capture Archives

Winsage

April 7, 2026

Windows 11 is phasing out old kernel drivers: Microsoft will permanently end cross-signing in April

On March 26, 2026, Microsoft announced that starting with the April security update, it will eliminate trust in kernel drivers from the previous Cross-Signed Program for Windows 11 versions 24H2, 25H2, 26H1, and Windows Server 2025. Only drivers that have passed the Windows Hardware Compatibility Program (WHCP) or are on Microsoft's allow list will be allowed to load by default. This change aims to enhance security by establishing a robust chain of trust and addressing vulnerabilities associated with old kernel drivers. Users of older hardware that rely on specialized drivers may face challenges, as drivers not WHCP-signed or explicitly allowed will be excluded from the trusted zone.

AppWizard

April 6, 2026

Your joys will always be someone else’s junk

Crimson Desert has sold over 4 million copies in two weeks and has a Very Positive rating on Steam, despite mixed player reactions. Mobile Suit Gundam Battle Operation 2, launched on Steam in 2023, is a free-to-play mecha shooter that has received negative reviews due to monetization and networking issues, yet the author enjoys it for its mechanical satisfaction and representation of Gundam's universe. The author has rekindled interest in Gundam and finds GBO 2's combat mechanics compelling, despite its shortcomings. Engaging with a game considered subpar has helped the author clarify personal gaming preferences and appreciate design elements that resonate with their interests.

AppWizard

April 6, 2026

How to Profile Modern PC Games with NVIDIA Nsight Graphics

Performance analysis in PC gaming has become more complex with the introduction of DirectX 12 and Vulkan, incorporating technologies like asynchronous compute, hardware ray tracing, and machine learning-assisted denoising. Understanding GPU performance requires advanced tools to analyze workload distribution and shader behavior, with NVIDIA Nsight Graphics being a key resource. NVIDIA Nsight Graphics is a graphics debugger and profiler for modern graphics APIs, featuring the GPU Trace Profiler, which provides detailed insights into GPU execution and performance bottlenecks. Recent updates have improved its utility, including a Flame Graph for the Shader Profiler and support for NVIDIA's DLSS in D3D12 applications. The Peak-Performance-Percentage analysis method focuses on identifying GPU workload constraints and optimizing utilization rather than relying on assumptions about performance bottlenecks. This methodology is applied using Nsight Graphics to analyze GPU traces from the game Cyberpunk 2077, contrasting traditional rasterization with path tracing enhanced by DLSS Ray Reconstruction. The test setup included an Intel Core i7-14700K CPU, 32 GB RAM, and an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090 GPU, capturing two scenarios: one with raster-only settings and another with path tracing and DLSS. The analysis revealed that the rasterized frame's most costly aspect was lighting processing, while the path-traced frame showed increased total frame cost and a hybrid workload involving rasterization, ray traversal, and AI-driven processes. Key findings indicated that modern GPU performance is heavily influenced by memory behavior rather than just shader arithmetic, with significant time spent on compute-driven lighting processing and data movement. The analysis also highlighted that ray tracing performance is constrained by memory efficiency, indicating that performance does not scale linearly with RT-core throughput.

AppWizard

April 5, 2026

Sick of The Witcher 3’s Roach? Its MMO mod now lets you ride other players instead

The Witcher Online 2.0 mod for The Witcher 3 introduces a multiplayer experience that allows players to engage in shared adventures within the game's world. Developed by modder rejuvenate, it features enhancements such as populated game environments, customizable player characters, and improved player interactions. Players can ride horses and boats together, utilize a player interactions menu for trading items, and transform into various animals. The update includes 23 new emotes and allows for greater control over animations. The mod is available for download via Nexus Mods and aims to improve performance and connectivity issues.

AppWizard

April 5, 2026

$1,700 liquid-cooled phone can run GTA V at up to 100 FPS, Red Dead 2 at 50+ FPS via emulation — Redmagic 11 Pro packs 24 GB of RAM and pulls more than 40W at peak load

PC emulation on Android has advanced significantly, with devices like the Redmagic 11 Pro Golden Saga Edition outperforming the Steam Deck in running AAA PC games. The GameHub emulator translates x86 code into ARM architecture and is integrated into Redmagic devices, allowing seamless game play and save file synchronization with Steam. The Golden Saga Edition features 24 GB of RAM, enhanced cooling systems, and shares specifications with the standard model, including the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chip and a 6.9-inch OLED display. It is priced at approximately ,700 and must be imported to the U.S. The device targets performance enthusiasts who value cutting-edge technology.

Winsage

April 5, 2026

Claude Cowork and Claude Code Can Now Control Your Windows Desktop

On April 3, 2026, Anthropic expanded Claude’s desktop control feature to Windows for Pro and Max subscribers, allowing users to operate applications, navigate web pages, and manage files on their PCs without prior configuration. The feature is in research preview and includes a Dispatch companion for task assignment from mobile devices. Claude uses a structured tool hierarchy for task execution, prioritizing connectors like Slack and Google Calendar, and engages in direct desktop control only when necessary. Users must opt in to activate the feature, which integrates with existing software without requiring API keys. The technology is partly derived from Anthropic’s acquisition of Vercept AI, which specializes in AI-driven computer control. Security concerns have arisen due to vulnerabilities demonstrated shortly after the launch, prompting Anthropic to implement safeguards while acknowledging the feature's potential errors. Users can stop Claude's operations, but the company admits it cannot disable the technology remotely once tasks have started. Competitors like Microsoft and Google are also exploring similar desktop-level AI automation capabilities.

Winsage

April 5, 2026

Scheduler function Windows breaks video recording on Radeon chips

Many users of graphics accelerators from a well-known company are experiencing technical issues, particularly when recording video content using OBS Studio. A YouTube channel creator analyzed this problem and identified hardware scheduling, a feature introduced by Microsoft in Windows, as the cause of frequent crashes and performance issues. This feature was meant to improve hardware performance by managing memory more efficiently for video cards, but it has led to conflicts when running demanding games and applications while capturing screens. The blogger recommends that Radeon graphics card owners disable hardware scheduling, as it only provides a minimal performance boost of about two percent in gaming, which does not outweigh the recording and streaming problems it causes.

Winsage

April 5, 2026

Scheduler function Windows breaks video recording on Radeon chips

Owners of Radeon graphics cards are experiencing technical challenges, particularly crashes and instability when using OBS Studio for video recording. The issues stem from the hardware scheduling feature in Windows, which was intended to improve performance by reducing CPU load but has instead caused conflicts during resource-intensive tasks. The creator of the YouTube channel OCExtreme recommends disabling this feature, as it only offers a minimal performance boost of about two percent, which is not worth the significant problems it causes during content recording and broadcasting.

AppWizard

April 4, 2026

Rust’s Spring Clean update nerfs the shield meta and boosts early game energy

The Rust April update introduces several enhancements, including the new Water Wheel, a renewable energy source that generates up to 30 power when placed in a river. The update features a new craftable item, the Armored Ladder Hatch, which requires 60 Scrap, 35 High-Quality Metal, six Gears, and a Wooden Ladder. Adjustments to shield mechanics have been made, reducing the hitbox size when the shield is not actively held. A tech-tree unlock chaining feature allows players to unlock an entire research path at once if they have enough Scrap. A new radial menu for low-light solutions enables individual control of light sources. Fishing mechanics have been adjusted to prevent overfishing, with server admins able to modify this feature. Additional updates include new colored buttons, improved UI elements, and a transition to a new terrain rendering system for better CPU performance. The update coincides with an Easter Egg Hunt event running until April 16, featuring themed cosmetics.

Winsage

April 4, 2026

Windows Use Among Gamers Falls, Linux Tops 5% For the First Time

The latest Steam Hardware survey indicates that Windows usage among gamers has fallen below 93% for the first time, while Linux has surpassed 5%, reaching 5.3%. Windows 10's market share dropped nearly 15% in March 2026, and Windows 11 only gained 10.6% during the same period. macOS increased by 1.2%, while Linux grew by over 3.1%. Among Linux users, SteamOS Holo 64-bit is the leading distribution with a 25% share, attributed to the Steam Deck. Other distributions like Arch and Mint hold 8.8% and 6.9% of the market, respectively. There are also unnamed distributions referred to as "0 64 bit" and "64 bit," which may be experimental versions of SteamOS.