performance metrics

AppWizard
September 4, 2026
Tomorrow marks the official release of Onimusha: Way of the Sword, and Capcom has provided a PC benchmark tool for gamers. Benchmark tests were conducted using an AMD Ryzen 9 7950X3D processor, 32GB of DDR5 RAM at 6000MHz, and various graphics cards including AMD’s Radeon RX 6900XT, RX 7900XTX, RX 9070XT, and NVIDIA’s RTX 2080Ti, RTX 3080, RTX 4090, RTX 5080, and RTX 5090, on Windows 10 64-bit with specific drivers. The game includes customizable graphics settings such as Textures, Meshes, Sky, Foliage, Shadows, Ray Tracing, NVIDIA’s DLSS 4.5, and AMD’s FSR 3.1. At 1080p with Max Settings, the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090 showed a bottleneck but achieved an average framerate exceeding 220FPS, with all tested GPUs maintaining over 60FPS. At 1440p with Max Settings, the top five GPUs also performed well, with the NVIDIA RTX 3080 providing a smooth experience, and the AMD Radeon RX 6900XT averaging 68FPS. At Native 4K with Max Settings, the NVIDIA RTX 4090, RTX 5080, and RTX 5090 maintained framerates above 60FPS, while the AMD Radeon RX 9070XT and RX 7900XTX offered satisfactory performance. The game's graphical fidelity does not match the latest Resident Evil titles, with noticeable visual shortcomings despite being powered by the RE Engine. The Ray Tracing feature does not significantly enhance visuals. The PC demo and benchmarking process showed no stutters or performance issues, even with Denuvo anti-tamper technology in use. Overall, Onimusha: Way of the Sword runs well on PC without requiring high-end specifications, although its visuals may not impress players.
Winsage
September 3, 2026
Microsoft plans to automatically activate Memory Integrity on a broader range of eligible systems starting October 2026, rolling it out through standard Windows quality updates. Prior to activation, Windows will assess hardware, drivers, and performance to ensure compatibility. Memory Integrity, part of Virtualization-based Security (VBS), uses the Windows hypervisor to create a secure environment for integrity checks on kernel code. Compatibility with drivers is crucial, as many older applications may not meet the stricter standards required for HVCI. Potential compatibility issues may arise with anti-cheat solutions, third-party input methods, and banking protection programs, which could lead to software malfunctions or boot failures. A readiness check will evaluate hardware compatibility, with eligible systems including Intel processors from the 8th generation, AMD processors from Zen 2, and Qualcomm Snapdragon 8180 or newer, along with specific RAM and storage requirements. The rollout will be gradual, and users who previously disabled HVCI will not face unexpected reactivation. Microsoft recommends updating affected applications or drivers in case of compatibility issues.
Winsage
August 30, 2026
Microsoft is set to release a significant update to Windows 11, version 26H2, in the Release Preview Channel, with a general rollout expected in a few weeks. The update includes a new user interface, such as the ability to reposition the Taskbar, and various enhancements. There is currently no new Surface device to showcase these changes, which is seen as a missed opportunity. Microsoft has integrated Windows 11 with Snapdragon technology, as shown by the Surface Pro 11, which highlights the potential of fanless, Snapdragon-powered PCs. However, marketing the new features of Windows 11 poses challenges, particularly for under-the-hood enhancements.
Winsage
August 30, 2026
For over a decade, Windows managed graphics card operations through a single CPU thread. In May 2020, Microsoft introduced Hardware-Accelerated GPU Scheduling (HAGS), allowing users to transfer scheduling tasks to the GPU. HAGS shifts scheduling from the CPU to a dedicated processor on the GPU, reducing CPU overhead. The introduction of WDDM 3.0 with Windows 11 21H2 requires HAGS for the basic hardware flip queue, which reduces power consumption. The advanced hardware flip queue, which addresses presentation latency, also requires HAGS. With Windows 11 24H2 and WDDM 3.2, native GPU fences were introduced, allowing the GPU to manage dependencies without CPU intervention. Nvidia's frame generation features require HAGS, while Intel's Arc B-series cards do not. The state of HAGS is determined by GPU drivers, and applications like OBS have shown caution towards HAGS due to historical issues.
Winsage
August 21, 2026
Windows 11's right-click context menu has received mixed reviews since its launch, with users finding it cluttered and slower than the Windows 10 version. Microsoft has acknowledged these issues and is working on updates to improve the menu's performance and customization options. The legacy context menu from Windows 10 remains accessible through the “Show more options” feature, although it will not appear by default. Microsoft is providing guidance to developers to help transition their applications to the new context menu format while ensuring that users who prefer the classic menu can still access it.
Tech Optimizer
August 20, 2026
Surfshark offers a cybersecurity package called Surfshark One, which includes antivirus capabilities and a VPN service. The overall rating for Surfshark is 4.1/5, with specific ratings of 3.7/5 for protection, 4.5/5 for performance, 3.3/5 for features, 5.0/5 for support, and 4.5/5 for value. The antivirus component has a 93.44% malware detection rate and a 95% phishing detection rate with no false alarms. Surfshark One costs .79 per month and includes features like real-time protection, scheduled scans, breach alerts, a private search engine, and webcam protection. The One+ tier adds Incogni data removal and identity theft insurance. Surfshark Antivirus is not available as a standalone product and lacks features such as a firewall, password manager, and parental controls. It is compatible with Windows, macOS, and Android. Surfshark provides a 30-day money-back guarantee on all plans.
Tech Optimizer
August 12, 2026
NordVPN received the highest AAA certification from West Coast Labs for its built-in antivirus tool, achieving a 99.1% malware detection rate. Artifact Security recognized NordVPN as the fastest and most reliable VPN provider in a global performance test, where it scored 91 and earned the Platinum award. In testing on the Windows platform, NordVPN recorded an average download speed of 271.9 Mbps and a peak median of 568.4 Mbps, with a tunnel establishment time of 1.8 seconds and a 98% success rate. All tested providers, including NordVPN, passed various leak tests without data escaping the encrypted tunnel.
AppWizard
July 31, 2026
Garkus repurposed three Advantech DS-081 mini PCs, previously used by Subway, which are powered by Intel Core i3 6100U processors with Intel HD Graphics 520 and originally had 4GB of RAM, later upgraded to 8GB. The mini PCs were designed for continuous operation in temperatures from 0 to 40°C (32 to 104°F) and initially ran Windows in kiosk mode. Garkus tested various operating systems, including Bazzite Linux and macOS Monterey. He successfully ran Peggle but struggled with Grand Theft Auto V, which averaged around 15 fps and experienced long load times and crashes. Testing Mario Kart Wii emulation and Minecraft yielded inconsistent results, with Minecraft hovering around 25 fps. Garkus concluded that the mini PCs are better suited for emulating older consoles, particularly up to the PlayStation 2 and original Xbox era, recommending lighter games and lower settings for a smoother experience.
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