---
title: "GPU interrupt affinity: moving graphics card interrupts off core 0"
description: "By default Windows may deliver a device's interrupts to any core, and core 0 usually ends up busiest because many drivers and Windows itself favor it."
url: https://frozentweaks.com/tweaks/gpu-interrupt-affinity
author: Frost LIVE, Founder of Frozen Tweaks
published: 2026-10-08
updated: 2026-10-08
category: "CPU"
source: Frozen Tweaks (https://frozentweaks.com)
---

# GPU interrupt affinity: moving graphics card interrupts off core 0

**Short answer:** By default Windows may deliver a device's interrupts to any core, and core 0 usually ends up busiest because many drivers and Windows itself favor it. This tweak sets an interrupt affinity policy on the graphics card so its interrupts go to other cores.

## In the app

- Switch: GPU IRQ Affinity (Isolate) (CPU, Pro, Advanced)
- Undo: Yes. Switching it off sets a standard Windows value, which may not be exactly how you had it.
- Catalog row: https://frozentweaks.com/tweaks#t-1106

## What it does

By default Windows may deliver a device's interrupts to any core, and core 0 usually ends up busiest because many drivers and Windows itself favor it. This tweak sets an interrupt affinity policy on the graphics card so its interrupts go to other cores.

In the app the switch is called "GPU IRQ Affinity (Isolate)", described there as: Pins GPU interrupts away from CPU0/1 to reduce contention (advanced, per-device).

## When it helps

- Systems where core 0 is saturated and LatencyMon shows high DPC times from the graphics driver.

## When it hurts

- On most systems the default distribution is fine, and a fixed policy can be worse than letting Windows decide.
- It is per device, needs a restart, and a wrong affinity can lower performance.

## What it writes

Read from the app's source. "Switching it off" is what the app writes when you turn the tweak off again.

This tweak has no fixed list of registry values: it works through a driver's own settings, scheduled tasks or values that differ from PC to PC. The app reads what your PC has and changes only that.

## How to undo it

Switch the tweak off in Frozen Tweaks.

## Verdict

An expert setting for a measured problem. If you have not looked at DPC latency, skip it.

## Questions

### Is "GPU IRQ Affinity (Isolate)" safe to switch on?

An expert setting for a measured problem. If you have not looked at DPC latency, skip it. The main cost: On most systems the default distribution is fine, and a fixed policy can be worse than letting Windows decide.

### How do I undo it?

Switch the tweak off in Frozen Tweaks. Switching it off sets a standard Windows value, which may not be exactly how you had it.

### Is "GPU IRQ Affinity (Isolate)" free in Frozen Tweaks?

It is part of Frozen Pro and Elite. You can also make the change by hand with the values on this page.

## Related guides

- [How to Fix Stuttering and Frame Drops: Diagnose Before You Tweak](https://frozentweaks.com/guides/fix-stuttering-frame-drops)
- [How to Reduce Input Lag on PC: The Whole Latency Chain](https://frozentweaks.com/guides/reduce-input-lag)

## More tweak explainers

- [HPET (High Precision Event Timer)](https://frozentweaks.com/tweaks/disable-hpet)
- [Power throttling](https://frozentweaks.com/tweaks/disable-power-throttling)
- [CPU core parking](https://frozentweaks.com/tweaks/disable-core-parking)

---
Written by Frost LIVE, founder of Frozen Tweaks. Canonical version: https://frozentweaks.com/tweaks/gpu-interrupt-affinity