performance benchmarks Archives

Winsage

July 11, 2026

I tested Acer’s new Swift Go 16 AI, and this affordable OLED laptop impressed me more than I had expected

The Acer Swift Go 16 AI features an Intel Core Ultra 7 355 processor, 32GB LPDDR5X RAM, integrated Intel Graphics, a 16" WUXGA (1920 x 1200) non-touch OLED display at 60Hz, a 1TB M.2 NVMe PCIe 4.0 SSD, a 71WHrs battery with a 100W USB-C charger, and weighs 2.95 lbs (1.34 kg). It has a sleek design with a reflective Acer logo and geometric patterns. Performance tests indicate it outperforms some competitors in multi-core tasks and offers quick boot times and efficient multitasking. The display provides vibrant colors but maxes out at 300 nits. It includes a backlit keyboard, a mechanical trackpad, a webcam with Windows Hello and Human Presence Detection, and has a battery life of 8 to 14 hours. Drawbacks include slight chassis flex, subpar audio quality, and pre-installed bloatware.

Winsage

July 10, 2026

Windows 11 on the Steam Machine: Valve opens the door and then leaves you out in the rain

Valve has introduced an official Windows driver package for the Steam Machine, allowing users to replace SteamOS with Windows 10 or 11 (64-bit). The package includes drivers for the graphics unit, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth modules, and SD card reader. The graphics driver is custom-designed for the Steam Machine’s AMD chip and is not compatible with standard Adrenalin drivers. Installing Windows will erase SteamOS and all stored data, and there is currently no dual-boot option available. Users must connect to an Ethernet network during setup, as Wi-Fi drivers can only be installed afterward. The drivers are provided "as-is," without official support from Valve. Performance benchmarks show that SteamOS outperforms Windows by 10 to 15 percent, but some users may prefer Windows for compatibility with certain online games and services.

Winsage

July 5, 2026

I tested the new ASUS Zenbook A14 Windows laptop, and its 2026 upgrade to Snapdragon X2 Elite impressed me

ASUS has released the Zenbook A14 (UX3407) featuring the Snapdragon X2 Elite processor, retailing at ,999.99. It includes 32GB of LPDDR5X RAM and a 1TB SSD, with a 14-inch non-touch OLED display at 1920 x 1200 resolution and a maximum refresh rate of 60Hz. Best Buy offers a version for ,349.99 with 16GB of RAM and a 512GB SSD, and another for ,799.99 with the same RAM and storage as the ASUS configuration. The laptop weighs 2.18 lbs (0.99 kg) and has a "Ceraluminum" chassis with a 'Zabriskie Beige' finish. It has a maximum brightness of 407 nits, with a peak brightness of 600 nits for certain areas, and covers 100% of the sRGB and P3 color gamuts. The Snapdragon X2 Elite processor outperforms Apple's M5 chip in benchmarks and shows significant improvements over its predecessor. Battery life is claimed to be over 33 hours under ideal conditions, but real-world testing showed a maximum of 23 hours and 38 minutes. The laptop features decent speakers and an adequate webcam, though some pre-installed applications may not be preferred by all users.

AppWizard

June 25, 2026

Google’s new rules for the app store will allow alternative billing next week

Google is overhauling its app store billing structure, moving away from the 30 percent commission rate. A tiered fee system will be introduced, allowing developers to potentially receive direct payments from users. Developers earning over one million dollars annually will have a reduced rate of 20 percent on new in-app purchases and 10 percent on subscriptions. Google is launching two new initiatives, the Games Level Up and Apps Experience programs, to reward developers who meet specific performance benchmarks and guidelines. Changes to the billing system will roll out in phases, with updates expected by the end of September 2026 and full implementation by September 30, 2027.

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.

Tech Optimizer

June 11, 2026

Avast One: Security and privacy suite under the microscope

Avast One is the flagship consumer security suite from Avast (Gen Digital), combining antivirus, firewall, VPN, and privacy utilities into a single subscription for Windows, macOS, Android, and iOS. It offers four primary areas: device security, online privacy, identity protection, and performance tools. Device security includes real-time antivirus, Web Shield, Mail Shield, and Ransomware Shield. The online privacy component features a full VPN service with bank-grade encryption and a no-logs policy. Identity protection includes data breach monitoring and, in some markets, credit monitoring. Performance tools assist with disk cleanup and system optimization. Avast One has three plan tiers: Avast One Essential (free), Avast One Individual (paid, supports multiple devices), and Avast One Family (paid, supports up to 30 devices). Pricing varies based on promotions, with Avast One Individual typically around per year and Avast One Family ranging from to 0 per year. The suite can be downloaded directly from Avast's website, with installers available for various platforms. Avast One includes automatic updates and is designed to operate lightly on modern hardware, with options to minimize system impact during scans. Customer support includes self-help documentation, community forums, and direct support for paying customers. Avast One aims to appeal to both non-technical users and power users, providing a user-friendly interface while allowing for advanced configurations. The product is positioned as a comprehensive solution for households looking to secure multiple devices with a single subscription.

Tech Optimizer

June 6, 2026

PostgreSQL vs SQL Server 2026: $0 vs $15K License

PostgreSQL has become the most utilized database for developers for two consecutive years as of 2026, while SQL Server has introduced native AI capabilities and vector search functionalities in its latest release. PostgreSQL is favored for new projects due to its permissive licensing, cross-platform operation, and extensive ecosystem of extensions, whereas SQL Server is preferred by organizations already using Microsoft products for its robust tooling and enterprise support. As of June 2026, SQL Server ranks third in the DB-Engines popularity ranking with a score of 698, while PostgreSQL ranks fourth with a score of 688. Developer adoption trends show that 49% of respondents in the Stack Overflow 2024 Developer Survey use PostgreSQL, compared to 27% for SQL Server. The latest stable version of PostgreSQL is 18.4, released on May 14, 2026, while SQL Server 2025 (version 17.x) became generally available on November 18, 2025. PostgreSQL is free under a permissive license, while SQL Server's Enterprise Edition can cost upwards of ,123 per two-core pack, with an eight-core minimum. PostgreSQL supports various operating systems, including Linux, Windows, macOS, and BSD, while SQL Server operates on Windows and Linux. PostgreSQL uses PL/pgSQL as its primary procedural language, allowing for multiple procedural languages, whereas SQL Server uses T-SQL. PostgreSQL's JSONB type offers rich indexing, while SQL Server added native JSON support in its 2025 release. Both databases are capable of handling high transaction volumes, but PostgreSQL excels in read-heavy scenarios due to its multi-version concurrency control, while SQL Server's columnstore indexes provide advantages for analytical workloads. PostgreSQL supports tables up to 32 TB, while SQL Server can handle a maximum database size of 524 PB. SQL Server's high availability technology includes Always On Availability Groups, while PostgreSQL offers built-in streaming and logical replication. The security features of both databases meet enterprise standards, with PostgreSQL providing a transparent patching process and SQL Server integrating with Microsoft tools. Real-world usage examples include Stack Overflow using SQL Server, while Instagram and Reddit utilize PostgreSQL. Developer sentiment increasingly favors PostgreSQL for new projects, emphasizing flexibility and open-source solutions. For new startups or greenfield projects, PostgreSQL is recommended due to its zero license cost and compatibility. Existing Microsoft enterprises are advised to stick with SQL Server for its integration benefits. Migration from SQL Server to PostgreSQL is becoming common, with a structured approach required for successful transitions.

Winsage

June 2, 2026

NVIDIA reveals if RTX Spark (N1X) can run all your Windows 11 apps

NVIDIA has introduced the RTX Spark, an Arm-based processor codenamed N1X, designed to run all Windows applications seamlessly in collaboration with Microsoft. The processor features up to 128GB of unified memory, native support for AI agents, and is integrated with NVIDIA’s graphics stack. The Surface Laptop Ultra is among the first devices to utilize this processor. Jensen Huang, NVIDIA's CEO, claims the RTX Spark can run 100% of NVIDIA’s software stack and has been meticulously optimized for compatibility with Windows applications. While many popular applications and games now run natively on Windows on Arm, NVIDIA has not yet released performance benchmarks for the RTX Spark. The "Prism" emulator allows Windows apps designed for x86 processors to run on Arm hardware through real-time translation, enhancing performance. Recent updates to Windows 11 have improved support for various x86 extensions, increasing compatibility for applications.

Winsage

May 29, 2026

New Qualcomm Chip Could Make Your Next Windows Laptop Cheaper Than A MacBook Neo

Hardware prices are increasing due to high demand for RAM and components driven by artificial intelligence growth, affecting sectors like gaming and smartphones. The Steam Deck has already seen a price rise. Qualcomm has launched the Snapdragon C platform, which may allow Windows ARM laptops to be priced as low as 9, potentially making them affordable alternatives to the MacBook Neo. Acer, HP, and Lenovo are among the first manufacturers to use the Snapdragon C, with the Acer Aspire Go 15 featuring this chip. The Snapdragon C utilizes Qualcomm's Kryo CPU cores, and while specific pricing and performance details are not yet available, the Acer Aspire Go 15 is expected to have a 512 GB storage drive, 8 GB of RAM, and a 1920 x 1080 display. Actual pricing will depend on hardware configurations, and a comparison with the MacBook Neo will require performance benchmarks.

AppWizard

May 1, 2026

PC Builder Proves You Can Game Without Touching the Usual Trio of Intel, NVIDIA and AMD

A gaming PC was built using components from lesser-known manufacturers instead of the typical Intel, NVIDIA, and AMD. The key components include a KaiXian KX-7000 processor from Zhaoxin with 8 cores, 8 threads, and a maximum clock speed of 3.6 GHz, paired with a Moore Threads MTT S80 graphics card featuring 16GB of GDDR6 memory and a clock speed of 1.8 GHz. The system booted into Windows 11 after resolving initial memory issues, utilizing a single 16GB Samsung workstation stick. The total investment in the CPU and motherboard was around 0. Performance benchmarks included a Geekbench single-core score of 789 and a multi-core score of 3,344, a Cinebench R23 single-core score of 570 and a multi-core score of 4,432, and 3DMark scores of 3,682 for graphics and 3,625 for the CPU.