CorePin vs Gaming Optimizer

CorePin is a per-game CPU optimization utility for Windows 10 and 11. It lets you configure core placement, scheduling, process priority, power behavior, and background workloads, then apply those settings automatically when a configured game starts and restore temporary changes after it exits. The utility detects processor topology and offers V-Cache, frequency, hybrid-core, cache-group, no-SMT, and manual profiles. Its library can discover games from Steam, Xbox app/Microsoft Store, Epic Games Store, GOG Galaxy, EA app, Ubisoft Connect, Battle.net, Amazon Games App, and Meta PC VR. CorePin also supports supported VR companion placement and OpenXR launch behavior. Gameplay profiling reports FPS, frame-time, CPU/GPU behavior, memory, storage, and available hardware telemetry; System Benchmark offers Quick, Full, and Demo modes using repeatable CPU and DirectX workloads. CorePin is free: free. It operates locally, though its interface may make outbound HTTPS requests for release checks, artwork, and provider metadata. Performance results vary with the game and system, and improvements are not guaranteed.

Gaming Optimizer is a free, MIT-licensed Windows app for managing CPU affinity in games and background processes. It can assign games to fast cores and demote background processes, but CPU pinning is off by default and changes do not occur until it is enabled. The app says it restores altered processes and system settings when a game closes. Its dashboard shows CPU and GPU metrics, network activity, ping and jitter, bottleneck classifications and process zones. It detects game launches through WMI and scans Steam, Epic Games, GOG, Ubisoft Connect and EA App libraries. Per-game reports include average and peak CPU and GPU metrics and bottleneck breakdowns, with a cumulative sessions.csv file. An optional setting locks NVIDIA graphics clocks while a game runs and resets them afterward. The maker says there is no telemetry, analytics or update checking; the only outbound connection is a configurable latency ping. It requires Windows 10 version 1809 or Windows 11, an x64 processor and administrator rights. The README describes ZIP distribution without an installer, while the Releases page lists no releases.