DirectX 9 Archives

Winsage

October 10, 2026

We tested gaming performance in 17-year-old Windows 7 against Windows 11 on a modern gaming PC — older operating system delivers advantages in some scenarios

Windows 7 was released in 2009 and has received positive reviews for nearly two decades. A performance evaluation was conducted by installing Windows 7 on a modern PC and testing it against Windows 11 across ten games, including eight DirectX 11 titles and two DirectX 9 titles. In the game Metro 2033 Redux, Windows 11 achieved a higher average frame rate, but Windows 7 had better handling of CPU-related performance drops, resulting in stronger 1% lows. In Batman: Arkham Origins, Windows 7 outperformed Windows 11 in both average frame rate and 1% lows at 1080p and 4K. For Batman: Arkham Knight, Windows 7 showed higher performance when CPU-limited at 1080p, while Windows 11 led in GPU-limited scenarios at 1440p and 4K. In Batman: Arkham City, Windows 11 had the advantage across all resolutions as the game was GPU-bound. In The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, Windows 7 outperformed Windows 11 in 1% lows at 1080p, but Windows 11 took the lead at higher resolutions. Control showed Windows 11 outperforming Windows 7 across all resolutions due to GPU optimizations. Hitman: Absolution also favored Windows 11 in GPU-limited scenarios. For DirectX 9 games, Windows 7 demonstrated significant advantages in average frame rate and 1% lows in Batman: Arkham Asylum, especially at lower resolutions, while performance in Borderlands 2 was nearly identical across both operating systems at 4K. Overall, Windows 7 excels in CPU-limited scenarios, while Windows 11 performs better in GPU-bound situations, aided by advanced graphics drivers. Microsoft’s ongoing efforts aim to improve Windows 11's performance and reliability.

BetaBeacon

October 4, 2026

Winlator 11.2 Setup: Run Windows Games on Android [2026]

Winlator is a free, open-source Android application that translates Windows game instructions into ARM instructions on the fly. It uses Wine, Box64, Box86, DXVK, VKD3D, and a graphics translation stack to achieve this. The performance of Winlator depends heavily on the chip doing the translation.

Winsage

October 2, 2026

GeForce GTX 1050 and GTX 1080 Ti now work in Windows XP thanks to a modified driver

An enthusiast known as SupraGSX has introduced an unofficial graphics driver, Forceware 382.69, which supports NVIDIA GeForce GTX 10 series graphics cards on the 32-bit Windows XP operating system. This driver was created by reverse porting code from the official NVIDIA 368.81 package and enhanced with artificial intelligence tools. It is available on GitHub and allows for hardware acceleration, recognition of Pascal GPUs, and supports DisplayPort HBR3 and HDMI 2.0 standards. The driver is compatible with desktop models from GeForce GTX 1050 to GTX 1080 Ti and TITAN X, but does not support the GeForce GT 1030 or mobile graphics accelerators due to technical limitations. This development is significant as NVIDIA has not released official drivers for Pascal architecture on Windows XP, which previously only supported the Maxwell-based GeForce 900 series.

Winsage

May 3, 2026

Microsoft tests Auto SR, its AI upscaler for Xbox and Windows gaming

Microsoft has introduced a preview of Auto SR, an AI-driven upscaling technology for Xbox Insiders using the ROG Xbox Ally X handheld. This feature upgrades game output from 720p to 1440p and increases frame rates by about 30% in docked mode. Auto SR operates at the OS level, requiring no developer patches, but is limited to games that support DirectX 11 and 12, excluding titles using DirectX 9, Vulkan, and OpenGL. Currently, it is available only for the ROG Xbox Ally X and Copilot+ PCs with Snapdragon X chips, and the preview is invite-only and docked mode only. Early feedback indicates some user interface artifacts and a battery drain of 8–12% on the Ally X. A broader rollout for Windows began on April 30, 2026, but no specific consumer launch date has been announced. Auto SR is not intended for the upcoming Project Helix Xbox console, which will use AMD FSR Diamond instead.

Winsage

April 6, 2026

Android Emulator for Low-End PC: 6 Best Picks + Run Windows Apps (2026)

A significant portion of users in India and South Asia still rely on older devices, including laptops with 2GB to 4GB of RAM and entry-level Android phones. Many mainstream Android emulators require 4–8 GB of RAM, VT support, and a dedicated GPU, but there are options designed for lower-end machines. 1. MuMu Nebula: Best for ultra-low-end PCs, requires 2GB RAM, dual-core CPU, no GPU needed, supports Android 12, and has a startup time of around three seconds. 2. LDPlayer 9: Best for gaming on budget hardware, requires 2GB RAM (4GB recommended), dual-core processor, supports Android 9/11, and features a game booster mode. 3. NoxPlayer Lite: Supports multiple Android versions (5, 7, and 9), requires 2GB RAM, basic GPU, and has a startup time of about six seconds. 4. BlueStacks 5 (Eco Mode): Requires 4GB RAM (2GB works but barely), VT required, supports Android 11, and has extensive app compatibility. 5. GameLoop: Best for Tencent games, requires 4GB RAM, no VT needed, supports Android 7.1. 6. MEmu Play: Requires 2GB RAM, recommended for multitasking and developers, supports Android 7, 9, 11. For running Windows apps on Android, tools include: 1. ExaGear: A Windows emulator for Android that supports 32-bit applications and games, requires a specific setup process. 2. Winlator: A newer emulator that supports both 32-bit and 64-bit applications, particularly good for 3D games, with a simpler installation process. Tips for improving emulator performance include closing background apps, enabling virtualization in BIOS, lowering resolution and FPS caps, setting process priority to high, disabling Windows visual effects, and using an SSD for faster load times.

BetaBeacon

January 29, 2026

GameNative Adds Epic Games Support On Android

After installing the newest nightly build, users can integrate their Epic Games account with GameNative by signing in through a secure browser window, syncing their library, and picking games directly from Epic's servers. Multiplayer is currently disabled due to networking and anti-cheat issues. Performance on Android devices depends on hardware specifications, with modern flagship SoCs recommended for smooth gameplay. GameNative uses open-source tools to translate x86-64 CPU instructions and DirectX calls for Android play. Epic Games support on GameNative allows mobile gamers to access their free and purchased titles from the Epic store on their phones. The Epic integration is available in GameNative's nightly channel, with plans for future stable releases to include library filters and multiplayer support.

Winsage

September 22, 2025

Microsoft confirms DRM issues in Windows 11 September 2025 Update

The Windows 11 September 2025 Update (KB5065426) has faced installation errors and Digital Rights Management (DRM) issues affecting video playback, although Netflix remains unaffected. Microsoft traced these problems to the previous optional update, KB5064081 from August 2025, impacting users of digital TV and DVD applications that use the Enhanced Video Renderer with HDCP enforcement. Additionally, some Electronic Arts (EA) games have malfunctioned after the August and September updates, particularly those using the Javelin anti-cheat engine. Users have reported rendering issues in DirectX 9 games, disrupted Microsoft Ink services, and ongoing PowerShell functionality problems. The update has also been linked to issues with Server Message Block (SMB) v1, affecting file sharing and connectivity. Microsoft is working on solutions for these issues.

Winsage

August 30, 2025

Windows 8.1 graphics get bit-crushed into working in 40-year-old EGA graphics mode — less than half-megapixel display mode is limited to 16 colors

Bob Pony successfully installed Windows 8.1 on a system using the EGA graphics standard, which was introduced by IBM in October 1984 and supported resolutions up to 800 x 600 pixels in 16 colors. The installation resulted in a desktop display identified by the operating system as having 256MB of memory, despite EGA typically operating with less. The system allowed for a 640 x 480 pixel display in True Color (32-bit) at 64 Hz. However, EGA does not meet the minimum requirements for Windows 9, which requires a resolution of 1,366 x 768 pixels and DirectX 9 support.

AppWizard

March 24, 2025

3 times Microsoft has tried (and failed) to reinvent PC gaming

Microsoft has faced criticism from the PC gaming community due to frequent Windows updates causing crashes and altering features. The Universal Windows Platform (UWP), introduced in the mid-2010s to unify operating systems, faced backlash from gamers for restricting access to game files and complicating third-party software use. Many developers bypassed UWP, leading Microsoft to reintroduce Win32 games by 2019. DirectX 10 was exclusive to Windows Vista, resulting in only 87 games being developed for it due to the unpopularity of Vista and lack of backward compatibility. Games for Windows Live (GFWL) aimed to bring Xbox Live to PC but became frustrating due to its closed ecosystem, leading to accessibility issues and unplayable titles after server shutdowns. Microsoft has since improved the gaming experience on Windows, focusing on user choice and compatibility, with features like Auto HDR and DirectStorage integrated into Windows 11.

Winsage

March 14, 2025

Windows 11 bug with Nvidia GPUs prevents apps from launching

Windows 11 is experiencing significant issues for users with Nvidia GPUs, particularly those in the Windows Insider program on the Canary channel, who are facing difficulties launching applications. The problem is linked to an incompatibility with DirectX 9, resulting in crashes related to D3D9 DLL files. This affects various software, including applications, games, PowerPoint, web browsers, and certain websites. Microsoft has acknowledged the issue in the known problems list for Canary Channel build 27808, but many users still encounter disruptions. Some users have found temporary solutions by replacing the problematic D3D9 DLL files in the System32 and SysWOW64 folders with versions from previous builds, requiring administrative rights and disabling their Nvidia GPU via Device Manager. The issue appears to be limited to Windows Insider participants using Canary builds, and while Microsoft hasn't explicitly blamed Nvidia GPUs, the evidence suggests a predominant impact on these users.