hard drives Archives

Winsage

November 20, 2025

Nvidia releases emergency driver update for Windows 11 25H2 and 24H2 — fixes reduced gaming performance driven by botched Windows updates

Nvidia released the GeForce Hotfix Display Driver 581.94 to address performance issues in certain games caused by Microsoft's mandatory patch KB5066835, which affected Windows 11 versions 25H2 and 24H2. The update led to decreased game frame rates for some users. Nvidia recommends that gamers experiencing performance dips download the latest GPU driver. The company issued a second hotfix a week later to resolve remaining issues, including crashes and clock speed irregularities. The initial patch also caused problems with USB keyboards and mice in the Windows Recovery Environment and triggered BitLocker encryption unexpectedly. It is unclear if Intel and AMD will release their own driver updates in response to the issues caused by KB5066835, although performance problems have been reported with their GPUs as well.

AppWizard

November 17, 2025

Phasmophobia devs say all that live service malarkey can do one: they focus on making ‘a fun game that people want to play because it’s fun’

Phasmophobia, developed by Kinetic Games, has become a popular ghost-hunting game on PC since its early access launch, earning around 340,000 "overwhelmingly positive" reviews on Steam. The developers emphasize that they do not consider it a live service game, offering only seasonal content without microtransactions or DLCs. They prioritize a healthy work environment and the freedom to release content when it is ready, focusing on player enjoyment rather than constant updates. The game aims to evoke nostalgia for childhood gaming experiences, encouraging players to engage for fun rather than feeling pressured by progression.

Winsage

November 13, 2025

I actually liked Windows 8.1, even though I never had a tablet

In 2012, Microsoft launched Windows 8 to bridge traditional desktop environments and the tablet market, but it received a poor reception, leading to the release of Windows 8.1 a year later to address its shortcomings. Windows 8 aimed to compete with the iPad by transforming tablets into productivity tools. Windows 8.1 introduced features like on-demand OneDrive storage and the ability to snap apps side-by-side, marking a significant evolution in Windows. The concept of Windows RT for ARM processors faced challenges due to hardware limitations and underdeveloped applications but laid the groundwork for devices like the Microsoft Surface. The transition to touchscreen capabilities was revolutionary for users accustomed to older operating systems. The adaptation of the Windows Phone Metro UI for Windows 8 and 8.1 was innovative, despite criticism from traditional PC users. Windows 8.1 developed a dedicated fan base for its tile-based interface, leading to hopes for its return in future devices.

Tech Optimizer

November 12, 2025

Kaspersky Antivirus is Now Available for Linux. Will You Use it?

The Linux ecosystem is facing increased threats from sophisticated cybercriminals targeting critical infrastructure. Kaspersky, a Russian cybersecurity firm, has launched antivirus protection specifically for home Linux users following a ban on its products in the U.S. as of July 2024. This marks the first time Kaspersky's home user products officially support Linux, with compatibility for major 64-bit distributions like Debian, Ubuntu, Fedora, and RED OS. The software includes features such as real-time monitoring, behavioral analysis, automatic scanning of removable media, anti-phishing alerts, online payment protection, anti-cryptojacking capabilities, and AI-powered scanning. However, Kaspersky for Linux is not GDPR-ready, which may concern EU users regarding data protection compliance. Users need an active paid subscription to download the software, but a 30-day free trial is available. Installation is straightforward, with DEB and RPM packages provided.

AppWizard

October 31, 2025

Helldivers 2’s 150GB PC install is “unacceptably large,” and Arrowhead hopes to work out a solution that could “theoretically slice the size in half”

The storage requirement for Helldivers 2 on PC is 150GB, which is significantly larger than the console version. Developer Arrowhead acknowledges the frustration this has caused and considers it a top priority to address. Game director Mikael Eriksson noted that the large file size is due to technical challenges, including the duplication of data files to improve loading times for users with mechanical hard drives (HDDs). In contrast, console file sizes are smaller because they do not require such duplications, as SSDs are standard on those platforms. Arrowhead is committed to optimizing performance and storage efficiency.

AppWizard

October 18, 2025

Vampire The Masquerade Bloodlines 2 is painful to play on PC, with severe performance issues and bugs

Bloodlines 2 is experiencing performance issues on PC, even with recommended settings. Players report struggling to achieve smooth gameplay due to bugs and frame rate drops. The system requirements are modest, but advanced technologies like Nvidia DLSS 4 do not resolve performance problems. Optimal settings for Bloodlines 2 on PC include: - VSync: On - Frame Rate Limit: Unlimited - Nvidia Reflex Low Latency: Enabled + Boost - Nvidia DLSS: Quality - Nvidia DLSS Frame Generation: 4x for RTX 5000 cards; 2x for RTX 4000 cards - Global Illumination: High - Shadows: High - Anti-Aliasing: High - View Distance: Far - Texture Quality: High - Effects: High - Reflections: High - Post-Processing: High Testing on a GeForce RTX 5070 showed an average frame rate of 61fps at 1080p, dropping to 52fps at 1440p and 21fps at 4K. Enabling multi-frame generation improved frame rates significantly, but 1% lows remained unchanged. Players encountered various performance issues, including stuttering and synchronization problems. Bugs included the Enter key disrupting fullscreen mode and mouse cursor misalignment. Bloodlines 2 offers four graphics presets: Low, Medium, High, and Ultra, along with an auto-detect tool for optimal settings. The game does not require an SSD for installation, but using one is recommended for faster loading times. Performance monitoring can be accessed via in-game overlays for Nvidia and AMD users or through third-party software like CapFrameX.

AppWizard

October 16, 2025

Gaming RAM and SSD prices are about to soar, and it’s all the fault of AI, says Adata chairman

Simon Chen, chairman of Adata, has reported that the prices of RAM and SSDs are rising due to increased demand from the artificial intelligence sector, leading to severe shortages in the market. This competition for memory and storage components is affecting supply typically reserved for consumer use, resulting in higher costs for gamers upgrading or purchasing new PCs. DDR4 RAM is projected to see price increases of up to 30% between Q4 2025 and Q1 2026. Earlier this year, TrendForce indicated that RAM prices were already on the rise, with DDR4 being the most impacted segment. Adata is advising its staff to sell sparingly to maintain inventory levels amid these challenges.

AppWizard

October 4, 2025

Why does Helldivers 2 have such a bloated install size on PC? Old hard drives, says dev

Helldivers 2 has an installation size of approximately 150GB, primarily due to the presence of duplicate files, which include weapon models and environmental textures. This redundancy has led to excessive storage consumption on PC, while the PS5 and Xbox versions are about one-third the size. The decision to include multiple file copies was made to address slow loading times on traditional hard drives, as the mechanical HDD's seek time creates performance bottlenecks. The developers are exploring alternatives to reduce file size, such as removing duplicates or offering 4K textures as optional downloads, but upgrading to SSDs is not a feasible solution for many players due to rising costs.

AppWizard

October 4, 2025

‘We’re Taking Your Concerns Very Seriously but There Are No Easy Solutions’ — Arrowhead Explains Why the Helldivers 2 Installation Size Is So Big on PC

Arrowhead Studios is addressing concerns about the installation size of Helldivers 2 on PC, which is 150GB—three times larger than the console version. This discrepancy is due to data duplication and limitations of mechanical hard drives (HDDs). The use of HDDs results in longer loading times because of the mechanical process involved in retrieving data. To reduce these loading times, Arrowhead has opted to duplicate certain data files, a practice unnecessary for games on Solid State Drives (SSDs). Approximately 12% of PC gamers still use mechanical HDDs, impacting loading times for missions. The team is working on reducing installation size by removing unused assets and aims to optimize RAM usage and apply data compression in future updates.

AppWizard

October 4, 2025

As Helldivers 2’s install size swells to monstrous levels, Arrowhead admits old hardware is the problem

Helldivers 2 has an install size of approximately 150 GB on PC, which is about three times larger than its console versions. This increase is due to duplicated data for optimizing loading times on older mechanical HDDs. Arrowhead's deputy technical director, Brendan Armstrong, noted that around 12% of PC gamers may still use these older drives, complicating optimization efforts. The team plans to implement minor improvements by removing unused assets in the next update but acknowledges that new content may offset these gains. Future strategies include bundling frequently used assets for specific missions, which may still lead to longer load times for HDD users, expected to remain under 30 seconds. There are considerations for data compression and optional high-resolution texture downloads, but these are not the primary focus. The team is committed to addressing player concerns while balancing installation size and loading times.