
Connection instability
Revert recently applied network or adapter optimizations and restart your PC.
Network performance depends heavily on:
Your ISP
Router
Wi-Fi or Ethernet connection
Routing
Game servers
Network adapter
Background traffic
12. Use a Restore Point
If you applied many optimizations at once and cannot identify the cause, restoring Windows to a previous restore point may be the easiest solution.
If a restore point was created before applying EXM optimizations, you can use it to return your system to its previous configuration.
A System Restore does not normally delete your personal files, but it may revert:
Drivers
Windows settings
Applications
System configurations
Always review the restore point before continuing.
13. Revert EXM Optimizations
If you want to return your system to its previous configuration, use EXM's available revert or restore functionality.
After reverting:
Restart your PC.
Allow Windows to fully load.
Close unnecessary applications.
Test performance again.
If your performance returns to normal, you can begin applying optimizations individually to determine which settings work best for your PC.
Performance Improvements Are Hardware-Dependent
EXM optimizations are designed to improve system responsiveness, latency, stability, and performance where possible.
However, results vary between systems.
Performance depends on factors including:
CPU
GPU
RAM
Storage
Cooling
Drivers
Windows version
Game engine
Graphics settings
Resolution
Background applications
You may see improvements in areas such as frame times or 1% lows without seeing a major increase in average FPS.
Still Having Problems?
If performance remains worse after following this guide, contact EXM Support.
Please include:
CPU
GPU
RAM
Windows version
EXM version
Game or application affected
FPS before and after
Any affected EXM optimizations
CPU and GPU temperatures
Screenshots or benchmark results if available
The more information you provide, the easier it will be for our support team to identify the issue.