Start with ExplorerPatcher (Windows 11) or Open-Shell (Windows 10), add Rainmeter for widgets, and consider PowerToys for launcher and fancy zones. This gives 90% of customization benefit with near-zero stability risk.
| Customization | RAM Usage | CPU Usage | GPU Usage | Startup Impact | |---------------|-----------|-----------|-----------|----------------| | Basic wallpapers | Negligible | None | None | None | | Rainmeter (5+ widgets) | 30-80 MB | 0.5-2% | Minimal | Low | | Fences | 20-50 MB | <1% | None | Low | | WindowBlinds | 100-200 MB | 1-3% | Low (for animations) | Moderate | | Komorebi (tiling) | 10-20 MB | <0.5% | None | Low | | Full shell replacement | Varies | Varies | Varies | High (must restart shell) | windows desktop change