personal computers Archives

Winsage

July 24, 2025

IT buyers are investing in AI PCs — with no clue how to use them

The adoption of AI-powered personal computers is expected to increase significantly in the coming year, driven by Qualcomm's announcement of new AI chips for affordable models priced around 0. Despite the slower evolution of AI software compared to hardware, the relevance of AI in computing is growing, with many applications utilizing AI hardware or neural processing units (NPUs). Microsoft has introduced Copilot+ PCs to promote generative AI tools and encourage the acquisition of Windows 11-compatible hardware. Major chip manufacturers like Intel, Qualcomm, and AMD are developing processors with AI capabilities for these PCs, indicating a shift in the computing landscape.

TrendTechie

July 23, 2025

Overclockers.ru: Как я перестал экономить ресурс SSD, стал качать на него торренты и убрал все HDD из игрового ПК

The author began using personal computers in the early 2000s, starting with a 4.3 GB hard drive and upgrading to larger capacities over time, including a 20 GB, 80 GB, and a 320 GB drive in 2007. By 2009, they acquired a 1 TB Western Digital Caviar Green drive and subsequently added more drives. Data loss incidents, including one involving a 3 TB Western Digital Red drive, emphasized the importance of backing up critical information. Managing multiple hard drives in a gaming PC introduced challenges such as noise, vibration, and cable management, particularly with a maximum of seven hard drives and an SSD. Heat generation from multiple drives raised concerns about optimal operating temperatures, leading the author to prefer lower RPM models for long-term storage. The market for reliable hard drives has become complicated due to rebranded drives, making replacements harder to find. Attempts to transition to a dedicated file server faced difficulties due to rapid drive failures in a standard case without proper dampening.

Winsage

July 16, 2025

Windows Secure Boot Certificate Expired in June, Microsoft Issues Warning

Microsoft has announced that Secure Boot certificates for Windows devices will begin to expire in June 2026, which may affect device functionality and security. An out-of-band update (KB5064489) was released on July 13, 2025, to address immediate security concerns and prepare systems for the certificate transition. This update includes essential quality improvements and fixes issues related to the startup of certain Azure Virtual Machines when Virtualization-Based Security (VBS) is enabled. The update is cumulative and incorporates previous security fixes. Users are advised to install the update promptly and review guidance for updating their certificates before the expiration deadline.

AppWizard

June 28, 2025

Gaming on Linux is better than ever — but it’s still bad

Linux has evolved significantly in the gaming sector, becoming a credible alternative to Microsoft for PC gaming, aided by tools like Proton and a dedicated community. However, challenges remain, such as compatibility issues and a lack of native Linux game versions. The introduction of DirectX by Microsoft solidified Windows as the primary gaming platform, creating a focus on Windows that disadvantages Linux. Proton allows many Windows games to run on Linux but does not create native versions, and essential software for graphics cards is often missing. Currently, Windows holds over a 95% share in the Steam hardware survey, while Linux accounts for only 2.69%. Despite progress, Linux still faces a long journey to become a mainstream gaming platform.

Winsage

June 25, 2025

Microsoft Launches “Mu,” New On-Device AI Model for Copilot+ PCs

Microsoft Corporation unveiled a small language model named Mu on June 23, designed for local operation on personal computers, particularly Copilot+ PCs. Mu is a 330 million parameter encoder-decoder language model optimized for deployment on Neural Processing Units (NPUs), allowing for quick responses with reduced power consumption and memory usage. It was pre-trained on a dataset of hundreds of billions of educational tokens and employs advanced fine-tuning techniques, including distillation and low-rank adaptation, along with transformer enhancements like Dual LayerNorm, Rotary Positional Embeddings, and Grouped-Query Attention. Users will access Mu's capabilities through the Windows operating system's Settings function, translating natural language inputs into system commands.

Winsage

June 14, 2025

LibreOffice backs campaign to help users move from Windows 10 to Linux – and ditch Office, too

Microsoft will end support for Windows 10 on October 14, 2025, prompting users to consider upgrading to Windows 11 or exploring alternatives like Linux. The End of 10 initiative aims to guide users toward affordable options, particularly Linux and LibreOffice, as many existing Windows 10 devices may not meet Windows 11's hardware requirements. The transition to Windows 11 may also lead to increased costs and reduced user autonomy due to its cloud-centric design. LibreOffice, an open-source productivity suite, offers essential tools without licensing fees and promotes open standards, though compatibility with Microsoft Office documents may vary. The Document Foundation suggests three steps for transitioning to Linux and LibreOffice: testing the new platform, assessing software compatibility, and providing training for users.

Tech Optimizer

June 13, 2025

‘BrowserVenom’ Windows Malware Preys on Users Looking to Run DeepSeek AI

A new strain of Windows malware called "BrowserVenom" is exploiting interest in DeepSeek's AI models by targeting users through deceptive Google ads. These ads lead to a counterfeit website, "https[:]//deepseek-platform[.]com," where users are tricked into downloading a harmful file named “AILauncher1.21.exe.” This malware monitors and manipulates internet traffic, allowing attackers to intercept sensitive data. The operation is believed to involve Russian-speaking threat actors, and the malware has infected users in several countries, including Brazil, Cuba, Mexico, India, Nepal, South Africa, and Egypt. The fraudulent domain has been suspended, but the malware can evade many antivirus solutions. Users are advised to verify official domains when downloading software.

Winsage

June 11, 2025

A worrying Windows SecureBoot issue could let hackers install malware – here’s what we know, and whether you need to update

Researchers at Binarly have identified a critical vulnerability in a widely trusted BIOS update utility that operates on most modern systems using UEFI firmware. This utility, signed with Microsoft’s UEFI CA 2011 certificate, contains a flaw that could be exploited by malicious actors to disable essential security measures and install bootkit malware on personal computers. Microsoft addressed the issue by including a fix in its June 2025 Patch Tuesday cumulative update. The UEFI Secure Boot process is crucial for maintaining system integrity by verifying the authenticity of bootloaders and operating systems.

AppWizard

June 9, 2025

Don’t have any AI apps? These are the 5 you need to install right now

AI is increasingly integrated into daily life, with many people preferring chatbot interactions over traditional Google searches due to the nuanced responses provided by AI. ChatGPT from OpenAI has evolved significantly, with a recent Android app update that includes image generation and an interactive audio mode, making interactions feel more conversational. Gemini from Google processes information across various Google applications, offering users control over memory retention from previous interactions, although it may have privacy concerns. Claude from Anthropic has introduced the Claude 4 models in its mobile app, enhancing its coding capabilities and including voice features for all users. DeepSeek, a Chinese AI, offers free access and low-cost options, excelling in web search and deep reasoning, with an open-source version available for private use. PocketPal is a downloadable Android app that operates independently of the cloud, allowing users to access open-source AI models, with smaller models like Qwen3 designed for older devices. The landscape of smartphone AI chatbots is evolving, with major Android manufacturers investing in enhancing device capabilities.

Winsage

June 2, 2025

Which USB Port Is This? Microsoft Vows To End The Lottery

The USB-C connector has become complex, with varying standards causing confusion among users. Microsoft found that over 25% of users encounter errors when connecting USB-C devices due to unsupported functionalities. To address this, Microsoft plans to establish a minimum standard for USB-C port capabilities on personal computers, which will be part of the Windows Hardware Compatibility Program. Future USB-C ports will support device charging, DisplayPort Alt-mode, and compatibility with USB 40Gbps, USB4, and Thunderbolt 3 peripherals. However, not all USB-C ports will operate at the same speeds, and existing devices will not receive these enhancements, meaning it may take years for users to benefit from the new standards.