In the most recent Windows 11 preview build 29695, Microsoft has rolled out a new performance toggle called 'Advanced Performance Extensions' (APX). This functionality is built upon specific hardware instruction sets and, once activated, has the potential to boost performance on compatible devices. Presently, the APX toggle is accessible solely to participants in the Windows Insider 'Experimental (Future Platforms)' testing channel, and an official launch date remains unconfirmed.

The APX technology, unveiled by Intel in 2023, is designed to enhance performance without a substantial surge in power consumption or chip real estate. It achieves this by expanding the x86 instruction set, doubling the number of general-purpose registers from 16 to 32. This reduction in the frequency of data transfers between the processor and memory translates to improved performance. Intel's forthcoming Nova Lake architecture is set to incorporate APX support.

Microsoft and Intel are working hand in hand to fine-tune the integration of APX in Windows 11. Data indicates that code compiled with APX experiences a decrease in load and store operations, resulting in faster application compilation times. Nevertheless, developers will need to recompile existing applications to harness the capabilities of APX, and not all apps will see an immediate performance boost after enabling the toggle.

For current Windows 11 devices that are not compatible with APX, Microsoft is advocating the use of 'low-latency profiles' to enhance the overall user experience.