AMD Archives

Winsage

May 19, 2025

Goodbye Obsolete Tech—This USB Drive Instantly Revives Old Computers—Perfect for the Post-Windows 10 Era

Computers have a finite lifespan, and companies like Microsoft withdraw support for older devices to focus on newer models, a practice known as planned obsolescence. Microsoft is discontinuing support for the Windows 10 operating system, which means users will no longer receive security updates or technical assistance. Google has developed ChromeOS Flex, an operating system that can be installed on older Windows 10 devices, providing essential security features and updates. ChromeOS Flex offers rapid boot times and automatic updates and is compatible with a range of hardware from major manufacturers. Users must verify their device against an approved list and meet specific installation requirements, including having a 64-bit processor, at least 4 GB of RAM, and 16 GB of storage. An empty USB drive of at least 8 GB is needed to create the bootable installer for the installation process.

Winsage

May 17, 2025

Windows 11 Home vs Pro for Gaming: Which One Should You Choose?

Upgrading from Windows 11 Home to Windows 11 Pro does not yield significant benefits in gaming performance, compatibility, or features for most gamers. Both editions provide identical gaming performance, supporting the same core gaming technologies such as DirectStorage, Auto HDR, and Game Mode. Windows 11 Home supports up to 128 GB of RAM and one CPU socket with 64 cores, while Windows 11 Pro supports up to 2 TB of RAM and two CPU sockets with 128 cores. Pro includes additional features like BitLocker encryption, Remote Desktop hosting, Hyper-V virtualization, and Group Policy management, which are not typically utilized by gamers. The price of Windows 11 Home is lower than that of Pro, making it a more cost-effective choice for gaming. Both editions meet the hardware requirements for modern gaming, and compatibility with major games and platforms is consistent across both versions.

BetaBeacon

May 16, 2025

Samsung Game Booster Plus lets you remap controllers and enhance game graphics

The Game Booster Plus module is now available for download on One UI 7 devices via the Galaxy Store. Some features of the module are not accessible on older devices. The module offers three menus for controller remapping, GPU settings for games, and game categorization. The GPU settings menu introduces new options for adjusting performance modes and settings on a per-game basis, but it requires a more modern Samsung phone. The game category settings allow users to designate any app as a game in the system, enhancing the quality and performance of emulated games.

Winsage

May 16, 2025

How to get started with Semantic Indexing on Windows 11

Semantic Indexing is an AI-driven feature in Windows 11 that enhances search functionality using Natural Language Processing (NLP) to interpret the context and intent behind search queries. It allows users to search for files, settings, and content using conversational language rather than exact keywords. Semantic Indexing is integrated into various components of Windows 11, including File Explorer, the Start menu, and the Taskbar search box. It requires a Neural Processing Unit (NPU) and is available on Copilot+ PCs starting with the May 2025 security update. Users can verify its activation by checking for specific AI components in the settings. The feature supports various file formats such as images and documents and is compatible with several languages, including English and Spanish. The rollout of these enhancements will occur gradually.

AppWizard

May 16, 2025

Dead Island 2 is free to own this week on Epic Games Store

Dead Island 2 is available for free on the Epic Games Store until May 22nd. The game is praised for its pre-baked lighting and performance on PC, and it has been recognized for its graphics in 2023. Players report a smooth gameplay experience with minimal issues, and the game has made the Top 10 Best PC Graphics list. Initially, it did not support NVIDIA's DLSS but a free mod allows players to use DLSS instead of AMD's FSR. The game sold over one million copies in its first three days and surpassed two million by May 2023. There is speculation about a potential Dead Island 3, but no official announcements have been made.

AppWizard

May 15, 2025

Stellar Blade heads to PC on June 11

Stellar Blade will be released on PC on June 11, following its PS5 launch in April of the previous year. The PC version features enhanced graphics with support for NVIDIA DLSS 4, NVIDIA DLAA, NVIDIA Reflex, and AMD FSR 3, as well as compatibility with ultrawide resolutions. It is designed to work with the DualSense controller and offers customization options for various input methods. The minimum system requirements include 16GB of RAM, an Intel Core i5 processor, and a GeForce GTX 1060. Sony is expanding its portfolio of first-party games on PC, reflecting a trend away from exclusivity.

Winsage

May 15, 2025

Microsoft Surface PCs with Arm-based AMD chip could arrive in 2026

Microsoft is set to introduce a new line of Surface PCs in 2026 featuring AMD's Arm-based chip, codenamed Sound Wave. The Sound Wave chip is expected to be an APU with six CPU cores (two for performance and four for efficiency) and an integrated GPU with four compute units based on the RDNA 3.5 architecture, designed for a thermal envelope of 5-10W. This suggests a strategy for low-powered Surface PCs, potentially refreshing the Surface Go or Surface Hub models. This will be the first time since the Surface Laptop 4 that Microsoft incorporates an AMD processor into its Surface lineup. Recently, Microsoft launched new models, including a 12-inch Surface Pro and a 13-inch Surface Laptop, powered by the Snapdragon X Plus, which may outperform the upcoming AMD Sound Wave chip.

Winsage

May 15, 2025

Microsoft App Assure helps Nord Security build for Windows on Arm

Developers are focusing on optimizing applications for the newly launched Copilot+ PCs, which feature advanced system architecture, all-day battery life, and the ability to run AI models directly on the device. The initial Copilot+ PCs are powered by Snapdragon X Elite and X Plus silicon, with AMD and Intel also introducing compatible processors. Microsoft’s App Assure Program provides guidance and technical support to help developers optimize applications for these devices, particularly for Arm-based Snapdragon X Series devices. NordVPN is a notable example of a company that successfully utilized the App Assure program to develop an Arm-optimized version of their application. The program includes the Arm Advisory Service, which allows developers to consult with Microsoft engineers for a smoother development process. Other companies, such as Proton VPN and F-Secure, have also benefited from the App Assure team in optimizing their applications for the Windows on Arm platform.

Winsage

May 14, 2025

WSL is the best feature added to Windows in the last decade

Microsoft introduced the Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL) in the Windows 10 Anniversary Update in August 2016, initially as a tool for developers. WSL debuted as a beta version with a native-kernel translation layer, allowing Windows to run unmodified Linux ELF binaries. Its early performance was limited, leading users to prefer Linux virtual machines for full compatibility. The launch of WSL2 in May 2020 replaced the translation layer with a lightweight, real Linux kernel running in a Hyper-V utility VM, providing near-native performance and comprehensive syscall coverage. WSL2 has since seen continuous improvements, including GPU-compute and CUDA support in 2021, full GUI support for X11 and Wayland applications in 2022, and systemd support in September 2022. WSL2 approaches the performance of bare-metal Linux while integrating seamlessly with Windows, allowing users to launch a Linux shell easily. It enables developers to access the C drive and interact between Windows and Linux environments without dual-booting. WSL2 enhances productivity for data science workflows, allowing the use of tools like PyTorch with CUDA. It also offers features for non-developers, such as creating aliases for launching Windows applications and running Linux GUI applications. WSL's integration into Windows represents a significant shift, providing opportunities for users across various domains to explore Linux functionalities.

AppWizard

May 13, 2025

The best PS5 game is coming to PC sooner than expected

The PC port of Stellar Blade is set to launch on June 11, available through the Epic Games Store and Steam. It will feature support for DLSS 4 and FSR 3, ultrawide monitor compatibility, higher resolution textures, and an unlocked frame rate. The PC version will also include a new boss fight with the cyber warrior Mann and 25 new costumes for the protagonist, Eve, along with additional content from the console version like a photo mode and the Nier Automata DLC. The developer, Shift Up, expects the PC version to outperform the PS5 version due to the larger market share of PC gaming in the AAA sector. The PS5 version has received upgrades, including enhanced image quality through the PSSR upscaler.