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Windows 11 Faces Backlash as Slowest OS in 25 Years, Benchmarks Show
Winsage
January 12, 2026

Windows 11 Faces Backlash as Slowest OS in 25 Years, Benchmarks Show

Microsoft's Windows 11, launched in 2021, has been criticized for significant performance issues, making it potentially the least performant version of Windows in over two decades. Independent benchmarks reveal that Windows 11 is slower than its predecessors in areas such as boot times, application launches, and overall system responsiveness. Users with high-end hardware, including 13th-generation Intel Core processors, have reported noticeable slowdowns compared to Windows 10. Performance assessments indicate that Windows 11 struggles in various categories, including file operations, multitasking, and gaming, with longer boot speeds reminiscent of older systems. Gamers have experienced stuttering and frame rate drops, and Microsoft has acknowledged these issues in updates since 2022. The operating system is criticized for being a "resource hog," with preloaded features consuming resources even when idle. Users have reported lagging File Explorer and freezing processes, leading some to consider alternative operating systems. IT departments have noted increased support tickets related to performance issues, prompting some to delay upgrades from Windows 10. Microsoft has offered optimization advice, but critics argue these are temporary fixes for deeper architectural problems. The performance issues have implications for software developers and hardware manufacturers, increasing development costs and complicating hardware optimizations. Analysts warn that without prompt action, Microsoft's market dominance could be at risk, as users advocate for a leaner, faster Windows.
Just when you think there's no room for shooters to innovate, here's one where your health is literally your framerate
AppWizard
January 7, 2026

Just when you think there’s no room for shooters to innovate, here’s one where your health is literally your framerate

FPS Quest links player health to framerate, causing framerate drops as the character takes damage. Players can upgrade weapons and manipulate the game environment to boost framerate and health, such as replacing a 3D gun with a 2D sprite or altering level geometry. One upgrade can increase framerate by 10 fps at the cost of removing structural columns, which eliminates cover. This mechanic encourages a balance between alterations and game stability.
Windows Registry Tweak Unlocks 80% SSD Speed Boost on Consumer PCs
Winsage
January 1, 2026

Windows Registry Tweak Unlocks 80% SSD Speed Boost on Consumer PCs

A modification in the Windows Registry can enable a native NVMe driver, potentially doubling the performance of solid-state drives (SSDs) by enhancing random read and write speeds by up to 80%. This driver is typically reserved for enterprise environments and is not officially available for consumer versions of Windows 11. The modification carries risks, including the possibility of rendering a system unbootable and disrupting features like BitLocker encryption. Early adopters have reported mixed results, with some experiencing significant performance improvements while others face stability issues. The tweak highlights the disparity between consumer and enterprise hardware capabilities and reflects ongoing discussions within the tech community about optimizing SSD performance.
Unexpected Surprise: Windows 11 Outperforming Linux On An Intel Arrow Lake H Laptop
Winsage
December 31, 2025

Unexpected Surprise: Windows 11 Outperforming Linux On An Intel Arrow Lake H Laptop

Recent benchmarks on the Lenovo ThinkPad P1 Gen 8 show that Microsoft Windows 11 outperformed Ubuntu Linux in several demanding workloads, including multi-threaded tasks and CPU-based rendering applications like Blender and V-RAY. The device features an Intel Core Ultra 7 255H processor with 16 cores and was tested with 64GB of LPDDR5-7467 memory and NVIDIA RTX Pro 1000 graphics. The performance metrics were consistent with expectations for the hardware, and the benchmarks used official binaries for both operating systems. Lenovo and Intel are investigating the results further, and the findings may indicate a broader trend in operating system performance. The original benchmarks were conducted using Windows 11 Pro and Ubuntu 24.04.3 LTS.
Registry hack enables new performance-boosting native NVMe support on Windows 11 — Windows Server 2025 feature can be unlocked for consumer PCs, but at your own risk
Winsage
December 20, 2025

Registry hack enables new performance-boosting native NVMe support on Windows 11 — Windows Server 2025 feature can be unlocked for consumer PCs, but at your own risk

Microsoft has announced that Windows Server 2025 will offer native support for NVMe drives. Early adopters have reported performance improvements of 10% to 15%, including reduced latencies and enhanced transfer speeds. The native support allows for 64,000 queues, each managing 64,000 commands simultaneously, enabling over 4 billion operations, compared to existing SCSI protocols that limit queues to 32 commands. Not all users have experienced performance benefits, and Microsoft recommends backing up systems or testing in a virtual environment before enabling this feature.
Hypixel Studios releases the PC system requirements for its Minecraft-lookalike Hytale, and it's the most comprehensive breakdown I've seen in a long time
AppWizard
December 4, 2025

Hypixel Studios releases the PC system requirements for its Minecraft-lookalike Hytale, and it’s the most comprehensive breakdown I’ve seen in a long time

Hytale is a voxel-based sandbox game with detailed hardware requirements that include minimum, recommended, and 'streamer' specifications. The minimum requirements allow for casual gameplay, while the recommended requirements enhance performance for a smoother experience. The streamer requirements are high-end specifications aimed at content creators for optimal performance. An Intel HD Graphics 630 can achieve approximately 30–34 FPS at 1080p on low settings, while an AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D and NVIDIA RTX 5080 can sustain around 400 FPS at 3840×1440 resolution while recording gameplay. The game is expected to require 100 GB of storage, and its early access launch is anticipated in January 2026.
Looks like OnePlus phones and smartwatches are experiencing some bad weather
AppWizard
November 24, 2025

Looks like OnePlus phones and smartwatches are experiencing some bad weather

Many OnePlus smartphone and smartwatch users are experiencing issues with the native weather application, which is displaying outdated or no weather data. Reports indicate that this problem affects a range of devices, including the OnePlus 15 and OnePlus 13. Some users in Europe and India have noted that their weather app is still functioning, suggesting the issue may be device or region-specific. The problems may be linked to Oxygen OS 16, but users on older versions (Oxygen OS 15 and 14) are also facing similar issues. Additionally, OnePlus Watch 3 users are encountering errors like "location not found" and "network error." Despite attempts to resolve the issues through various troubleshooting methods, users have had no success. The built-in weather app is critical for many users, and the ongoing issues are likely to prompt a software update or server fix from OnePlus.
Microsoft raises the security standard for next major Windows Server release - Microsoft Windows Server Blog
Winsage
November 10, 2025

Microsoft raises the security standard for next major Windows Server release – Microsoft Windows Server Blog

Microsoft plans to elevate the security standards for Windows Server hardware certification in its next major release, mandating that TPM 2.0 is installed and enabled by default and that Secure Boot is activated by default on systems pre-installed with the upcoming Windows Server. These requirements will apply to all servers running Windows Server, including bare metal setups, virtual machines on Hyper-V, and third-party hypervisors approved through the Server Virtualization Validation Program (SVVP). Secure Boot ensures that only trusted operating systems are loaded during the boot process, mitigating risks from malware. TPM 2.0 provides hardware support for secure measurements and key storage, enhancing security further by allowing secure capture and storage of the boot sequence. BitLocker leverages TPM 2.0 to ensure volumes are decrypted only if the system booted correctly. The enforcement of these requirements will apply to new server platforms introduced after January 1, 2021, while existing platforms will receive Additional Qualification certification to help customers identify compliant systems.
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