Nvidia RTX Archives

AppWizard

July 6, 2026

Who Needs a Steam Machine? I Converted My PC for Free and It Was Simple

The Steam Machine offers PC gamers a console-like experience with access to the Steam library and various PC games. The starting price is ,049 due to RAMageddon, prompting some users to consider building their own Steam Machine. Valve provides a guide for installing SteamOS, which requires compatible hardware, including a 12th-gen Intel Core processor and an NVMe solid-state drive. An 8GB or larger USB drive is needed to create installation media. Users should disconnect other drives to avoid data loss during installation. The installation process involves selecting "Wipe Device & Install SteamOS," which erases the system. After installation, users must configure settings like language, time zone, and audio output. SteamOS operates in a Big Picture Mode, allowing easy navigation with a controller. Benefits of SteamOS include avoiding Windows-related frustrations and potential performance improvements in some games, although results may vary.

Winsage

June 24, 2026

Microsoft confirms Windows 11 version 26H2 is coming soon: Reveals some devices won’t be eligible

Microsoft has announced the upcoming release of Windows 11 version 26H2, which will follow versions 25H2 and 24H2, all built on the same platform from 2024. Version 26H2 will not introduce significant changes compared to version 25H2, as it shares the same feature set. Users on Windows 11 version 26H1, which is tailored for Qualcomm Snapdragon X2 and NVIDIA RTX Spark devices, will not be able to upgrade to 26H2 this fall. An upgrade path for 26H1 users to version 27H2 may be available by the end of next year. The exact launch date for version 26H2 has not been specified, but it is expected to roll out towards the end of September or into October.

Winsage

June 23, 2026

Microsoft Confirms Windows 11 26H2 Update for x86-64 PCs

Microsoft has confirmed the release of the Windows 11 update version 26H2, designed for PCs with x86-64 processors from Intel and AMD. Devices with Qualcomm Snapdragon Elite and NVIDIA RTX Spark processors will receive a separate update. Earlier this year, Windows 11 26H1 was introduced for Windows-on-Arm devices. Windows 11 26H2 is a minor update that shares the same code base as version 25H2, allowing for a seamless transition without a complete system file replacement. The update process is straightforward and will consolidate security and quality updates. Microsoft will provide security updates for Windows 11 versions 24H2, 25H2, and 26H2 for two years. Windows 11 Enterprise LTSC editions will offer stability by locking onto a specific kernel code base for security updates until a future date.

Winsage

June 16, 2026

The RTX 20 series has officially become Nvidia’s Windows 7

Windows 7 now has a user base of only 0.07%, while 8.54% of Nvidia RTX owners still use the RTX 20 series graphics cards. The RTX 20 series, launched in 2018, introduced technologies like ray tracing and DLSS, which have since evolved and become standard in modern gaming. Despite their decline, both Windows 7 and the RTX 20 series are still utilized by loyal users, with the RTX 20 series being the oldest generation still in use. The RTX 20 series is recognized for laying the groundwork for advancements in PC gaming, and its long-term impact is expected to be significant.

AppWizard

June 15, 2026

Gothic 1 Remake PC Performance Analysis

THQ Nordic announced the Gothic 1 Remake for PC, utilizing Unreal Engine 5. The benchmarking was conducted on a high-end setup featuring an AMD Ryzen 9 7950X3D processor and various GPUs, including AMD Radeon RX 6900XT and NVIDIA RTX 4090. The game offers extensive graphics settings and supports technologies like NVIDIA DLSS 4.5 and AMD FSR 3.1. It does not include a built-in benchmark tool, so testing was done in a demanding scene. At 1080p with Very High settings, it consistently achieves 60FPS across many GPUs. At 1440p, leading NVIDIA GPUs maintained frame rates above 60FPS, while AMD's RX 9070XT and RX 7900XTX averaged 70FPS and 68FPS, respectively. For Native 4K at Very High settings, the NVIDIA RTX 5090 delivered a minimum of 65FPS. The game scales well with graphics presets, achieving over 60FPS at lower settings. DLSS 4.5 improved performance significantly, with frame rates exceeding 100FPS in some scenarios. The graphics are impressive, though character models may not match the quality of top-tier titles. Minor traversal stutters were noted but did not significantly impact gameplay. Overall, the game performs well across various PC configurations, especially at 1080p with compatible monitors.

Winsage

June 12, 2026

Microsoft tests Windows AI features on RTX GPUs, not just NPUs

Microsoft is expanding the availability of its Copilot+ features to users with Nvidia RTX GPUs, allowing older PCs to utilize advanced AI tools such as text summarization, image upscaling, and code generation. This change is facilitated by the experimental release of the Windows App SDK 2.2, which enables AI functionalities to run on dedicated Nvidia RTX GPUs. Features include text rewriting, editing, and advanced capabilities in the Microsoft Photos app. Users must download the experimental version of WinAppSDK 2.2, have an Nvidia GeForce RTX 30 series GPU with at least 6GB of VRAM, and enable Developer Mode on their PC. This shift reflects a broader strategy to leverage local AI models while still using cloud resources, aiming to democratize access to AI capabilities across a wider range of devices.

Winsage

June 11, 2026

Microsoft is killing the Copilot+ PC advantage, brings Windows 11’s local AI to RTX 30+ PCs with 6GB vRAM

Microsoft has made its local Language Model APIs for Windows 11 accessible on non-Copilot+ PCs, requiring an NVIDIA RTX 30 series GPU with at least 6GB of VRAM. Copilot+ PCs, which debuted on June 18, 2024, require 16GB of RAM, an SSD, and a minimum of 40 TOPS NPU. The new APIs allow broader access to AI functionalities, including AI-powered text formatting, summarization, text rewriting, text-to-table conversion, and general prompt generation, through a compact language model called "Phi Silica." Users with compatible NVIDIA GPUs can utilize these features locally, enhancing privacy compared to cloud-based models. However, some features remain exclusive to devices with NPU chips.

Winsage

June 11, 2026

Computex 2026: Empowering a billion users with Windows across the ecosystem

Computex has been a significant event for the PC industry, showcasing innovations in hardware, silicon, and user experiences. This year, partners revealed a variety of Windows 11 PCs aimed at diverse user needs. Acer introduced several laptops, including the Aspire X 16 AI for prosumers, the Aspire 18 AI for creative tasks, and the Swift Spin 14 AI, which features both Intel Core Ultra Series 3 and Snapdragon X2 Series processors. ASUS launched its AI PC portfolio with the ProArt P16 and P14 laptops powered by NVIDIA RTX Spark, and the Zenbook 14 for everyday consumers. The ROG Strix SCAR 18 gaming laptop features an Intel Core Ultra 9 processor and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090 Laptop GPU. Dell unveiled the XPS 13, which is the thinnest and lightest XPS laptop, offering up to 17 hours of battery life and a 2.5K touchscreen. The XPS 16 Creator Edition is designed for creative tasks with NVIDIA RTX Spark technology. HP plans to integrate RTX Spark into its OmniBook Ultra 16 and OmniBook X 14 laptops and will expand its offerings with a compact desktop for creators and AI enthusiasts. MSI introduced the Prestige N16 Flip AI+, a laptop developed with NVIDIA, featuring a 16-inch UHD+ display and a 2-in-1 design. They also announced the Claw 8 EX AI+, a handheld gaming device powered by Intel Arc G3 Extreme processors. The Surface Laptop Ultra is the most powerful Surface Laptop to date, featuring an NVIDIA RTX Spark superchip and a 15-inch mini-LED touchscreen. Intel introduced the Intel Arc G-Series processors for handheld gaming systems, while NVIDIA unveiled the RTX Spark superchip for personal AI agents on Windows devices. Qualcomm announced the Snapdragon C Platform, aimed at providing efficient performance for students and small businesses, with Acer and ASUS already adopting this technology.

Winsage

June 4, 2026

Microsoft drives developers toward native Windows apps at Build 2026

Microsoft is focusing on increasing native applications and components in Windows 11 to improve performance and user experiences. At the Build 2026 conference, Microsoft encouraged third-party developers to create native applications through a series of sessions and provided tools and resources for this purpose. The Windows K2 initiative aims to transform key elements like the Start menu into native components. A session titled "Use agents to build WinUI 3 apps" discussed strategies for developing native applications, including the use of AI tools like the WinUI agent plugin for GitHub Copilot. Microsoft also introduced WinUI 3 templates to streamline native app creation and emphasized the modernization of applications beyond just code rewriting. The Surface Laptop Ultra, announced at Computex, is designed for AI workloads, featuring up to 128GB of RAM and built on the NVIDIA RTX Spark platform, which includes a 20-core Arm N1x CPU and an RTX GPU with up to 6,144 cores, delivering 1 petaflop of AI computing power. This device aims to attract developers to Microsoft's ecosystem.

Winsage

June 3, 2026

The Future Microsoft Showed at Build 2026 Barely Looks Like Windows

During the Build 2026 conference, Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella discussed the potential of AI agents in various sectors and introduced OpenClaw, an AI agent system. Microsoft showcased a local AI agent that attempted to delete user files but failed, emphasizing safety and the promotion of OpenClaw-style AI agents on personal computers. To support this, Microsoft introduced Microsoft Execution Containers (MXC) for secure operation of OpenClaw on Windows and a companion app. The Nvidia RTX Spark-powered Surface Laptop Ultra was highlighted as capable of running AI agents locally without internet reliance. Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang discussed the future of AI agents, envisioning PCs as autonomous tools. Microsoft aims to optimize Windows for AI functionalities, potentially integrating AI agents into the user experience. Security concerns surrounding OpenClaw led to the introduction of MXCs, which allow control over AI agent permissions. The demonstration of OpenClaw's failure was seen as a positive indication of security measures. Despite advancements, the practical applications of AI agents for everyday Windows users remain unclear.