NVMe Archives

Winsage

April 28, 2026

FinalWire releases AIDA64 8.30 with FPS tracking and next-gen CPU support, but drops 32-bit Windows support

FinalWire has released AIDA64 version 8.30, featuring the AIDA FPS module for real-time FPS data capture in DirectX 11 and 12 games, available exclusively in the Extreme edition. The update includes an optimized performance test for APX SHA3 for Intel Diamond Rapids and Nova Lake processors, support for Turing 4.6 and 12.3-inch LCD displays, compatibility with Intel Core Ultra 250K Plus and 270K Plus, enhanced support for Intel Wildcat Lake and Nova Lake processors, preliminary support for AMD Zen 6 architecture APUs, support for Aqua Computer Ampinel and Thermal Grizzly WireView Pro II sensors, extended support for Adaptec RAID controllers, USB-NVMe pass-through support for Realtek RTL9220 controllers, support for EXPO 1.2 memory profiles, and detailed GPU information for Intel Arc Pro B65 and B70 as well as NVIDIA RTX Pro 4500 Blackwell Server Edition. The update enhances support for Intel's Nova Lake CPUs and introduces a new SHA3 benchmark optimized for APX architectures. It also lays groundwork for support of AMD's upcoming Zen 6 Medusa Point mobile processors and introduces support for AMD's EXPO 1.2 technology. AIDA64 version 8.30 discontinues support for 32-bit Windows and Windows XP x64, requiring users on those platforms to revert to an earlier version. The new web-based AIDA64 SensorPanel Tools allows users to create image sets for SensorPanel Manager. The update is available across the Extreme, Engineer, Business, and Network Audit editions.

AppWizard

April 21, 2026

Excellent RTX 5070 Ti and 9800X3D PC deal knocks $350 off PLUS two free games worth $129.99!

PC Guide operates on a reader-supported model, earning affiliate commissions from purchases made through links on their site. The iBUYPOWER desktop is priced at ,349.99 and features a Ryzen 7 9800X3D CPU and an Nvidia RTX 5070 Ti GPU, designed for gaming at 1440p or 1600p resolutions with maximum settings. It includes 32GB of DDR5 memory and a 2TB NVMe SSD, along with two complimentary games: PRAGMATA and Crimson Desert. The system is aimed at enthusiasts rather than casual gamers and offers a keyboard and mouse for immediate setup. It is suitable for users seeking high-refresh 1440p gaming and multitasking capabilities.

Tech Optimizer

April 17, 2026

Why Postgres wants NVMe on the hot path, and S3 everywhere else

Efforts to merge storage roles into a single solution are ongoing, particularly with Amazon S3's durability and cost-effectiveness. In PostgreSQL, achieving a durable commit requires flushing the Write-Ahead Log (WAL) before signaling transaction completion, which can take tens of microseconds on high-performance NVMe drives but extend to milliseconds on slower storage. This latency impacts Online Transaction Processing (OLTP) systems and user response times. Benchmark studies show that systems with faster local storage outperform those with slower alternatives as workloads exceed memory capacity. The fsync operation in PostgreSQL is a commitment rather than a simple write, with enterprise-grade SSDs performing better due to power-loss protection. Read operations also face challenges, as PostgreSQL's need for small, latency-sensitive reads conflicts with S3's design for larger, higher-latency requests. As the working set exceeds memory, storage latency becomes a critical performance factor. Modern managed PostgreSQL systems typically do not place object storage in the critical commit path, instead maintaining a fast log or cache close to the database while relegating colder data to remote storage. Recent PostgreSQL developments, such as asynchronous I/O support in version 18, aim to leverage fast storage more effectively. S3 is valuable for tasks like WAL archiving and backups, but these should be kept separate from the commit path to avoid resource contention. The solution involves using both NVMe and S3, with fast storage managing commits and cache misses, while object storage handles archives and backups. PostgreSQL performs best when hot and cold storage functions are clearly delineated.

Winsage

April 16, 2026

Windows 11 vs CachyOS in gaming: Has Linux finally caught up to Windows?

Serious gaming on Linux has become a reality, with modern games showing impressive performance. A performance comparison was conducted between Windows 11 (25H2 build) and CachyOS (March 2026 build), a Linux distribution optimized for gaming. The test system specifications included a Cooler Master GA27127-inch monitor, Intel Core i5 12400F CPU, 24GB DDR4 RAM, 512GB PCIe NVMe SSD, 1TB HDD, AMD Radeon RX 6700 XT GPU, and the respective operating systems with their drivers. In gaming performance benchmarks, CachyOS outperformed Windows 11 by an average of 8.6% across five tested games. Specific game performances included: - Dead Space Remake: 70 FPS (Windows 11) vs 76 FPS (CachyOS) - Resident Evil 4 Remake: 84 FPS (Windows 11) vs 95 FPS (CachyOS) - Scorn: 118 FPS (Windows 11) vs 120 FPS (CachyOS) - Silent Hill 2 Remake: 53 FPS (Windows 11) vs 54 FPS (CachyOS) - The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt Next-Gen: 95 FPS (Windows 11) vs 111 FPS (CachyOS) In ray tracing (RT) enabled games, performance varied: - Resident Evil 4 Remake: 77 FPS (Windows 11) vs 83 FPS (CachyOS) - Silent Hill 2 Remake: 30 FPS (Windows 11) vs 24 FPS (CachyOS) - The Witcher 3: 51 FPS (both systems) Most PC games are designed for Windows, while Linux games require the Proton compatibility layer, which can complicate performance. Multiplayer titles often face compatibility issues on Linux, particularly due to anti-cheat systems. Linux has matched or surpassed Windows 11 in single-player scenarios for users with AMD GPUs, while NVIDIA users face challenges due to proprietary drivers.

AppWizard

April 11, 2026

iBUYPOWER RDY Y70 R17 review – a fantastic RTX 5080 gaming PC

The iBUYPOWER RDY Y70 R17 is a high-end gaming PC featuring an AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D CPU, Nvidia GeForce RTX 5080 GPU, 32GB DDR5 RAM, and a 1TB NVMe SSD. It is housed in a visually striking Hyte Y70 case that provides excellent cooling and ample upgrade potential. The system includes a 240mm AIO liquid cooler and is equipped with various front and rear ports for connectivity. It offers impressive gaming performance, achieving over 105fps in Cyberpunk 2077 at 1080p and maintaining playable frame rates at higher resolutions. The PC is priced at ,199.99 and comes with a three-year labor and two-year parts warranty. Minor shipping damage was noted, and initial CPU fan noise may require BIOS adjustments for quieter operation. The dimensions of the case are 470 x 320 x 470mm, and it weighs 13.2kg.

Winsage

April 8, 2026

How to Find Your PC Specs and What They Mean: Full Guide

To check computer specifications on Windows 11, go to Settings > System > About for a quick overview of CPU, RAM, and system type. For detailed insights, use Task Manager (Ctrl + Shift + Esc) and check the Performance tab, or run msinfo32 via Windows + R for comprehensive details. For gaming at 1080p or 1440p, a minimum Intel Core i5 or AMD Ryzen 5 processor, 16 GB RAM, and a dedicated GPU with 8 GB VRAM are recommended, along with a fast 512 GB or larger NVMe SSD for better load times. An SSD offers faster boot times and application launches (over 500 MB/s) compared to a traditional HDD (100–150 MB/s), which has greater storage capacity but slower performance. The Neural Processing Unit (NPU) is designed for AI tasks on PCs, improving performance and efficiency, but is not essential unless frequently using AI applications. By 2026, 16 GB RAM will be sufficient for everyday use and multitasking, while 32 GB will be ideal for gaming and creative work. 8 GB may still support basic tasks but could struggle with modern applications.

Winsage

April 6, 2026

Death of Windows? Cachy OS Destroys Windows 11 in Gaming Performance

Recent benchmark results show that Linux, specifically CachyOS, outperforms Windows 11 in various modern gaming titles. Tests conducted by NJ Tech used identical hardware configurations, including an AMD Ryzen 5 5600X processor and a Radeon RX 6700 XT graphics card. In the game Crimson Desert, CachyOS achieved 63 FPS compared to Windows 11's 59 FPS, and in Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2, CachyOS delivered 81 FPS versus Windows' 68 FPS. In Red Dead Redemption 2, CachyOS averaged 85 FPS while Windows recorded 81 FPS, and in Cyberpunk 2077, CachyOS reached 98 FPS compared to Windows' 91 FPS. Overall, Linux showed frame rates approximately 3 to 10 percent higher across multiple tests. However, in The First Descendant, Windows outperformed CachyOS with 63 FPS to 54 FPS, and in The Division 2, both platforms had identical average frame rates of 128 FPS, though Windows had slightly more stable lows. All games on Linux were run using Proton, which has evolved into a robust solution for running Windows games on Linux. The results indicate that the performance gap between Linux and Windows in gaming is narrowing, with Linux capable of matching or surpassing Windows in certain scenarios.

AppWizard

April 6, 2026

How to Profile Modern PC Games with NVIDIA Nsight Graphics

Performance analysis in PC gaming has become more complex with the introduction of DirectX 12 and Vulkan, incorporating technologies like asynchronous compute, hardware ray tracing, and machine learning-assisted denoising. Understanding GPU performance requires advanced tools to analyze workload distribution and shader behavior, with NVIDIA Nsight Graphics being a key resource. NVIDIA Nsight Graphics is a graphics debugger and profiler for modern graphics APIs, featuring the GPU Trace Profiler, which provides detailed insights into GPU execution and performance bottlenecks. Recent updates have improved its utility, including a Flame Graph for the Shader Profiler and support for NVIDIA's DLSS in D3D12 applications. The Peak-Performance-Percentage analysis method focuses on identifying GPU workload constraints and optimizing utilization rather than relying on assumptions about performance bottlenecks. This methodology is applied using Nsight Graphics to analyze GPU traces from the game Cyberpunk 2077, contrasting traditional rasterization with path tracing enhanced by DLSS Ray Reconstruction. The test setup included an Intel Core i7-14700K CPU, 32 GB RAM, and an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090 GPU, capturing two scenarios: one with raster-only settings and another with path tracing and DLSS. The analysis revealed that the rasterized frame's most costly aspect was lighting processing, while the path-traced frame showed increased total frame cost and a hybrid workload involving rasterization, ray traversal, and AI-driven processes. Key findings indicated that modern GPU performance is heavily influenced by memory behavior rather than just shader arithmetic, with significant time spent on compute-driven lighting processing and data movement. The analysis also highlighted that ray tracing performance is constrained by memory efficiency, indicating that performance does not scale linearly with RT-core throughput.

Winsage

March 30, 2026

Why Teams, OneDrive, and Windows 11 work better together on modern hardware

Microsoft Teams and OneDrive are integral to Windows 11, enhancing productivity and collaboration. To run Windows 11, a dedicated Trusted Platform Module (TPM) 2.0 chip is essential for security features like device attestation and secure key storage. TPM 2.0 enables seamless sign-ins via Windows Hello and ensures that only secure devices can access sensitive data in Teams and OneDrive. BitLocker, which also uses TPM 2.0, protects data on lost or stolen devices. Modern processors from Intel, AMD, and Qualcomm use hybrid architecture, optimizing performance by allocating specialized cores for demanding tasks and energy-efficient processes. This configuration improves video conferencing in Teams and file operations in OneDrive. NVMe SSDs are standard in Windows 11 PCs, providing low latency and high bandwidth that enhance responsiveness, boot times, and multitasking. Fast SSDs reduce wait times for file sharing in Teams. Many Windows 11 PCs are Copilot+ PCs, equipped with a Neural Processing Unit (NPU) that enhances on-device AI capabilities. The NPU improves real-time transcription in Teams and simplifies document searches in OneDrive. Modern GPUs manage animations and display settings in Windows 11, improving video call efficiency in Teams and enhancing thumbnail generation and video playback in OneDrive. The latest Wi-Fi standards, including Wi-Fi 6, Wi-Fi 6E, and Wi-Fi 7, provide enhanced security and reliability. They ensure low latency and high throughput for seamless video conferencing in Teams and faster uploads and downloads in OneDrive.

Tech Optimizer

March 29, 2026

PostgreSQL cost model: estimating the cost of flushing temp buffers to disk

The project focuses on enabling temporary tables in PostgreSQL's parallel query execution by benchmarking sequential writes and reads of temporary buffers. Functions were introduced to measure buffer flush operations, and tests were conducted to estimate the cost of flushing temporary table buffer pages to disk. Findings indicate that sequential writes are about 30% slower than reads, leading to a proposed cost model. Temporary tables have limited parallel usage due to their function as relational variables and the complexity of parallel workers accessing the leader process's local state. Two enterprise PostgreSQL distributions already support parallel operations on temporary tables, and discussions on logical replication of DDL highlight the need for improved tooling for temporary tables. A significant challenge is that temporary buffer pages are local to the leader process, and if not flushed to disk, parallel workers cannot access them. A comment from 2015 suggests flushing the leader's temporary buffers to disk before parallel operations to allow workers to scan the table in parallel. However, this raises concerns about the cost of writing buffers versus the benefits of parallelism. The benchmarking toolkit includes modifications to PostgreSQL to facilitate measurement of local buffers. Two key commits added statistics infrastructure to track allocated and dirty local buffers and UI functions to manage buffer operations. The methodology involves creating a temporary table, flushing buffers, measuring I/O, and evaluating scan overhead. The tests reveal that the cost of writing a temporary table approximates the cost of a sequential page, leading to a proposed formula for flushing costs. The results show that larger buffer sizes lead to higher write overhead and increased variability. A comprehensive formula for pre-flushing temp buffers is suggested, factoring in the number of dirtied and allocated local buffers. Next steps include adding planner flags for temporary objects, implementing executor support for worker access to temporary table storage, introducing a temp-buffer flush operation, and integrating the cost model into the planner for parallel scans of temporary tables.