graphics drivers Archives

Winsage

December 29, 2025

Windows on Arm had another good year

The tech landscape is expected to see significant advancements in chips and software by 2026, particularly with Qualcomm's Snapdragon X series enhancing Arm-based Windows laptops. The Snapdragon X chips improved performance and battery life, making Windows on Arm laptops more viable, especially in Microsoft’s Surface Laptop and Surface Pro lines. However, challenges with app compatibility persisted, limiting users to simplified versions of software like Adobe Lightroom. In 2025, software enhancements allowed more creative applications to run natively or through improved emulation, including Adobe Premiere Pro and a functioning version of Lightroom Classic on lower-end Snapdragon X Plus chips. Gaming options improved with advancements in emulator technology, and compatibility for Epic's Easy Anti-Cheat was established. The Xbox game launcher expanded to support local installations on Arm devices. Despite the growing appeal of Windows on Arm laptops, traditional x86 options remain dominant for gaming. The first generation of Snapdragon X chips set new benchmarks for battery life, but competition from Intel’s Lunar Lake and AMD’s Strix Point chips is emerging. Nvidia is rumored to be developing an Arm-based chip for Alienware laptops, indicating a competitive landscape. The gap between x86 and Arm Windows laptops is narrowing, with Arm laptops becoming more accessible, though x86 systems are likely to remain preferred for gamers. Microsoft’s evolution of Windows into an “agentic OS” raises questions about the future of Windows laptops.

AppWizard

December 27, 2025

How to Properly Benchmark your PC Games Using CapFrameX

Average Frames Per Second (FPS) is a common metric in PC gaming performance, but consistency in gameplay experience is equally important, highlighted by metrics such as 1% low and 0.1% low average FPS. CapFrameX is a tool used for capturing and analyzing detailed performance data, including frametimes, which provide a more accurate assessment of gaming performance than basic FPS counters. Key metrics generated by CapFrameX include: - Average FPS: Overall framerate averaged across the capture session. - 1% low average FPS: Average of the worst 1% of framerates, indicating sustained performance. - 0.1% low average FPS: Average of the worst 0.1% of framerates, highlighting rare but significant performance dips. To ensure accurate benchmarking results with CapFrameX, users should update their UEFI BIOS, operating system, and drivers, clear unnecessary applications, configure power settings for maximum performance, monitor temperatures, and conduct multiple benchmark runs under consistent conditions. The setup process for CapFrameX includes downloading the software, configuring capture options, and verifying the setup through test captures. After capturing benchmark runs, users can analyze the data using the Analysis and Comparison tabs in CapFrameX to evaluate performance metrics and identify potential issues. Common pitfalls in benchmarking include inconsistent scenes, overlooking frametime variance, and not preparing the system properly.

Winsage

December 9, 2025

Windows PC gaming in 2025: Handheld innovation, Arm progress and DirectX advances

Windows has been a key platform for PC gaming, evolving significantly by 2025 with advancements in handheld gaming and performance. The ROG Xbox Ally and ROG Xbox Ally X, powered by AMD Ryzen Z2 Series processors, were introduced, enhancing handheld gaming experiences. The Xbox Full Screen Experience (FSE) was launched for these devices, optimizing gaming interfaces. Advanced Shader Delivery (ASD) was implemented, reducing load times by over 80% for some titles. System-level performance improvements included tuned power management and lower CPU overhead. Windows also focused on Arm devices, enabling local game installations through the Xbox PC app and expanding compatibility with the Prism emulator. Native anti-cheat support was introduced for Arm devices, enhancing competitive gaming. DirectX 12 advancements included features that improved ray tracing performance by up to 2.3×. Bluetooth LE Audio support was added to enhance audio quality for gamers. Upcoming innovations include expanding FSE to more Windows devices, further ASD support, and a preview of Auto Super Resolution for improved visuals in games.

Winsage

November 20, 2025

Qualcomm’s New Snapdragon Control Panel is Here for Windows Gamers

Qualcomm has transitioned its Adreno Control Panel to the Snapdragon Control Panel, designed for gamers, creators, and power users of Snapdragon X Elite PCs. The application manages Adreno GPU settings, scanning for compatible games and allowing per-game adjustments such as super resolution settings, frame-rate limits, anti-aliasing, anisotropic filtering, and detail levels. It features automatic background checks for GPU driver updates, with notifications for new versions and options for automatic installations. A new Adreno GPU driver release addresses issues for over 100 games and includes stability enhancements, preparing for upgradable graphics drivers for the Snapdragon X2 Elite, expected in the first half of 2026. AVX2 emulation will also be available for current Snapdragon X-series and next-generation X2 Elite devices.

Winsage

November 20, 2025

Qualcomm Overhauls Windows on Arm Gaming with Downloadable GPU Drivers and AVX2 Support

Qualcomm has decoupled GPU updates from Microsoft's OS release cycle, allowing Snapdragon X Elite owners to download graphics drivers directly, which aligns the company with industry standards set by Nvidia and AMD. The company has transitioned to a direct "Upgradable Graphics Drivers" (UGD) model, enabling immediate access to driver updates through Qualcomm’s portal. The beta "Adreno Control Panel" has been rebranded to the "Snapdragon Control Panel," which now includes game-specific profiling and optimization features. Qualcomm has also integrated support for AVX and AVX2 instruction sets, addressing compatibility issues with games like God of War and Control. Kernel-level anti-cheat support has been introduced, making multiplayer gaming more accessible on Arm-based systems. The Snapdragon X2 Elite is set to launch in the first half of 2026, promising "Day 0" driver support and the ability to run 90% of top games, with performance expectations to outperform Intel’s Lunar Lake architecture.

Winsage

September 21, 2025

6 operating system luxuries Windows users have never known about Linux

Windows is the leading desktop operating system, but Linux offers several advantages for users willing to explore alternatives. 1. Windows often suffers from driver bloat, as drivers like Nvidia's come with unnecessary software, while Linux provides a more streamlined experience with drivers included in the kernel and installed via the command line. 2. Windows 11 enforces automatic updates that can require unexpected restarts, whereas Linux allows users to control when updates are installed, often without immediate restarts. 3. Linux offers a variety of desktop environments, allowing users to choose different looks and feels, unlike the uniform design of Windows. 4. Customization options on Linux are extensive, with environments like GNOME and KDE providing intuitive ways to personalize the user experience. 5. Linux allows users to run distributions directly from a USB drive, enabling testing and troubleshooting without altering existing systems, while Windows' Windows To Go feature is more complex. 6. Linux solutions like Timeshift create incremental backups that are efficient in storage use, unlike Windows restore points that consume considerable space.

Winsage

September 17, 2025

How to fix a second monitor not detected in Windows 10 and 11

On Windows 10 and Windows 11, users can enhance productivity by connecting a second display, although issues may arise with older monitors due to driver or hardware complications. To manually detect a second monitor on Windows 10, users can go to Settings > System > Display and click the Detect button. For wireless displays, users should navigate to Settings > Devices > Bluetooth & other devices, activate Bluetooth, and select the wireless display. Graphics driver issues can be resolved by updating, reinstalling, or rolling back the driver through Device Manager. On Windows 11, the process is similar; users can detect external monitors via Settings > System > Display and connect wireless displays through Settings > Bluetooth & devices. To update graphics drivers on Windows 11, users should go to Settings > Windows Update > Optional updates.

Winsage

September 5, 2025

Xbox engineer brings Windows Mixed Reality headsets back to life

A Microsoft engineer, Matthieu Bucchianeri, has developed the Oasis driver, which allows Windows Mixed Reality headsets to support SteamVR after the platform's discontinuation. The driver is available for free on Steam and requires an Nvidia GPU. It operates independently of the Mixed Reality Portal, enabling users to run OpenVR and OpenXR applications through SteamVR with comprehensive tracking for headsets and motion controllers. Bucchianeri reverse-engineered Nvidia and SteamVR code to create the driver, which is not open source but is free for users to download. Quick start documentation is provided for setup assistance.

Winsage

September 5, 2025

Microsoft employee reverse engineers Windows Mixed Reality driver and restores life to abandoned headsets with native SteamVR support

Microsoft discontinued support for the Windows Mixed Reality platform with the rollout of Windows 11 version 24H2, rendering many headsets unusable. A new driver, available for free download through Steam, allows users to revive their Windows Mixed Reality headsets, compatible with any Windows Mixed Reality device. The driver works on Windows 11 versions 24H2 and 25H2, but is only compatible with PCs equipped with NVIDIA graphics cards due to limitations in AMD and Intel drivers. Users can connect their headsets, download SteamVR, and access a wide library of games and applications. Microsoft announced the deprecation of the Windows Mixed Reality platform in 2023, coinciding with the end of HoloLens production.

Winsage

August 30, 2025

Oasis Driver for Windows Mixed Reality: How to Revive Your VR Headset

The Oasis Driver for Windows Mixed Reality was launched on August 29, 2025, as a native SteamVR driver, allowing users to run OpenVR and OpenXR applications without relying on Microsoft's Mixed Reality Portal. It is officially supported on Windows 11 (version 24H2 or later) but is not recommended for Windows 10 due to instability. The driver operates in Direct Mode, supports 6DoF tracking for headsets and controllers, and is compatible exclusively with NVIDIA GPUs, while AMD and Intel GPUs are not supported. The project began as an experimental initiative and received official approval from Valve to be featured on the Steam store.