benchmark Archives

AppWizard

April 6, 2025

The Last of Us Part 2 Remastered PC Performance Analysis

Sony has released The Last of Us Part 2 Remastered for PC, utilizing Naughty Dog’s proprietary engine. Performance analysis was conducted using an AMD Ryzen 9 7950X3D processor, 32GB of DDR5 RAM, and various graphics cards including AMD Radeon RX 6900XT, RX 7900XTX, RX 9070XT, and NVIDIA RTX 2080Ti, RTX 3080, RTX 4090, RTX 5080, and RTX 5090 on a Windows 10 64-bit system. The game features customizable graphics settings and supports technologies like Intel XeSS, NVIDIA DLSS 3, and AMD FSR 3.1. Benchmark tests showed all GPUs maintained frame rates above 60FPS at 1080p and 1440p resolutions with Max Settings, with the NVIDIA RTX 2080Ti achieving 60FPS. The AMD Radeon RX 9070XT outperformed the RX 7900XTX, while the RX 6900XT lagged behind the NVIDIA RTX 3080. For 4K gaming at Max Settings, the AMD Radeon RX 7900XTX and NVIDIA RTX 4090, RTX 5080, and RTX 5090 were necessary for 60FPS. The game requires a minimum of six CPU cores/threads for optimal performance, with dual-core and quad-core systems experiencing severe stuttering. An eight-core processor improved frame rates above 70FPS. The game features impressive pre-baked lighting but has some traversal stutters and asynchronous shader compilation that may affect performance on CPUs with fewer cores. Keyboard and mouse controls function well from the start.

AppWizard

April 6, 2025

‘A Minecraft Movie’ is on-track for a $135M opening weekend

The big screen adaptation of Minecraft has made a significant debut, earning millions on its opening Friday and is projected to reach 5 million by the end of the weekend, potentially setting a new benchmark for 2023. If these projections hold, it would surpass “Captain America: Brave New World,” which earned .8 million in February, and provide a boost to the domestic box office, which is down 7% year-over-year. The film, directed by Jared Hess and featuring stars like Jason Momoa and Jack Black, creatively introduces human characters into the Minecraft world, despite the game's lack of a defined storyline. The film's performance mirrors that of “The Super Mario Brothers Movie,” which also faced mixed reviews but achieved box office success. This opening weekend is encouraging for Warner Bros., which has faced recent setbacks, and a sequel seems likely.

Winsage

April 4, 2025

Microsoft unveils AI assistant with ‘memory’

Microsoft launched an enhanced version of its AI assistant, "Copilot," which can remember user preferences and perform tasks autonomously, during its 50th anniversary event. The assistant can independently book tickets, make reservations, and shop online. This update is part of a strategic overhaul to improve Microsoft's consumer image and reduce reliance on OpenAI. The event featured former CEO Steve Ballmer and co-founder Bill Gates, highlighting past challenges in the consumer market. Current CEO Satya Nadella has shifted focus to cloud services, resulting in a significant increase in share price. Copilot will include a podcast-generating feature and a "Vision" feature for processing information from a user's phone camera. Microsoft aims to enhance its Bing search engine to compete with Google, which dominates the search market. The company hired Mustafa Suleyman and invested in his start-up Inflection AI to advance its AI capabilities. Microsoft maintains a profit-sharing agreement with OpenAI and access to its models until at least 2030.

Winsage

April 3, 2025

Is Windows 11 Finally Better Than Windows 10 For Gaming?

Windows 11 has introduced several gaming-focused enhancements that are not present in Windows 10, including: - DirectStorage: Optimized for Windows 11, this technology allows games to load data directly from an NVMe SSD to the GPU, reducing load times. - Auto HDR: Enhances older games by automatically applying high dynamic range lighting effects for users with HDR-capable monitors. - Improved Scheduling for Hybrid CPUs: Offers better task scheduling for Intel's 12th or 13th generation CPUs, resulting in smoother frame rates during CPU-intensive gaming sessions. Benchmark tests show minimal performance differences between Windows 10 and Windows 11, with slight FPS improvements in some titles on Windows 11, especially when using advanced hardware and DirectStorage. As of March 2025, over 55% of Windows users on Steam have transitioned to Windows 11, indicating growing confidence in the operating system among gamers. Windows 11 has addressed many early bugs and driver issues, providing robust stability on compatible systems. Windows 11 has stricter hardware requirements than Windows 10, including the need for TPM 2.0 and UEFI secure boot. Windows 10 remains supported until October 2025, making it a viable option for users with older hardware. Windows 11 features a redesigned interface with a centered Start Menu and Taskbar, rounded corners, and expanded personalization options. It also simplifies the update process with annual feature updates and smaller, faster security updates. Windows 11 enhances integration with Microsoft services, supports Android apps through the Amazon Appstore, and introduces productivity tools like Snap Layouts and improved Task View. Security improvements include mandatory TPM 2.0, enhanced Windows Defender, and a redesigned privacy dashboard for better user control over app permissions. Despite its advancements, Windows 11 has limitations such as ongoing stability issues, driver compatibility concerns, and a simplified taskbar that lacks certain functionalities from Windows 10. Windows 11 is available as a free upgrade for eligible Windows 10 devices through Windows Update.

Winsage

March 31, 2025

CrystalMark Retro 2.0.0 brings retro benchmarking to systems from Windows 95 to Windows 11

Crystal Dew World has released version 2.0.0 of its benchmarking tool, CrystalMark Retro, which now supports Windows 95, 98, and Me systems, in addition to Windows XP and later versions. The update was developed in response to user feedback and includes a new benchmark score comparison site, crystalmarkdb.com/retro. Users can benchmark a variety of systems, from vintage Windows versions to modern ones, including Windows 11 and various server editions. Windows NT 3.51 and its successors are also supported with a necessary patch.

AppWizard

March 23, 2025

Assassin’s Creed Shadows is hands-down one of the most beautiful PC ports I’ve ever seen

Ubisoft's Assassin's Creed Shadows is noted for its stunning visuals, comparable to Cyberpunk 2077 post-launch. It is one of the best-looking games on PC, though it has performance challenges, particularly with Nvidia GeForce RTX 5090 struggling to maintain over 60fps at 4K max settings. The game's enforced Ray Traced Global Illumination (RTGI) in the 'Hideout' area contributes to its demanding hardware requirements. The reviewer experienced smooth gameplay at an average of 74fps using an Asus TUF Nvidia RTX 4080 Super OC Edition and an Alienware AW3423DWF QD-OLED ultrawide monitor, with zero stutters. Recent Nvidia drivers have caused some performance issues, leading the reviewer to use version 572.47 for stability. DLSS Frame Generation is effective in optimizing performance, despite some ghosting. The game's visuals are highlighted as a key feature that justifies its performance demands, and Ubisoft's choice to skip last-gen consoles is seen as prudent due to the game's requirements.

AppWizard

March 21, 2025

A high schooler built a website that lets you challenge AI models to a Minecraft build-off

Developers are exploring new methods to benchmark generative AI models, with one initiative being the Minecraft Benchmark (MC-Bench), a platform for head-to-head competitions among AI models that generate unique Minecraft creations. Users vote on the performances without knowing which AI created each entry. The project, created by 12th-grade student Adi Singh, leverages Minecraft's universal recognition to evaluate AI capabilities. MC-Bench currently has eight volunteer contributors and has received support from major AI companies like Anthropic, Google, OpenAI, and Alibaba. The focus is on simple builds, with plans to scale to more complex tasks. MC-Bench requires models to write code for requested builds, making it easier for users to assess the quality of creations visually. Singh believes the scores from MC-Bench provide meaningful insights into AI performance compared to traditional text-based benchmarks.

AppWizard

March 18, 2025

Assassin’s Creed: Shadows PC Performance Analysis

Ubisoft has removed the review embargo for Assassin’s Creed: Shadows, which is powered by the AnvilNext Engine. Performance benchmarks were conducted using an AMD Ryzen 9 7950X3D processor and 32GB of DDR5 RAM, testing various graphics cards including AMD Radeon RX 6900XT, RX 7900XTX, RX 9070XT, and NVIDIA RTX 2080Ti, RTX 3080, RTX 4090, RTX 5080, and RTX 5090. The game includes a built-in benchmark tool and offers a range of graphics settings, supporting technologies like NVIDIA DLSS 3 and 4, AMD FSR 3, and Intel XeSS, as well as Ray Tracing without requiring an RT GPU. To achieve 60FPS at 1080p with Ultra High Settings and no RT, players need an AMD Radeon RX 7900XTX, NVIDIA RTX 4090, or RTX 5090. At 1440p with Ultra High Settings and no RT, both the RX 7900XTX and RTX 4090 provide smooth performance, while the RTX 5090 is necessary for 60FPS. No GPU managed satisfactory performance at Native 4K with Ultra High Settings and no RT, with the RTX 5090 struggling to maintain frame rates above 50FPS. Lowering graphics settings did not yield significant performance improvements, raising questions about potential CPU bottlenecks. The game is visually appealing but lacks RTGI effects, making it appear flat at times compared to Unreal Engine 5 titles.

AppWizard

March 14, 2025

Split Fiction hits 2m sales in one week

Hazelight's co-op adventure game, Split Fiction, sold over two million copies within its first week of release on March 6th. This achievement was announced on BlueSky, highlighting the game's rapid success compared to its predecessor, It Takes Two, which took three weeks to reach one million sales and three months for two million. Split Fiction reached one million sales in just two days. Hazelight expressed gratitude for the positive reception from players.

Winsage

March 3, 2025

A Windows 11 update has tanked performance on some Intel CPUs — Here’s what it means for you

Windows 11 version 24H2 has performance and compatibility issues, particularly affecting Intel 11th Gen processors due to a flaw in the Intel Smart Sound Technology driver, causing blue screen errors. Gaming performance concerns have also been noted but appear to have been addressed. Ubisoft titles like Star Wars Outlaws, Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora, and Assassin's Creed: Valhalla experienced unresponsiveness, which has been resolved. A new bug affects users with the Intel Core Ultra 9 285K CPU, causing startup errors linked to a recent CPU or microcode update. Affected users report performance throttling when applications are minimized or out of focus, with significant drops in performance during benchmark tests. This issue seems limited to certain Intel CPUs, as other models like the AMD Ryzen 9 9950X and Intel Core i9 12900K are not affected. Users with Intel's Lunar or Arrow Lake CPUs may be vulnerable, and it is recommended to report issues via the Microsoft Feedback Hub.