Fastmode

Fastmode is a term used in technology to denote a mode or setting that prioritizes speed or minimize latency. The specifics are not standardized and can differ widely between devices and applications, but the general intent is to accelerate operation, reduce delays, or increase throughput for time-sensitive tasks. The term is used across several domains, including gaming and peripherals, streaming and media processing, networking equipment, and software development.

In gaming and input devices, Fastmode often lowers processing overhead or simplifies the pipeline to shorten the interval between user input and system response, sometimes at the cost of reduced frame features or higher power draw. In media workflows, Fastmode can enable low-latency encoding, decoding, or transport, prioritizing speed over image quality or compression efficiency. In networks, Fastmode may refer to fast-path processing that bypasses certain checks or processing stages to achieve lower latency, with potential trade-offs in error handling or reliability. In software and systems, Fastmode can describe optimization profiles that enable aggressive optimizations, inlining, or prefetching for hot code paths.

Because implementation details are vendor-specific, users should consult official documentation to understand the exact behavior, limitations, and any trade-offs of Fastmode in a given product.