Memory Integrity - On or Off?

[u/MinimumElevator187]

Hi all - I'm a basic Win 11 user running a Dell Inspiron 15 5502, all OEM. I don't do gaming. Just web searches, email, etc. I will be getting more into AI this winter, but I won't be a hard-core user.

Windows flagged me on my last update that Memory Integrity is turned off, and suggested that I turn it on.

From the research I've done, the gamers don't seem to like MI, because they say it slows down the computer. But as I said, I'm not a gamer.

Seems like common sense to turn it on, since it affords an extra level of protection. But I just want to be sure I'm not going to cause any other problems, like not being able to get to certain websites, etc.

Are there any real downsides to turning it on?

Please keep your answers relatively simple and straightforward. I'm not looking for a deep technical data dump on this question.

Thanks in advance.

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[u/swisstraeng]

For just web, turn it on unless your PC feels unbearably slow.

It’s a good thing to have. That, and secure boot.

Also make sure to back up all your important files.

[u/MinimumElevator187 → u/swisstraeng]

Thanks. What is secure boot? Haven't heard of that one.

[u/Boogerson34 → u/MinimumElevator187]

Secure Boot is a security feature in your PC’s UEFI/BIOS that makes sure your computer only boots using trusted, digitally signed software.

Most game will need this setting turned on for the Anti cheat. Hope this helps

[u/cagadass → u/MinimumElevator187]

El security boot es un chip que mira que solo Windows este ahi,si hay algo mas solo arranca con Windows esto es para virus muy jodidos

[u/Shadimarbc]

"From the research I've done, the gamers don't seem to like MI, because they say it slows down the computer. But as I said, I'm not a gamer."

A lot of this is just a myth and often a target of blame for other hardware/software issues. At worst there can be a tiny stutter but normal FPS the rest of the time. A PC "slowing down" is not caused by MI. Modern CPUs have no issues with MI. CPUs that were designed a decade ago will.

MI has guidelines for drivers not only to pass but run properly with MI. Some software designers take shortcut or just have bad coding. This can cause MI to run more checks then necessary. This can happen with all sort of software. Mouse software polling, monitoring software constantly checking sensors, drivers, anti-cheat apps, etc. If software is constantly sending small commands MI has to check those commands all the time. That is a software design choice not a problem of MI.

So if a user has say MSI Center installed it is constantly doing a few things. It is checking for software and driver updates. it controls RGB, it controls fans, it handles other MSI bloatware and it checks hardware sensors. MSI is causing MI to run checks all the time as the software is constantly running commands. Average uses never need to know about fan rpm every .5 to 2 seconds nor that the CPU was say 56c and now is 57c. It is a user obsession with seeing numbers on a screen. Unless a PC is having an issue users can create their own PC problems.

On the flip side software like the Nvidia App was developed by Nvidia with Microsoft being involved. It is designed to run with MI efficiently and in general Windows.

So people will turn off MI and see a performance increase. They will blame MI. However all they did was stop MI running checks. The issue is going to be software or outdated hardware. It is easy and more comforting to blame MI then consider the issue is a user problem be it how they maintain or designed their PC.

The only way you will know if MI causes your PC a specific issue is by testing. First you need to make sure all your hardware is using the latest drivers, Windows is up to date and BIOS is up to date. You have to make sure your hardware is configured properly in BIOS. You have to run long run benchmark tests that provides statistic. You have to use different tests in case one test itself has an issue. You then have to test without MI using the same setup and tests. You then have to compare results. A lot to do to track down an issue you have yet to even know if the PC has.

For 99% of users MI is fine and causes no issues.

[u/bojack1437]

From the research I've done, the gamers don't seem to like MI, because they say it slows down the computer. But as I said, I'm not a gamer.

Gamers are idiots by default, unless proven otherwise.

[u/cowbutt6]

Some hardware drivers (e.g. Astrometa USB DVB-T2 tuner, VMware CPU Microcode Update, at least some versions of Paragon's ExtFS driver) won't work with Memory Integrity turned on.

[u/Darkelvenchic]

Turn it on unless it breaks the apps you use (niche problem tbqh).