PassMark Reports Decline in Average CPU Performance for Windows PCs in 2025
PassMark, a trusted name in benchmarking software, has recently unveiled intriguing statistics concerning the state of Windows PC performance for the year 2025. Unlike UserBenchmark, PassMark has highlighted a notable decrease in average CPU performance trends. This finding was shared through the company’s official X handle, prompting questions about underlying causes.
Unexpected Performance Trends
The revelation of declining CPU performance has left PassMark perplexed, as such a trend is unprecedented. This shift may be attributed to several factors, such as the transition from Windows 10 to Windows 11, which could potentially lead to reduced performance. Another theory suggests that the influx of bloatware in newer systems might be contributing to this downturn.
So this is unexpected. Average CPU performance in 2025 is going down. Maybe first time in history? Why, we don’t know….Maybe people buying cheaper hardware or low (electrical) power machines? Maybe crap bloatware? Maybe Win11 vs Win10? https://t.co/WLhmTtHV81 pic.twitter.com/AkaoJ1zB9j
— PassMark Software (@PassMarkInc) February 10, 2025
Methodology Behind the Metrics
To provide context for these figures, PassMark explains how they derive their metrics from PerformanceTest baseline scores contributed by users. Their graph, showcasing year-over-year performance, incorporates thousands of benchmark results updated bi-weekly. This data includes submissions from PerformanceTest versions 5 through 11, with the V8 edition—the first to collect single-thread performance—being released in 2012.
This graph showing year on year performance is made up of thousands of PerformanceTest benchmark results and is updated bi-weekly (i.e.every two weeks).The chart is composed of data from PerformanceTest V5 to the V11. PerformanceTest V8 (released 2012) was the first version to collect single thread performance.
..This graph counts the baselines submitted to us during these time period and therefore is representative of CPUs tested during this time.
Windows 10 Versus Windows 11
Historically, Windows 10 has often outperformed its successor. In light of recent trends, PassMark has also examined the performance differences between Windows 11 versions 24H2 and 23H2 to evaluate Microsoft’s progress in optimizing their operating system.
Core Count Insights
Diving deeper into the data, PassMark observed that the majority of users are sticking to CPUs with eight cores or fewer, showing little interest in upgrading to processors with higher core counts. This trend has remained unchanged since 2020.
Seems people aren’t upgrading to CPUs with higher core counts. Percentage of people with more than 8 cores is the same today as it was in 2020.pic.twitter.com/DY9rgoobl1
— PassMark Software (@PassMarkInc) February 12, 2025
Evaluating Gaming and Software Trends
It’s worth noting that many modern games are not optimized to utilize more than 16 processor threads, which diminishes the urgency for users to upgrade to higher core count CPUs. Additionally, the growing trend of high-resolution gaming has shifted the CPU’s role in performance bottlenecks. Many applications now rely heavily on GPU hardware acceleration, further lessening the necessity for higher core counts in CPUs.
In conclusion, the data presented by PassMark about the unexpected decline in CPU performance in 2025 raises important questions about the future of PC hardware and software compatibility. As users navigate these trends, they will need to consider how the operating system and hardware choices impact performance.
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