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The Latest Monster Hunter Wilds PC perf drama explained
AppWizard
January 18, 2026

The Latest Monster Hunter Wilds PC perf drama explained

A Reddit post by user de_Tylmarande claimed that purchasing downloadable content (DLC) could improve frame rates in the PC version of Monster Hunter Wilds. Testing revealed that the performance issues were due to a bug related to the game's frequent checks for DLC presence, particularly in specific hub areas. Using a mod called "Less DLC Checks," which integrates with the RE Framework modding tool, players observed significant performance improvements: 11.4% at maximum settings, 20% at high settings, and 25.6% at low settings when DLC checks were blocked. The performance hit primarily occurs near a Support Desk felyne, indicating the availability of DLC. Capcom has not officially addressed the issue, and while the narrative about DLC enhancing performance was debunked, it raises concerns about the company's quality assurance processes.
Benchmarking Windows Against Itself, From Windows XP To Windows 11
Winsage
January 3, 2026

Benchmarking Windows Against Itself, From Windows XP To Windows 11

TrigrZolt conducted benchmarks on multiple Windows versions (XP, Vista, 7, 8.1, 10, and 11) using a Lenovo ThinkPad X220. Windows 8.1 had the fastest startup time due to its Fast Boot feature, while Windows 11 was notably slow, struggling to load the taskbar. Windows XP had the smallest installation size and least RAM usage at 800 MB, compared to Windows 11's 3.3 GB. In memory management tests with the Supermium browser, Windows XP and Windows 11 performed similarly under heavy usage, but Windows 7 and 8.1 managed to keep over 200 tabs open before hitting the 5 GB RAM limit. Windows 11 also performed poorly in battery life, video rendering, and application launch times, with users experiencing significant delays. The poor performance of Windows 11 is attributed to extensive code rewrites since Windows 7 and the default storage encryption with BitLocker, which slows performance. Microsoft has implemented workarounds to improve File Explorer's responsiveness. Overall, the trend indicates that increasing resource demands can lead to inefficiencies in software performance.
8GB Nvidia and AMD graphics card prices are plummeting, as PC gamers demand more VRAM
AppWizard
October 16, 2025

8GB Nvidia and AMD graphics card prices are plummeting, as PC gamers demand more VRAM

Gamers are increasingly avoiding 8GB graphics cards, despite their lower prices compared to 16GB models. AMD Radeon RX 9060 XT 8GB cards are currently priced at 9.99, below the MSRP, and similar discounts are seen for Nvidia GeForce RTX 5060 Ti 8GB cards. Reviews indicate that 8GB of VRAM is becoming inadequate for modern games, with performance issues noted even at 1080p resolution. For example, in tests, 8GB cards like the RTX 4060 Ti and RTX 5060 struggle significantly in demanding games. In contrast, 16GB cards perform better, with the 16GB Radeon RX 9060 XT averaging 103fps at 4K. The market reflects this trend, as 16GB cards maintain their value while 8GB options are discounted. The Nvidia GeForce RTX 5060, despite having 8GB VRAM, remains stable in price due to brand strength and lack of competition. Overall, there is a growing preference for 16GB graphics cards among gamers.
As yet another Stellaris DLC lands to negative outcry, Paradox admits fixing performance is a "long haul"
AppWizard
October 3, 2025

As yet another Stellaris DLC lands to negative outcry, Paradox admits fixing performance is a “long haul”

The Stellaris DLC, Shadows of the Shroud, has received a 43% positive rating on Steam, primarily due to performance issues such as bugs, desyncs, crashes, and instability, rather than the content itself. Game director Stephen 'Eladrin' Muray acknowledged these challenges and mentioned that the open beta for patch 4.1.4 revealed critical issues, leading to a new open beta, 4.1.5, focused on fixes. Performance is a top priority for the Stellaris team, with a subteam dedicated to diagnosing and resolving issues. Muray noted an unusually large number of ships in late-game saves, attributed to enhanced economies from version 4.0, and highlighted the AI's improved naval capacity. The performance of version 4.1 is marginally better than 3.14 until around 2300, after which performance diverges sharply. The team is working on reducing ship counts through economic balancing and mechanical changes. QA analyst 'Gosia' confirmed the team's commitment to performance testing across various machine specifications. Muray mentioned that the performance team is rewriting how modifiers are calculated, which could positively impact late-game performance. He also discussed a new mod that increases ship costs and power to reduce vessel numbers and emphasized the need to address non-linear growth in the post-4.0 economy. Multiplayer stability and desyncs are ongoing concerns, with the team actively working to resolve these issues and encouraging players to report problems.
How we loaded a petabyte into PostgreSQL before New Year — and what happened next
Tech Optimizer
August 26, 2025

How we loaded a petabyte into PostgreSQL before New Year — and what happened next

A team decided to test PostgreSQL's capabilities with a one-petabyte database, setting a challenge for December 10, with a report due by January 20. They initially sought cloud storage but found no provider could meet their requirement for a single chunk of storage, leading them to rent physical servers. They used Shardman, a distributed database engine, to manage the database across seven servers. They employed the YCSB benchmark for performance testing and faced various challenges, including data loading issues and hardware problems. By January 15, they reached 863 terabytes of data generation, falling short of their petabyte goal, and documented their findings for future reference.
In an embarrassment for Microsoft, SteamOS seems to destroy Windows 11 on gaming performance and battery life, as well as usability
Winsage
May 26, 2025

In an embarrassment for Microsoft, SteamOS seems to destroy Windows 11 on gaming performance and battery life, as well as usability

Early comparisons between SteamOS and Windows 11 on identical hardware show that SteamOS offers significantly better gaming performance, particularly in battery life. The Lenovo Legion Go S, when running SteamOS, provides over six hours of gameplay on 2D games like Dead Cells, while the Windows version only achieves 2.75 hours. Despite Windows 11's compatibility with various gaming platforms, it has faced criticism for performance issues and unnecessary features. Windows holds a dominant market share of about 70% in desktop operating systems, but the rise of SteamOS may challenge this position.
3 times Microsoft has tried (and failed) to reinvent PC gaming
AppWizard
March 24, 2025

3 times Microsoft has tried (and failed) to reinvent PC gaming

Microsoft has faced criticism from the PC gaming community due to frequent Windows updates causing crashes and altering features. The Universal Windows Platform (UWP), introduced in the mid-2010s to unify operating systems, faced backlash from gamers for restricting access to game files and complicating third-party software use. Many developers bypassed UWP, leading Microsoft to reintroduce Win32 games by 2019. DirectX 10 was exclusive to Windows Vista, resulting in only 87 games being developed for it due to the unpopularity of Vista and lack of backward compatibility. Games for Windows Live (GFWL) aimed to bring Xbox Live to PC but became frustrating due to its closed ecosystem, leading to accessibility issues and unplayable titles after server shutdowns. Microsoft has since improved the gaming experience on Windows, focusing on user choice and compatibility, with features like Auto HDR and DirectStorage integrated into Windows 11.
AMD's most powerful processor ever actually runs better on Windows 10 than Windows 11
Winsage
March 13, 2025

AMD’s most powerful processor ever actually runs better on Windows 10 than Windows 11

Recent benchmarks indicate that AMD's Ryzen 9 9950X3D performs better on Windows 10 than on Windows 11. In gaming tests, it achieved 729 fps on Windows 10 compared to 710 fps on Windows 11, with a further decline when virtualization-based security (VBS) was enabled. For example, in Fortnite, it recorded 591 fps on Windows 10 and 541 fps on Windows 11, with VBS causing a 9.2% performance drop. Other games also showed similar discrepancies between the two operating systems. A custom-tuned version of Windows 11 24H2 did not outperform a standard installation of Windows 10. The Ryzen 9 9950X3D was released on March 12, 2025, and is priced at 9/£699/AU,349. It features 16 cores, but only eight access the 3D V-cache, which may affect its performance compared to the Ryzen 7 9800X3D.
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