---
title: "Interrupt Moderation on or off for gaming, and Energy Efficient Ethernet"
description: "Interrupt Moderation makes a network adapter collect several packets before it interrupts the processor, trading a little delay for less processor work."
url: https://frozentweaks.com/tweaks/interrupt-moderation-and-energy-efficient-ethernet
author: Frost LIVE, Founder of Frozen Tweaks
published: 2026-10-08
updated: 2026-10-08
category: "Network"
source: Frozen Tweaks (https://frozentweaks.com)
---

# Interrupt Moderation on or off for gaming, and Energy Efficient Ethernet

**Short answer:** Interrupt Moderation makes a network adapter collect several packets before it interrupts the processor, trading a little delay for less processor work. Energy Efficient Ethernet lets the link sleep between packets. This tweak turns both off in each adapter's driver settings, and puts back the exact previous values when switched off.

## In the app

- Switch: NIC Driver Low-Latency (Network, Pro, Advanced)
- Undo: Yes. Switching it off writes back the values each adapter had before.
- Game profiles that switch it on: Apex Legends, Battlefield 6, Call of Duty and 9 more
- Catalog row: https://frozentweaks.com/tweaks#t-1107

## What it does

Interrupt Moderation makes a network adapter collect several packets before it interrupts the processor, trading a little delay for less processor work. Energy Efficient Ethernet lets the link sleep between packets. This tweak turns both off in each adapter's driver settings, and puts back the exact previous values when switched off.

In the app the switch is called "NIC Driver Low-Latency", described there as: Disables driver Interrupt Moderation & Energy Efficient Ethernet (per-adapter).

## When it helps

- Latency consistency on a wired connection: each packet is handled as it arrives, and the link never has to wake.

## When it hurts

- More interrupts mean more processor work during heavy transfers, so large downloads can use more processor or run slightly slower.
- On a weak processor that is already the limit in games, the extra interrupts can cost more than they give.

## 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

A reasonable setting for competitive online play on a desktop processor with headroom.

## Questions

### Is "NIC Driver Low-Latency" safe to switch on?

A reasonable setting for competitive online play on a desktop processor with headroom. The main cost: More interrupts mean more processor work during heavy transfers, so large downloads can use more processor or run slightly slower.

### How do I undo it?

Switch the tweak off in Frozen Tweaks. Switching it off writes back the values each adapter had before.

### Is "NIC Driver Low-Latency" 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 Reduce Input Lag on PC: The Whole Latency Chain](https://frozentweaks.com/guides/reduce-input-lag)

## More tweak explainers

- [LLMNR](https://frozentweaks.com/tweaks/disable-llmnr)
- [NetworkThrottlingIndex](https://frozentweaks.com/tweaks/network-throttling-index)
- [Nagle's algorithm](https://frozentweaks.com/tweaks/disable-nagle-algorithm)

---
Written by Frost LIVE, founder of Frozen Tweaks. Canonical version: https://frozentweaks.com/tweaks/interrupt-moderation-and-energy-efficient-ethernet