gaming benchmarks Archives

Winsage

January 6, 2026

Windows 11 Trails Older OS Versions in ThinkPad X220 Speed Tests

Windows 11 has been tested on a Lenovo ThinkPad X220, revealing it to perform poorly compared to its predecessors, particularly Windows 8.1, which excelled in benchmarks for boot times and application launches. The test involved various Windows versions (XP, Vista, 7, 8.1, 10, and 11) on the same aging hardware, highlighting that Windows 11 consistently finished last in most categories. The ThinkPad X220 does not meet Windows 11’s minimum requirements, lacking essential components like TPM 2.0 and a compatible processor, which may have skewed the results. Critics argue that using outdated hardware for testing is not representative, suggesting that a fair comparison would involve flagship devices from each generation. Windows 11's architecture is designed for modern multicore CPUs and SSDs, which may struggle on older hardware. Additionally, Windows 11 has heavier overheads due to advanced security features, which consume resources that older operating systems do not. User feedback indicates frustration with Windows 11's performance on legacy hardware compared to leaner alternatives like Linux. Despite Microsoft promoting optimizations in Windows 11, these did not manifest in the ThinkPad test, and the findings raise concerns for businesses considering upgrades as Windows 10 approaches its end-of-support date in 2025.

Winsage

December 5, 2025

RIP Windows: Linux GPU Gaming Benchmarks on Bazzite

The shift from Windows to Linux, particularly with SteamOS, has increased interest in Linux testing among gamers. After three weeks of testing the Bazzite distribution, initial GPU results were obtained, revealing various issues such as crashes and lengthy shader compilation times. Bazzite was chosen for its popularity and developer engagement, offering two main versions: NVIDIA and non-NVIDIA, both with pre-installed drivers. The testing methodology was sensitive to change and not directly comparable to Windows due to different measurement tools. Benchmarking results showed that the RTX 5090 achieved an average of 176 FPS in Dragon’s Dogma 2 at 1080p, while performance disparities were noted in Black Myth: Wukong, where NVIDIA cards struggled with consistency. AMD GPUs often outperformed NVIDIA counterparts in several titles, indicating that while high-end NVIDIA hardware is capable, the Linux software environment may not fully utilize its potential. Ray tracing benchmarks in Cyberpunk 2077 also highlighted inconsistencies in performance. Overall, the Linux gaming environment is evolving, with expectations for improved compatibility and performance in the future.

AppWizard

October 7, 2025

AMD Ryzen 5 9600X review – now my favorite budget gaming CPU

The AMD Ryzen 5 9600X is a budget gaming CPU with six cores and a peak boost clock of 5.4GHz, priced at 9 after a reduction from its initial price of 9. It features 12 threads, a 65W TDP, and is built on the AMD Zen 5 architecture with Socket AM5 compatibility. The CPU has a 32MB L3 cache and supports Simultaneous Multithreading (SMT). In gaming benchmarks, it outperformed the Ryzen 5 7600X and the Intel Core i5 14600K in several titles, achieving an average of 211fps in Cyberpunk 2077 at High settings. However, it lags behind in multi-threaded applications, scoring 16,286 at 65W TDP in Cinebench R23, compared to the Core i5 14600K's score of 23,990. The 9600X's thermal performance is efficient, peaking at 68°C during tests.

AppWizard

October 3, 2025

I just retested the Intel Core Ultra 7 265K, and it’s no longer a complete lemon

Intel's Arrow Lake gaming CPU lineup, specifically the Intel Core Ultra 7 265K, has improved significantly since its initial release at the end of 2024. Updates including BIOS enhancements, driver updates, and the introduction of the 200S Boost mode have contributed to its better performance. In Cinebench, the single-threaded score increased from 117 to 136, surpassing the Core i9 14900K, and reached 138 with 200S Boost. Multi-core performance improved from 1,995 to 2,045, and with 200S Boost, it reached 2,056, positioning it ahead of the AMD Ryzen 9 7950X3D. The CPU maintained a maximum temperature of 78°C during testing. In gaming benchmarks, Total War: Warhammer III showed an average of 220fps and a minimum of 182fps, outperforming all AMD X3D CPUs. In the Mirrors of Madness benchmark, it averaged 119fps, trailing behind the latest Zen 5 X3D CPUs but outpacing the Ryzen 7 7800X3D. In Cyberpunk 2077, the 265K improved from 117fps to 124fps, closing the gap with the Core i5 14600K. In Far Cry 6, the average frame rate improved from 157fps to 164fps, reaching 166fps with 200S Boost. In F1 24, it remained only 6fps behind the X3D chips. Overall, while the AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D is still considered superior for gaming, the 265K has become a competitive option, especially if priced favorably.