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Seriously people, it's fine the Steam Machine has just 8 GB of VRAM, but Valve ought to chill out on the 'play every game at 4K60' chat
AppWizard
November 13, 2025

Seriously people, it’s fine the Steam Machine has just 8 GB of VRAM, but Valve ought to chill out on the ‘play every game at 4K60’ chat

Valve's Steam Machine has received a generally positive reception, but concerns have arisen regarding its allocation of 8 GB of VRAM. This issue has been a topic of contention, especially following the launch of Nvidia's RTX 4060 Ti, which also featured only 8 GB of VRAM, leading to consumer dissatisfaction. The RX 7600M, used in the Steam Machine, has 28 compute units and operates on a 128-bit bus width, making it challenging to accommodate 16 GB of VRAM without increasing costs and power consumption. Running memory modules in clamshell mode could be a solution, but it presents engineering challenges in a compact design. Increasing VRAM would raise the price, and with rising memory costs, manufacturers may prioritize regular DRAM production. Valve's decision to equip the Steam Machine with 8 GB of VRAM seems aimed at maintaining affordability, especially following the success of the Steam Deck. If the Steam Machine's price exceeds 0, the justification for its specifications may face scrutiny. There are also concerns about Valve's marketing claims regarding 4K capabilities, as the machine is likely to perform better at 1080p or 1440p rather than 4K.
This Indie Developer Bought a $100 PC to Optimize Their Game
AppWizard
October 7, 2025

This Indie Developer Bought a $100 PC to Optimize Their Game

Indie game developer gitpullorigin is addressing player feedback for their upcoming chess roguelike title, Yes, My Queen, by purchasing a low-cost PC for performance testing. They acquired an Intel DC3217IYE Mini PC NUC Kit for €89, which features a 1.80 GHz Intel Core i3-3217U processor, 4GB of RAM, and a 120GB SSD. This approach has helped identify performance issues, such as text becoming invisible when using Vulkan on the integrated GPU and noticeable lag when using a custom cursor in Software mode.
silver Android smartphone
Winsage
September 14, 2025

Windows 10 is almost dead — here’s my top 5 Windows 11 picks to get before the deadline

The end of Windows 10 support is on October 14, 2025, prompting users to transition to Windows 11. Users can enroll in Microsoft's Extended Security Updates (ESU) program for an additional year of security updates if they wish to retain Windows 10. Lightweight options like Tiny11 Build can help older PCs, but Windows 11's hardware requirements may prevent some users from upgrading. Installing Windows 11 on unsupported devices risks missing essential security updates, making hardware upgrades advisable. Recommended devices for Windows 11 include: - Laptop: Acer Aspire Go 15, featuring an Intel Core i3-N305 CPU, a 15.6-inch display, priced under 0, with up to 10 hours of battery life. - Desktop: Dell XPS 8950, suitable for office use and gaming, especially with Nvidia RTX GPUs. - Gaming Desktop: Acer Predator Orion 5000, known for performance and value, often available for less than ,799 during sales. - Mini PC: Geekom A5 2025 Edition, priced around 9, supports up to four monitors, and has upgradeable components. - All-in-One PC: MSI Modern AM271P 11M, featuring a 27-inch display, suitable for everyday tasks, bundled with a keyboard and mouse. - 2-in-1 Laptop: Microsoft Surface Pro 11, equipped with a Snapdragon X-series chip, designed for both casual browsing and intensive tasks.
Windows was never meant to run this way, but someone made it happen
Winsage
July 21, 2025

Windows was never meant to run this way, but someone made it happen

A YouTube creator on the MetraByte channel attempted to install seven layers of Windows operating systems nested within each other: Windows 95 inside Windows 98, followed by Windows 2000, Windows XP, Windows Vista, Windows 7, Windows 8.1, and finally, Windows 10, all encapsulated within Windows 11. The creator initially used Hyper-V but switched to VMware after encountering limitations, allowing for more extensive layering but resulting in significant performance declines as layers increased. For example, Windows 7 took 30 minutes to boot when nested within Windows 8, which was under Windows 10, all running on Windows 11. The attempt to install Windows 95 ultimately failed as Windows 98 struggled to boot. Performance metrics showed that deeper installation layers led to decreased performance, particularly evident while playing Minecraft Classic, where frame rates dropped by over 50% in Windows 10 and 8 compared to Windows 11.
I built a PiKVM to control my PC remotely, and it's a game-changer
AppWizard
July 5, 2025

I built a PiKVM to control my PC remotely, and it’s a game-changer

The PiKVM project allows users to control a desktop or server remotely using a Raspberry Pi 4B and an HDMI-CSI bridge adapter, providing comprehensive keyboard, video, and mouse control even during reboots. It offers browser-based access to the PC's screen in real-time, enabling actions like force shutdowns, BIOS access, and operating system reinstallation, independent of the host system's operating system. The setup captures HDMI output and simulates USB input, functioning in scenarios like BIOS or crash screens. Essential components for building a PiKVM include a Raspberry Pi 4B, an HDMI-to-CSI bridge adapter, a microSD card, USB cables, an official power supply, and the latest PiKVM OS image. The setup process involves writing the OS image to the SD card, connecting the hardware, and accessing the web interface for remote control. PiKVM is beneficial for tasks such as troubleshooting boot sequences, configuring BIOS settings, and monitoring system status without physical interaction.
This $200 Windows PC fits in the palm of my hand - and powers three 4K displays
Winsage
June 6, 2025

This $200 Windows PC fits in the palm of my hand – and powers three 4K displays

The Minix Neo Z97 mini PC is priced at 9 on Amazon and features Windows 11 pre-installed. It has a compact size of 88×88×42mm and weighs 0.18kg. The specifications include an Intel® Processor N97 (up to 3.6 GHz), Intel® UHD Graphics, 12GB LPDDR5X-4800MHz memory, and a 512GB M.2 2280 PCIe 3.0 x 4 NVMe SSD. It supports a triple monitor setup and offers connectivity options such as dual-band Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.2. The device operates quietly, making it suitable for noise-sensitive environments. While it performs well for everyday tasks, it shows strain with resource-intensive applications.
Microsoft's Windows 365 Link PC shows up in real life photos ahead of availability this spring
Winsage
February 27, 2025

Microsoft’s Windows 365 Link PC shows up in real life photos ahead of availability this spring

Microsoft introduced the Windows 365 Link, a compact mini PC that operates as a thin client, streaming Windows 11 from the cloud while running a streamlined version of Windows locally. It is currently undergoing private testing with select customers, with a broader release anticipated in April. The device is small enough to be held in one hand and features various ports, including USB-A, USB-C, ethernet, DisplayPort, and HDMI. It is powered by an Intel N250 processor, has 8GB of RAM, and 64GB of storage. Priced at , it requires an active subscription to a Windows 365 PC, which is currently an enterprise-only service, though Microsoft may expand it to consumers in the future.
5 reasons you shouldn't use Windows as a NAS OS
Winsage
February 18, 2025

5 reasons you shouldn’t use Windows as a NAS OS

The author transformed a mini PC into a basic Network Attached Storage (NAS) solution using a standard Windows installation. While Windows can work for simple setups, it is generally inefficient for NAS due to its resource usage, lack of native ZFS support, forced updates, complicated Docker and VM management, and clunky remote access. Windows runs unnecessary background services that consume RAM and storage, while dedicated NAS software optimizes performance. Windows does not support ZFS natively, which is beneficial for data integrity and features like compression and encryption. Windows updates can disrupt services due to their unpredictable nature, unlike dedicated NAS systems that allow for scheduled updates. Managing Docker containers or virtual machines is more complex on Windows compared to Linux, which is better suited for these tasks. Remote access on Windows requires cumbersome setups, while Linux offers easier SSH access and web interfaces for management.
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