Forum Discussion
Windows 11 system experiences lag when gaming with an external SSD.
An external SSD connected via USB port functions normally under Windows 10. However, after upgrading to Windows 11, severe lag or even freezing occurs when running games (particularly noticeable duri...
That kind of lag often points to how Windows 11 handles USB storage drivers and power management compared to Windows 10. I’d suggest checking for the latest chipset/USB controller drivers from your motherboard or laptop vendor, and disabling USB selective suspend in Power Options to prevent the SSD from momentarily powering down. Also, make sure the drive is connected to a USB 3.1/3.2 port with UASP support, since gaming off an external SSD can bottleneck if Windows falls back to BOT mode. Updating firmware on the SSD (if available) and testing another cable/port may also help stabilize performance.