PC performance

Winsage
March 24, 2025
Windows has a hidden power mode called Ultimate Performance that can enhance PC performance without hardware upgrades. This mode is typically concealed on consumer PCs and is primarily intended for high-end workstations running Windows Pro, but it can also be accessed on Windows Home. To activate it, users need to open PowerShell and enter a specific command, then select Ultimate Performance from the power plan options. While this mode maximizes speed and responsiveness, it consumes more power, which can decrease battery life on laptops and generate additional heat and noise from the cooling system. It is recommended to use this mode during intensive tasks and not in quiet or public environments.
Winsage
March 20, 2025
Microsoft is testing a new Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) feature in Windows 11 that aims to analyze system specifications and provide tailored advice on performance issues. This feature is located within the System tab of Settings and addresses common queries related to device specifications and performance. Examples of questions include the sufficiency of a GPU for high-end gaming and the impact of RAM on PC performance. The FAQ section aims to offer personalized information based on each user's specific system, making it a more accessible resource compared to the current basic list of system specs. However, the responses are currently somewhat generic, and Microsoft must ensure accuracy to avoid misleading users regarding potential performance improvements from upgrades.
Winsage
March 19, 2025
Windows 11 will introduce a new FAQ page in its Settings app to help users identify potential limitations of their PCs. This feature, currently hidden in Dev Channel builds, will answer questions about the OS version and evaluate GPU adequacy for gaming and video tasks. It will also analyze the impact of having 4-8GB of RAM on performance. The feature can be activated using the third-party utility ViVeTool with ID “5530588,” but its effectiveness may vary across systems. Microsoft has faced criticism for Windows 11's strict minimum hardware requirements, which may prevent many PCs from upgrading from Windows 10. This situation may force users to upgrade hardware or consider alternatives like ChromeOS. Microsoft aims to enhance user experience with Windows 11, which may lead to increased hardware sales and user satisfaction.
Winsage
March 19, 2025
- Windows 11 users can enhance their experience and security by mastering essential skills such as managing updates, securing online presence, and utilizing system settings. - To protect accounts and sensitive information online, users should consider using a password manager, passkeys, and enabling two-factor authentication (2FA) on accounts. - A VPN with end-to-end encryption can enhance online security, and users should familiarize themselves with their web browser's security settings. - Windows 11 updates are released on the first Tuesday of each month, with a major feature update annually; users can prevent auto-restarts and pause updates for up to five weeks. - The Settings app in Windows 11 has replaced much of the Control Panel for managing system settings, and users should explore it thoroughly. - OneDrive is integrated into Windows 11 for backing up, restoring, and sharing files, and users can create encrypted folders and use Files-on-Demand. - Regularly reviewing and uninstalling unnecessary applications can help maintain PC performance, and users can manage default applications and disable startup apps via Task Manager. - Accessing the BIOS/UEFI allows for updates, security adjustments, and hardware configuration changes, typically done by pressing keys like Esc, F2, or F8 during boot.
AppWizard
March 18, 2025
Ubisoft has removed the review embargo for Assassin’s Creed: Shadows, which is powered by the AnvilNext Engine. Performance benchmarks were conducted using an AMD Ryzen 9 7950X3D processor and 32GB of DDR5 RAM, testing various graphics cards including AMD Radeon RX 6900XT, RX 7900XTX, RX 9070XT, and NVIDIA RTX 2080Ti, RTX 3080, RTX 4090, RTX 5080, and RTX 5090. The game includes a built-in benchmark tool and offers a range of graphics settings, supporting technologies like NVIDIA DLSS 3 and 4, AMD FSR 3, and Intel XeSS, as well as Ray Tracing without requiring an RT GPU. To achieve 60FPS at 1080p with Ultra High Settings and no RT, players need an AMD Radeon RX 7900XTX, NVIDIA RTX 4090, or RTX 5090. At 1440p with Ultra High Settings and no RT, both the RX 7900XTX and RTX 4090 provide smooth performance, while the RTX 5090 is necessary for 60FPS. No GPU managed satisfactory performance at Native 4K with Ultra High Settings and no RT, with the RTX 5090 struggling to maintain frame rates above 50FPS. Lowering graphics settings did not yield significant performance improvements, raising questions about potential CPU bottlenecks. The game is visually appealing but lacks RTGI effects, making it appear flat at times compared to Unreal Engine 5 titles.
AppWizard
March 17, 2025
Players of Rise of the Ronin have reported lost save data following its release on Steam, compounding existing performance issues. Koei Tecmo acknowledged the problem and is investigating the save data issues, suggesting potential remedies such as resolving conflicts with third-party file sharing services, restoring from backup save data, and ensuring Steam Cloud is activated. Players have experienced significant losses of progress due to an error code that appears when closing the game, affecting both local and cloud saves. Koei Tecmo plans to release a patch to improve PC performance and recommends capping the frame rate at 60 FPS, which has disappointed some players expecting higher performance. Players are advised to save frequently and check their Steam Cloud backups to avoid losing progress.
AppWizard
March 7, 2025
Performance in gaming is a complex topic, with debates on the importance of frame rates and visual fidelity. Some gamers prefer a steady 30 FPS, while others aim for 120 FPS or more. Newer games do not always guarantee better performance, as advanced rendering techniques can be resource-intensive. Frame rate alone is an inadequate measure of performance; both frame rate and frame time data should be considered. A flat frame-time graph is crucial for good performance, as spikes indicate stutters. Achieving a stable frame rate, such as 60 FPS on a 120 Hz display, is preferable to fluctuating rates. Performance targets should align with the monitor's refresh rate, and tools like G-Sync and RivaTuner can help optimize gaming experiences.
Winsage
March 4, 2025
Many Windows PC users experience sluggish performance due to storage overload, which can be exacerbated by ineffective automated solutions like Storage Sense. A manual cleanup can help target specific files consuming storage space. The steps for manual cleanup include: 1. Press the Windows key + R to open the Run dialog box. 2. Type "cleanmgr" and hit Enter or "OK" to open the Disk Cleanup tool. 3. Check the boxes for "Temporary Files," "Recycle Bin," and "System Cache" (or any other unnecessary files). 4. Click "OK," then select "Delete Files" to confirm. Following these steps can improve PC performance, leading to faster boot times, smoother browsing, and increased available storage. Additional optimization measures include uninstalling unused applications, deleting duplicate files, and transferring large files to external drives or cloud storage.
Winsage
March 4, 2025
Microsoft is launching the DeepSeek R1 7B and 14B distilled models via Azure AI Foundry, following the introduction of NPU-optimized versions of the DeepSeek-R1 1.5B model for Copilot+ PCs. These models will be available on Copilot+ PCs powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon X, Intel Core Ultra 200V, and AMD Ryzen processors. The NPUs in these PCs can execute over 40 trillion operations per second and are designed for efficient local AI model execution, minimizing battery and resource consumption. The DeepSeek models utilize 4-bit block-wise quantization and int4 per-channel quantization for enhanced performance. Developers can access all distilled variants of the DeepSeek models through the AI Toolkit VS Code extension, allowing for local deployment and experimentation. Copilot+ PCs combine local computing capabilities with Azure's resources, facilitating a new paradigm of continuous computing for AI applications.
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