Solved Core Isolation Is that Needed on?

Hello All

Do i need Core Isolation turned on for a Standard Home Gaming PC? Have Windows Defender and Malwarebytes Paid for protection, a ways back i turned it on manually after watching a Youtube video that it would increase security by 60-90 percent.

Anyways last night transferred 1 large file to Flash drive as backup of the file, 2.84gb, anyways the file transfer rate was practically 1 line above the bottom of the File transfer Dialog Window.

Drive was Sandisk 64GB Flash drive, formatted in default format Exfat.

This was on Windows 11 Pro x64 22621.1105 Desktop Machine, Gigabyte B460M-DS3H Motherboard, Direct to the 1 available rear 3.2 gen 1 usb port

At the end of the day is it needed, no.

Is it a nice to have security feature? It's just yet another security feature to help prevent attacks.

Do I use have it enabled? Yes. But my system is fully supported to include drivers.

Yeah it reported no driver problems on mine, except the usual Western Digital SES driver, but that was only one that i ever had issues with.

Just not sure why the darn USB drives so slow for lol...but might just leave it enabled, and just deal with the transfer rate as it is, as don't think a good idea to go changing stuff to see what works and what doesn't lol.

Following USB devices are in use on System

By The 1Gig Ethernet Adapter
Pluggable 2.5Gig USB A/C Ethernet adapter
Port Next to the Pluggable adapter available the 1 port not used daily)

Above the Pluggable in the 2 other Blue ports
Logitech Mix Adapter for Wireless Logitech G935 Headset
UPS auto Shutdown cable

Front USB Ports
USB 2.0 port #1 used by Logitech Rumplepad Controller
Port #2 USB 2.0 used for Headset charging cable
USB 3.0 Open most of the time

Internal just a Bluetooth card plugged into the one usb 2.0 motherboard ports

bikemanI7 said:

except the usual Western Digital SES driver

Click to expand...

Well know for preventing the enabling of core isolation. My Windows 10 received a WD driver update through Windows update. Check Win11 windows update for optional driver updates.

Only Seeing the following as Optional Driver Updates

Everything else appears to be up to date

The drive would have to be plugged in when WU scans for updates. It's listed as a windows 10 driver halfway down this page. Should work in 11 but I can't say for sure.
Western Digital Technologies - WDC_SAM - 4.55.25.661


If your problem is not the WD driver, you might try MS hardware readiness tool to see if it will help find what is keeping you from enabling core isolation.

I personally do not have core isolation turned on.

@glasskuter

Yeah i had no problem turning it on, not sure i needed it on, but its currently on at the moment in my Windows 11 Main Gaming Desktop.

core isolation is good but its performance hit 1-2%.. so if you need fps you turn that off

Yeah turned off Core Isolation last evening, and then tested usb file transfer to My RED Passport drive, transfer rate was greatly improved--steady near 100Mb/s all the way thru the file transfer!! Gotta test other drives later, but seems to be alot better

Gaming performance Fps was alot better as well
Maybe my Intel 10th Gen didn't fully support use of Core Isolation after all
(Intel I7 10700)

bikemanI7 said:

Yeah turned off Core Isolation last evening, and then tested usb file transfer to My RED Passport drive, transfer rate was greatly improved--steady near 100Mb/s all the way thru the file transfer!! Gotta test other drives later, but seems to be alot better

Gaming performance Fps was alot better as well
Maybe my Intel 10th Gen didn't fully support use of Core Isolation after all
(Intel I7 10700)

Click to expand...

My 10700k absolutely does so i would think you're 10700 would.
Ive had it off for 19 months or so, Same with virus and threat protection, Ransomware protection and also reputation based protection. Generally got in my way more than helping me out so those went too, UAC also disabled. 19 months later as solid as ever :)
I also did notice some improvements in speed with transfers and a couple of fps in games at the time of change over. So i just left it at that, I also don't run an AV(Best one is the one between ya ears!)Don't need em so :)

But i'd say you're fine either way, If its quicker without it..i'd go without. If its no different i'd leave it on for what could it hurt:)