graphics performance Archives

Winsage

March 25, 2025

Windows-on-Arm woes: Amazon warns customers about Surface laptop returns

Qualcomm and Microsoft are enhancing the Windows-on-Arm ecosystem, highlighted during the Microsoft Build event in May 2024. The Surface brand laptops with Qualcomm's Snapdragon X Elite processors received positive feedback for performance and battery life. However, the Microsoft Surface Laptop (7th Edition) has been flagged by Amazon as a "frequently returned item," prompting buyers to check reviews. Customer feedback indicates that app compatibility issues are a primary reason for the returns. Intel's interim Co-CEO suggested that devices with Snapdragon chips are returned at higher rates due to unmet functionality expectations. Despite this, the market for Windows-on-Arm systems remains strong, with major manufacturers adopting Qualcomm's Snapdragon processors. Other Snapdragon-powered devices, like the Microsoft Surface Pro 11, have not faced similar return warnings. The Surface Laptop may have higher return rates due to its popularity and specific shortcomings noted in reviews, such as display quality and keyboard comfort. Microsoft also offers Intel versions of the Surface Laptop and Surface Pro, which may confuse consumers. Qualcomm and Microsoft are working with developers to improve software support for Windows-on-Arm, with notable applications like DaVinci Resolve and Adobe Photoshop now available. Challenges remain, including Qualcomm's discontinuation of its Snapdragon Developer Kit for Windows and limited native support for some applications. Users with specialized needs may prefer traditional x86 Windows versions. Qualcomm plans to unveil its second generation of Snapdragon X processors in late 2025.

Winsage

March 22, 2025

AMD 25.3.2 driver fixes major bug so Windows Update no longer installs older driver on 9070

AMD has released a beta display driver version 25.3.2 for Windows 11 and 10, which addresses a bug that caused older drivers to be installed via Windows Update, affecting various GPU generations. This issue has been resolved for the RX 9000 series graphics cards. The driver adds support for Ubisoft's Assassin's Creed Shadows and The Last of Us Part II Remastered, along with several bug fixes, including improvements for Counter-Strike 2, Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, and Assetto Corsa Competizione. Developer updates include support for RX 9000 series in the AMD Radeon Developer Tool Suite and the availability of AMD FSR 3.1 in over 110 games. Known issues include memory leaks with SteamVR, performance logging notifications, crashes with certain games, and stuttering with some VR headsets. The driver can be downloaded from AMD's official website.

Winsage

March 20, 2025

Windows 11 File Explorer is about to get a speed boost

Microsoft has released Windows 11 Build 27818 for users in the Canary Channel, enhancing File Explorer's performance for extracting zip files. The update includes general improvements and fixes, such as displaying additional details about Pluton TPM chips in the Windows Security app. The suggested actions feature for copying phone numbers or future dates is being deprecated. A critical fix addresses a d3d9.dll crash affecting application launches. Other improvements include enhanced performance for unzipping files, fixes for File Explorer Home loading issues, taskbar app window preview corrections, resolution of a ctmon.exe crash impacting typing, fixes for Settings launch errors, graphics performance improvements, resolution of Visual Studio Code installation issues with Admin Protection, and fixes for Remote Desktop freezing issues. Additionally, a fix addresses application opening failures related to a virtual machine component error.

AppWizard

March 5, 2025

GTA 5 Enhanced update delayed on Epic Games Store for some players

PC gamers can expect advanced ray-tracing features, including ambient occlusion and global illumination, along with support for FSR1, FSR3, and DLSS 3 for improved graphics performance. There will be a significant reduction in loading times due to SSD technology and DirectStorage. The update enhances support for higher resolutions, aspect ratios, and framerates. Dolby Atmos will provide an immersive sound experience. Additionally, Rockstar has introduced compatibility with Sony’s DualSense controllers, featuring adaptive triggers for a more tactile gameplay experience.

Winsage

March 1, 2025

Microsoft just turned 50 — Here are the 5 most impactful products it’s ever made

Microsoft is celebrating 50 years of innovation in the technology sector this April. MS-DOS, acquired by Microsoft in 1981, was the precursor to modern graphical operating systems. Windows 95, released in 1995, introduced features like the Start menu and taskbar, requiring a minimum of an Intel 386DS CPU, 4 MB of RAM, and over 50 MB of hard drive space. Microsoft Office 95, launched in 1995, bundled Word, Excel, and PowerPoint, becoming a cornerstone of productivity software. DirectX, launched in 1995, became integral to gaming development, with Doom 95 being the first DirectX game. Microsoft Azure, launched in 2008, has grown to over 600 services and commands a 20% share of the cloud market as of the third quarter of 2024.

AppWizard

February 23, 2025

The Best VR Headsets for PC Gaming

In virtual reality, high-quality VR headsets paired with robust gaming PCs enhance the immersive experience, with most top-tier VR games benefiting from superior PC graphics and performance. The best VR headsets for PC include: 1. Valve Index: - Resolution: 1440x1600 per eye - Refresh Rate: 120Hz (144Hz experimental) - Field of View: 130° - Tracking: 6DoF - Weight: 1.79 lbs 2. Meta Quest 3S: - Resolution: 1832x1920 per eye - Refresh Rate: 120Hz - Field of View: 90° - Tracking: 6DoF - Weight: 1.13 lbs 3. HTC Vive Pro 2: - Resolution: 2448x2448 per eye - Refresh Rate: 120Hz - Field of View: 120° - Tracking: 6DoF - Weight: 1.9 lbs 4. HTC Vive XR Elite: - Resolution: 1920x1920 per eye - Refresh Rate: 90Hz - Field of View: 110° - Tracking: 6DoF - Weight: 1.38 lbs 5. PlayStation VR2: - Resolution: 2000x2040 per eye - Refresh Rate: 120Hz - Field of View: 110° - Tracking: 6DoF - Weight: 1.24 lbs Choosing the best VR headset involves evaluating technical specifications, comfort, and fit. A powerful PC is recommended for optimal VR performance, especially for demanding titles. Standalone headsets like the Meta Quest 3S and Pico 4 do not require a PC, while the PlayStation VR2 can connect to a PC with an adapter. VR headsets often go on sale during major shopping events like Amazon Prime Day and Black Friday/Cyber Monday.

Winsage

February 19, 2025

The Windows 95 setup was text-based for a good reason, Microsoft employee reveals

When installing Windows 95, users encountered a text-based environment rather than a graphical interface. The Windows development team integrated three distinct operating system environments to streamline the installation process. MS-DOS had limited graphical capabilities, requiring the setup team to potentially develop a graphics library from scratch. The minimum requirements for Windows 95 included a VGA video card, and the setup program needed to support ideogram-based languages and simple animations. The final setup utilized the Windows 3.1 runtime, which managed graphics under MS-DOS. This practice of code recycling continues in contemporary Windows versions, which require a "miniature" operating system known as the Windows Preinstallation Environment for setup and repair purposes.

Winsage

February 3, 2025

Unofficial Windows on Lumia gains GPU acceleration to x86 apps

The Lumia 950 and Lumia 950 XL, discontinued two years after their launch as flagship smartphones featuring Windows Mobile, have been revived by hackers and developers who installed alternative operating systems, including Android and desktop versions of Windows 10 and 11. The Lumia WOA Project has optimized these devices for modern use, with the release of Lumia Drivers BSP Version 2502.03 on February 1, 2025, which introduced support for hardware-accelerated graphics for x86 applications on the ARM-based smartphones. This update allows DirectX 11 compatible applications to utilize the Lumia 950's Qualcomm Adreno 418 GPU and the 950 XL's Adreno 430 GPU. Prior to this, the devices only supported hardware-accelerated graphics for apps compiled for ARM architectures. While the mobile GPUs were impressive in 2015, they are not cutting-edge in 2025, and users should manage their expectations for performance in gaming or demanding graphics applications. The update is expected to enhance graphics performance and improve energy efficiency by allowing the GPU to handle tasks that would otherwise burden the CPU. The Lumia WOA Project is an unofficial effort by volunteer developers, and some hardware features, such as cameras and messaging functions, may not be fully supported.

AppWizard

December 5, 2024

Intel releases new GPU driver with fixes for Minecraft and CoD Black Ops 6

Intel has released WHQL driver version 32.0.101.6314 for various graphics cards and processors with integrated graphics. The update addresses performance issues in applications like Blackmagic Design DaVinci Resolve Studio, Call of Duty: Black Ops 6, and Minecraft Bedrock Edition. Specific concerns include: - Intel Arc A-Series Graphics Products: Performance in DaVinci Resolve Studio may not meet expectations on certain workloads. - Intel Core Ultra (Series 1 and 2) with built-in Intel Arc GPUs: - Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 (DX12) may show texture corruption on water surfaces. - Minecraft Bedrock (DX12) may display texture corruption when altering anti-aliasing settings. Ongoing issues include: - Intel Arc A-Series Graphics Products: - Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 (DX12) may present darker shadows in specific campaign scenarios. - Topaz Video AI could encounter errors during video exports. - Topaz Gigapixel AI may experience intermittent crashes during exports. - Intel Core Ultra Series 1: - SPECworkstation3.1 might exhibit system instability. - PugetBench for DaVinci Resolve Studio V19 may show intermittent errors. - DaVinci Resolve Studio v19.0 could face rendering issues. - Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III (DX12) may display flickering corruption. - Intel Core Ultra Series 2: - Adobe Premiere Pro may produce corrupted output videos after 8K AV1 encodes. - DaVinci Resolve Studio v19.0 may encounter rendering issues. - Star Wars Outlaws (DX12) may sporadically crash. The driver is compatible with 64-bit Windows 10 and Windows 11 and supports various Intel graphics products, including discrete and integrated GPUs. The driver can be downloaded from Intel's official website.