Windows 11 Pro 25H2 Optimizations for VFX Workflows

A technical writer's notes and PowerShell scripts for optimizing a new Windows 11 Pro PC for VFX workflows.

Approach

1. Perform initial benchmarks
2. Manually uninstall middleware
3. Run VFX.ps1
4. Perform manual optimizations
5. Perform midway benchmarks
6. Install RTX 3060
7. Set up scratch/cache SSD
8. Configure Substance and Resolve
9. Perform final benchmarks

What VFX.ps1 Does

The scripts are documented in-place. The best way to understand what optimizations are performed & why is to read the .ps1 files, starting with VFX.ps1.

VFX.ps1 contains a list of$Subscripts. I tried to keep each one tightly focused so they're easy to comment out and skip. Broadly, the subscripts fall into 2 categories - common and build-specific.

Common optimizations for any Windows 11 PC:

• These are Group Policies and Registry keys that set/disable many of the controls available in the Settings app.
• Aimed at disabling telemetry and background permissions.
• Include common GUI preferences for the Start menu, Taskbar, and File Explorer.

Build-specific optimizations:

• These include Group Policies, Registry keys, Services, and Tasks.
• Aimed primarily at Intel Core Ultra 7 265K and the Arrow Lake tile architecture.
• The Registry keys target options that are in obscure places or not exposed by a GUI.

VFX.ps1 has a few handy features:

• It can backup .reg and .pol files.
• It can set a System Restore point.
• It has a validation mode that's useful both after running the script for the first time, and after Windows & other updates.
• It creates human-friendly logs with helpful information about the optimizations performed.

What VFX.ps1 Doesn't Do

VFX.ps1 doesn't perform every optimization needed for the best VFX experience - manual configurations are required.

VFX.ps1 does not de-bloat Windows Apps or 3rd-party stubs. Installed middleware varies greatly depending on the vendor and OS build. I decided it was easiest and fastest to simply uninstall what was present on my specific build.

VFX.ps1 is aimed at a solo VFX workstation with 1 user. It doesn't deal with networking or enterprise-type configurations or optimizations.

VFX.ps1 does not create ghost keys (directories). While it's normal to add missing values (!properties), the key paths exist even on clean installs. A missing path almost always indicates a typo or case of mistaken identity.

• See Console.ps1 for command line exploration of keys, tasks, and services.

Benchmarks

Category	Tool	New OS	Post Script	Post RTX
DPC Latency	LatencyMon	616µs	112µs	140µs
CPU Clocking	Cinebench	1941 pts	7823 pts	7728 pts
GPU	Cinebench	NA	NA	34686 pts
Random 4K I/O	CrystalDiskMark	Read 62.6 MB/s	Read 79 MB/s	74.2 MB/s
		Write 43.3 MB/s	Write 143.1 MB/s	142.0 MB/s