performance enhancements Archives

AppWizard

November 7, 2024

First Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered PC Patch brings performance and stability improvements

Nixxes has released Patch 1.1 for Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered, which includes bug fixes and performance enhancements. Key fixes include resolving a crash related to mouse and keyboard controls, addressing disappearing or flickering shadows in Meridian for ultrawide resolutions, and correcting a floating bow issue during cinematics. The update also aligns the audio volume of pre-rendered cut scenes with gameplay. Improvements have been made to Steam Input, HUD markers for objectives, and various user interface elements, alongside general performance and stability enhancements. A PSN account is required to access the remaster, and there are no plans to remove this requirement. The update will be automatically downloaded via Steam.

AppWizard

November 4, 2024

Grand Theft Auto V Expanded And Enhanced Edition Is Finally Coming To PC In 2025

Rockstar Games announced that Grand Theft Auto V on PC will receive an update to the Expanded and Enhanced Edition. This update will bring new content, including features from the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S versions to PC, such as improved graphics, performance enhancements, and access to Hao’s Special Works customs auto shop. The update is expected to allow gameplay at up to 4K resolution and 60 FPS, with better load times and potential features like 3D audio and haptic feedback. The Expanded and Enhanced Edition was originally launched on March 15, 2022, for consoles. There is speculation that the update may coincide with the release of Grand Theft Auto 6, potentially in 2025.

Winsage

November 3, 2024

This new backup solution natively supports Copilot+ ARM-based Windows devices

Macrium has introduced Reflect X, a backup and recovery software specifically designed for Copilot+ ARM-based Windows devices. It features native bare metal recovery and boot menu recovery options, enhancing performance with image restoration speeds up to five times faster than its predecessor due to improved compression techniques and multithreading optimization. Reflect X aims to address downtime challenges faced by industries like OEM, manufacturing, and energy, allowing for rapid recovery from system failures or cyberattacks. It helps businesses meet their Recovery Point Objectives (RPO) and Recovery Time Objectives (RTO). Additionally, Macrium has made backup files generated with Reflect X open source, allowing for greater specialization in backup, recovery, and image deployment solutions.

Winsage

November 2, 2024

Frustrated with Windows 11? Nitrux Linux is the OS you deserve

Nitrux is a modern Linux operating system designed for speed, simplicity, and elegance. The latest version, Nitrux 3.7.1, features an updated Linux 6.11.5-1 system, focusing on performance, security, and compatibility. It includes software enhancements like Firefox 132.0, MESA 24.2.4 for graphics, and the latest Nvidia and AMD drivers, along with support for new hardware such as Qualcomm’s Wi-Fi 6 and Intel graphics. Performance improvements are aimed at gamers and developers, with enhanced network settings, memory optimizations, and a redesigned display manager (SDDM). New GameMode support optimizes settings for gaming, and security measures have been strengthened against network attacks. The KZones feature allows users to snap windows into custom zones, and soft word wrapping is enabled by default in the micro editor for developers. Users can download Nitrux 3.7.1 and run it as a live OS to test its capabilities.

Winsage

November 2, 2024

Microsoft: Ditch Windows 10 for Windows 11 for better speed, efficiency, and AI

The end of support for Windows 10 is set for October 14, 2025. Users must decide to either upgrade to Windows 11, if their hardware is compatible, or choose an extended security update for an additional year of security patches. Microsoft encourages the transition to Windows 11, highlighting improvements in speed and efficiency, with claims of performance enhancements for PCs with the latest Copilot+ technology. Windows 11 is marketed as the most secure version of Windows, featuring TPM 2.0, Smart App Control, and the Pluton security processor, which purportedly reduce security incidents by up to 62% compared to Windows 10. Organizations may benefit from 50% faster workflows with tools like Windows Autopilot and Intune. Since its release in 2021, Windows 11 has received updates that improve animations and interface design while remaining compatible with Windows 10 applications. Users with older hardware may not experience the same performance benefits, and the option for extended security updates until October 2026 is available for a fee.

Winsage

October 31, 2024

Microsoft slams the brakes on its new Windows 11 update after it caused some PCs to crash and broke webcams

Microsoft has paused the deployment of the Windows 11 update 24H2 for specific hardware configurations due to technical challenges. PCs with Intel Z890 motherboards are significantly affected, experiencing issues such as reboot cycles and Blue Screen of Death (BSOD) errors. Similar problems have been reported with motherboards from MSI and Gigabyte. Users have found a temporary workaround by disabling integrated graphics in BIOS settings. ASUS laptop models X415KA and X515KA also face BSOD errors post-update, and users of the Voicemeeter application report crashes. Devices with integrated cameras have malfunctioned, affecting features like object and face detection. Microsoft advises against manually installing the update on blocked devices. For successful installations, the update includes enhancements like a new Copilot AI assistant, support for 7z and TAR compression in File Explorer, improved security features, and system-wide support for Wi-Fi 7.

Winsage

October 25, 2024

Microsoft Is Finally Making Installation of Windows Updates a Breeze

Steve DiAcetis, Principal Program Manager Lead at Microsoft, announced that the upcoming Windows 11 24H2 update will significantly improve the update installation experience by reducing installation times, restart durations, and CPU usage. The update will provide a 45.6% faster installation time compared to Windows 11 22H2, a 39.7% reduction in restart time, and a 15.3% decrease in CPU usage. Tests on a PC that hadn't received updates for 18 months showed a 43.6% increase in installation speed, a 33.5% faster restart time, and a 25% reduction in CPU usage. The servicing stack for Windows 11 22H2 is comparable to 23H2, indicating that improvements in 24H2 may apply to earlier versions as well. Feature updates will be approximately 200 MB smaller, achieved by integrating system applications into monthly updates, while other applications will be updated through the Microsoft Store.

Winsage

October 24, 2024

Windows 11 24H2 installs updates much faster thanks to Windows Update improvements

Windows 11 version 24H2, released on October 1, includes significant enhancements to Windows Update aimed at improving installation processes and resource usage. Key performance improvements include a 45.6% faster installation time, a 39.7% reduction in restart times, and over a 15% decrease in CPU usage during cumulative updates compared to versions 22H2 and 23H2. Even devices with outdated installations saw a 43.6% improvement in installation time, a 33.5% reduction in restart time, and a 25% decrease in CPU usage. These advancements are attributed to parallel processing of component manifests, optimized reading and parsing of component manifests, and scalable use of available RAM. Additionally, feature updates have become more efficient, reducing the overall update size by an additional 200MB. A guide is available for users to update to Windows 11 version 24H2, including on unsupported devices.

Tech Optimizer

October 24, 2024

MotherDuck Announces Beta Release of pg_duckdb; Brings DuckDB’s Analytics Power to PostgreSQL Users

MotherDuck has released a beta version of pg_duckdb, an extension that integrates DuckDB's analytics engine into PostgreSQL, improving analytical query performance significantly. The extension allows users to execute complex analytical queries up to 1500x faster than native PostgreSQL, query data from Data Lakes and Lakehouses like AWS S3, work with columnar file formats such as Parquet and Iceberg, and scale analytics workloads using MotherDuck's cloud resources. Initial testing showed a query that took 81.8 seconds in native PostgreSQL was completed in 52 milliseconds with pg_duckdb, demonstrating a 1500x improvement. The development team is enhancing the extension with additional features, and users can access a pre-built Docker image or installation instructions from the project's GitHub repository.

Winsage

October 24, 2024

Windows 11 Version 24H2 updates are faster and require less CPU usage — Microsoft claims up to 45.6% faster installation times and 25% lower CPU utilization

Microsoft has begun rolling out the Windows 11 24H2 update, introducing features like the Recall feature and improving the Windows Update process. The update can reduce installation times by 45.6% and lower CPU usage during updates by 25%. Key optimizations include parallel processing of component manifests, caching of update manifests, and scalable RAM usage. Some users with specific SSDs from Western Digital and SanDisk have experienced Blue Screen of Death (BSOD) errors, while users with AMD's Ryzen CPUs have seen performance improvements.