Fullscreen mode takes over your whole screen. Borderless mode looks like fullscreen but runs the game in a window without borders.
Simple, right?
Well, not quite. Things get messy when we dig deeper.
Many gamers swear fullscreen gives better performance. Others claim borderless is just as good. So who’s right?
The truth is, it depends.
Here’s a quick rundown of some popular games tested in both modes:
| Game | Fullscreen FPS | Borderless FPS |
|---|---|---|
| Horizon Zero Dawn | 88 | 88 |
| Red Dead Redemption 2 | 59 | 59 |
| Cyberpunk 2077 | 61 | 61 |
| Hitman 3 | 153 | 147 |
As you can see, most games show no difference. Hitman 3 is the odd one out, with a small boost in fullscreen mode.
So why all the fuss?
It’s partly due to how Windows handles these modes. In the past, fullscreen gave the game direct control over the display. This could lead to better performance.
But Windows has gotten smarter over the years.
Now, it can handle borderless mode much more efficiently. The performance gap has shrunk or disappeared in many cases.
There’s also confusion about what “fullscreen” actually means in games.
Some games use true fullscreen, while others use a borderless windowed and call it fullscreen. It’s not always clear which is which.
Here are some pros and cons of each mode:
Fullscreen:
- Might offer slightly better performance in some games
- Can be less stable when alt-tabbing
- Takes longer to switch between the game and other windows
Borderless:
- Allows for quick and smooth alt-tabbing
- Works well with multiple monitors
- Might use slightly more system resources
For most modern games, you probably won’t notice a big difference either way. The days of huge performance gaps between fullscreen and borderless are mostly behind us.
It’s worth noting that some older games might still benefit from true fullscreen mode.
If you’re playing a game from a few years back and notice performance issues, try switching between modes to see if it helps.
Some gamers also swear by disabling “fullscreen optimizations” in Windows for certain games.
This setting forces games to use exclusive fullscreen mode, which might help in specific cases.
To try this:
- Right-click on the game’s exe file
- Click Properties
- Go to the Compatibility tab
- Check “Disable fullscreen optimizations”
Remember, this is more of a troubleshooting step than a general recommendation. Most games work fine with fullscreen optimizations enabled.
Another thing to keep in mind is that some games offer additional display options.
You might see choices like:
- Windowed
- Borderless windowed
- Fullscreen
- Exclusive fullscreen
Each of these can behave slightly differently, so it’s worth experimenting if you’re having issues.
Graphics card settings can also play a role.
Both NVIDIA and AMD offer options to force certain display modes or override in-game settings. These can be handy tools if you’re trying to troubleshoot display issues.
At the end of the day, the fullscreen vs borderless debate isn’t as crucial as it once was. For most gamers, either option will work just fine.
If you’re curious, try both and see which you prefer. But don’t stress too much about it – there are plenty of other settings that have a bigger impact on your gaming experience.
Speaking of other settings, here are a few that often make a bigger difference:
- Resolution: Higher resolutions look better but need more power
- Texture quality: Affects how detailed game objects look
- Shadow quality: Can have a big impact on performance
- Anti-aliasing: Smooths out jagged edges but can be demanding
These settings often have a much larger effect on both visuals and performance than the fullscreen vs borderless choice.
It’s also worth mentioning that your hardware plays a big role.
A powerful graphics card and CPU will generally handle either display mode without breaking a sweat. If you’re on older or less powerful hardware, you might see more of a difference between modes.
Monitors can factor in too.
Some displays work better with certain modes. If you have a fancy gaming monitor with features like adaptive sync, you might want to experiment to see which mode works best.
In the world of competitive gaming, some players swear by fullscreen mode.
They claim it reduces input lag and gives them an edge. While there might be some truth to this in specific cases, the difference is often tiny. Unless you’re playing at the highest levels, it’s probably not worth worrying about.
For the average gamer, comfort and convenience often trump minor performance differences.
If you prefer the quick alt-tabbing of borderless mode, stick with it. If you like the immersion of fullscreen, go for that. The most important thing is that you’re enjoying your games.
As gaming tech keeps evolving, the line between fullscreen and borderless will likely blur even further.
Future Windows updates and game engines might make the distinction almost meaningless.
For now, the best advice is simple: try both modes in your favorite games. See if you notice a difference. Pick the one that feels best to you. And then get back to what really matters – having fun with your games!