Dynamic tick and HPET: the bcdedit timer settings, and why the usual advice is wrong

Frost LIVECPUProUndo: YesUpdated Oct 8, 2026View as Markdown

Short answer

Updated Oct 8, 2026

Dynamic tick lets Windows skip timer interrupts while idle to save power; disabling it with bcdedit keeps the tick constant. Critically, the correct action for HPET is usually to delete the useplatformclock setting rather than force it on. Forcing HPET is a widely repeated recommendation that commonly reduces performance on modern hardware.

In the app

Disable Dynamic Tick & favor TSCPRO

Command

bcdedit /deletevalue disabledynamictickbcdedit /set disabledynamictick yes

What the switch writes. Your current value may differ. 2 more changes below.

What it does

Dynamic tick lets the kernel skip periodic timer interrupts when nothing needs servicing. Disabling it keeps a steady tick, which some people find produces more consistent timing behaviour.

The platform clock setting is separate and more consequential. Forcing HPET makes Windows use the High Precision Event Timer, which on most modern systems is slower to read than the invariant TSC the OS would otherwise pick.

When it helps, and when it hurts

When it helps

Deleting a previously forced useplatformclock setting is a genuine fix, and often reverses a real performance loss someone inflicted on themselves following old advice.
Disabling dynamic tick can marginally improve timing consistency on some systems.

When it hurts

Disabling dynamic tick increases idle power draw, which matters on laptops.
Forcing HPET on is a common mistake that usually costs performance. If a guide tells you to set useplatformclock to true, be sceptical.
The measurable effect of dynamic tick alone is small on current hardware.

What it writes

Exactly what the switch changes, read from the app's source. Switching it off is what the app writes when you turn the tweak off again.

With the tweak · CMD

bcdedit /set disabledynamictick yes
bcdedit /deletevalue useplatformclock
bcdedit /set tscsyncpolicy Enhanced

bcdedit /set disabledynamictick yes: Keeps the timer tick constant instead of letting Windows skip ticks while idle.
bcdedit /deletevalue useplatformclock: Stops forcing HPET as the platform timer, letting Windows choose. This is usually what you want.
bcdedit /set tscsyncpolicy Enhanced: Sets how Windows keeps the CPU's timestamp counters in sync across cores.

Switching it off · CMD

bcdedit /deletevalue disabledynamictick
REM useplatformclock: not put back
bcdedit /deletevalue tscsyncpolicy

From the app's source (clock_policy.hpp), app 2.0.0, checked Oct 8, 2026.

How to undo it

In the app: Yes

Switching it off sets a standard Windows value, which may not be exactly how you had it.

Run bcdedit /deletevalue disabledynamictick and bcdedit /deletevalue tscsyncpolicy, then reboot. Switching it off in Frozen Tweaks runs both, which returns Windows to choosing for itself. A useplatformclock value the tweak removed is not put back, which is usually what you want.

Changing several settings at once? The app's Make a restore point button, on every plan, makes a Windows restore point before you start.

Verdict

The valuable half here is undoing forced HPET, not disabling dynamic tick. If you have ever followed an old timer-tweaking guide, check whether useplatformclock is set and remove it.

In the app