BRUTAL ships 22 optimization modules. Each one is a focused bundle of registry/system tweaks you can run and (mostly) undo independently. This is the plain-English reference: what each does, its risk badge, whether it's reversible, and whether it needs Pro. The tweak counts are the number of individual changes inside each module.
The free everyday modules
- 1 · Process + Service Killer (197 tweaks, SAFE) — kills bloatware and stops unnecessary services to free CPU/RAM. Transient — not undoable. Has a Configure button to pick what's allowed to stop.
- 2 · Cache + Storage Cleaner (32, SAFE) — clears temp files, shader cache and logs. Transient — not undoable.
- 3 · IFEO + MMCSS CPU Priority (27, SAFE) — sets game processes to High priority and enables the Multimedia Class Scheduler.
- 4 · Ultimate Performance Power (20, SAFE) — activates Windows' Ultimate Performance power plan so the CPU doesn't throttle in-game. Captures your active plan so it's reversible.
- 5 · Network Stack (TCP) (SAFE) — tunes TCP/IP, Nagle and buffers for lower ping.
- 7 · GameMode + Scheduler (28, SAFE) — enables Game Mode, disables fullscreen optimizations, tunes the scheduler.
- 10 · DWM + Display Latency (15, SAFE) — reduces Desktop Window Manager latency for lower input lag.
- 15 · System Debloat + Latency (37, SAFE) — unparks CPU cores, disables C-States, trims audio latency, kills telemetry, disables prefetch and heavy visual effects.
- 22 · App Optimizer (12, SAFE) — optimizes Discord, Steam, Epic, Spotify and Xbox Game DVR; clears their caches and protects Discord voice quality.
The free Caution modules
These are reversible but heavier — read the description before enabling:
- 6 · GPU Tweaks (45, CAUTION) — vendor-specific registry tweaks for NVIDIA, AMD or Intel.
- 8 · Memory + Virtual RAM (16, CAUTION) — virtual memory, working-set and memory-management tuning (tier-aware).
- 9 · Emulator Performance Tuning (61, CAUTION) — deep mobile-emulator optimization: GPU passthrough, DWM bypass, memory and network tweaks. It cannot lift a game's own frame cap.
- 13 · Input Lag Optimizer (24, CAUTION) — disables mouse acceleration and USB selective suspend, tunes HID buffers, reduces DPC latency.
- 14 · GPU Deep Tuning (32, CAUTION) — MSI mode, larger shader cache, flip-model presentation, vendor deep tweaks.
- 17 · Network Adapter Deep (15, CAUTION) — per-adapter interrupt-moderation/flow-control/LSO off, expanded port range.
- 18 · NVMe + Storage Optimizer (12, CAUTION) — disables NVMe power states, high-priority I/O, NTFS tweaks.
The Pro-only deep modules
Five modules require a Pro license — the deepest tuning and overclock-adjacent work:
- 11 · VBS/HVCI + Spectre Disable (9, ADVANCED) — disables Virtualization-Based Security and Spectre mitigations to recover CPU overhead. Changes boot/security config via
bcdedit; needs a restart. - 16 · Timer + Power Throttling (8, CAUTION) — forces 0.5 ms timer, disables power throttling/EcoQoS, sets EPP to max performance.
- 19 · Interrupt Affinity (12, CAUTION) — routes GPU/NIC interrupts to dedicated cores, sets MSI-X vector limits.
- 20 · USB Deep Latency (10, CAUTION) — xHCI 1 ms polling, per-hub suspend disable, HID buffer tuning.
- 21 · CPU Scheduling + Turbo Policy (CAUTION) — aggressive turbo, instant frequency scaling and timer distribution.
One more module sits in the free panel but is ADVANCED: 12 · Timer Resolution + HPET (8 tweaks) — sets a 0.5 ms timer and configures HPET via bcdedit. Like Module 11 it changes boot config and needs a restart, so it's never auto-selected and prompts you when you enable it by hand.
Risk badges and reversibility
- SAFE (green) — standard, low-risk, reversible (except the transient 1 and 2).
- CAUTION (orange) — heavier but fully reversible via per-module Undo.
- ADVANCED (red) — changes boot/security settings (Modules 11 and 12); reversible, but needs a restart and a conscious opt-in.
Every module except 1 and 2 records a signed backup when it runs, so you can undo it individually or roll everything back with Restore All Defaults.
How to apply a specific module
- On the Optimize page, toggle on just the module(s) you want.
- Press Preview to confirm what will change.
- Press Run Selected.
- Use the module's ↩ Undo button later if you want to reverse it.
Common questions about modules
- Tweak counts are the number of individual registry/system changes, not a quality score — a 9-tweak module can matter more than a 60-tweak one on the right hardware.
- Tier-aware modules (8, 9, 16, 19, 21) scale their intensity to your detected tier; they don't do the same thing on every PC.
- Not every tweak applies on every Windows build — a setting that doesn't exist on your system is skipped and logged, not forced.
FAQ
Which modules are Pro-only?
Five: 11 (VBS/HVCI + Spectre), 16 (Timer + Power Throttling), 19 (Interrupt Affinity), 20 (USB Deep Latency) and 21 (CPU Scheduling + Turbo Policy). Every other module (1-10, 12-15, 17, 18, 22) is free.
Which modules can't be undone?
Only Modules 1 (Process + Service Killer) and 2 (Cache + Storage Cleaner). They end processes and delete files, which can't be restored, so they're transient with no Undo button. Stopped services come back via Restore All Defaults.
What do the red ADVANCED badges mean?
Modules 11 and 12 change boot and security settings through bcdedit (VBS/HVCI, Spectre mitigations, HPET/timer). They're reversible, but they need a restart and a one-time confirmation, and they're never selected automatically.
Are SSDs ever defragmented by these modules?
No. None of these modules defragment an SSD — that's an honesty rule across BRUTAL. SSD maintenance is handled separately and correctly (TRIM, never defrag) in the Drive Health tool, not here.