power modes Archives

Winsage

March 24, 2025

Unlock turbo performance on your PC with this secret Windows tweak

Windows has a hidden power mode called Ultimate Performance that can enhance PC performance without hardware upgrades. This mode is typically concealed on consumer PCs and is primarily intended for high-end workstations running Windows Pro, but it can also be accessed on Windows Home. To activate it, users need to open PowerShell and enter a specific command, then select Ultimate Performance from the power plan options. While this mode maximizes speed and responsiveness, it consumes more power, which can decrease battery life on laptops and generate additional heat and noise from the cooling system. It is recommended to use this mode during intensive tasks and not in quiet or public environments.

BetaBeacon

March 22, 2025

This overkill Android Game Boy is better than my memories of the real thing

The AYANEO Pocket DMG is a luxury, Game Boy-styled handheld device that offers a classic vertical format for enjoying retro games.

Winsage

February 25, 2025

This Windows 11 battery app just got a major upgrade, including more support for the Surface Pro 11 and Surface Laptop 7

Microsoft is enhancing the battery icon for Windows 11, while the third-party application "Battery Flyout" by Michał Łeptuch provides deeper insights into battery health. The app allows users to toggle power modes and offers detailed charts of battery usage over time. Recently, Battery Flyout received an update that includes a functional power slider on ARM64 devices, the ability to generate a comprehensive battery report, minor stability and performance enhancements, and new settings for customizing the tray icon style. Battery Flyout can display battery percentage, a feature currently being tested in Windows 11. Michał Łeptuch is also known for developing other applications like Calendar Flyout and Fluent Emoji Gallery, among others, to enhance the Windows 11 experience.

Winsage

December 12, 2024

7 settings to change on your Windows 11 PC to maximize battery life

Windows PCs, particularly newer laptop models, have improved battery performance, but users often experience reduced battery life over time. A three-year-old Windows laptop may drop from six to seven hours of screen time to struggling to reach three hours. Software adjustments can help maximize battery life. 1. Lowering screen brightness to around 30-40% can extend battery life. 2. The Battery Saver option in Windows 11 can be manually enabled to disable power-hungry activities. 3. Reducing display and sleep timeout settings can conserve energy. 4. Disabling unnecessary startup applications can save battery resources. 5. Turning off animation effects can improve battery life, especially on older devices. 6. Shutting down the laptop instead of just closing the lid can prevent unexpected battery drain. 7. Changing the power mode from Balanced to Best power efficiency can significantly extend battery life.

Winsage

September 1, 2024

Asus ROG Ally X review: Better performance and feel in a pricey package

The ROG Ally X from Asus is a handheld gaming device priced at 9. It features a 7-inch IPS display with a resolution of 1920×1080, a refresh rate of 120 Hz, and a brightness of 500 nits. The device runs on Windows 11 and is powered by an AMD Ryzen Z1 Extreme CPU with 8 cores and a maximum clock speed of 5.10 GHz. It includes 24GB of LPDDR5X RAM, an AMD Radeon RDNA3 GPU, and 1TB of M.2 NVME Gen4x4 storage. Networking capabilities include Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.2, while it has an 80 Wh battery with a maximum charge of 65W. The device measures 11×4.3×0.97 inches and weighs 1.49 lbs. Key upgrades include a larger battery, improved RAM, and ergonomic design enhancements. The ROG Ally X offers better battery life and performance in demanding games, although it still faces challenges with Windows as an operating system for handheld use.

Winsage

August 20, 2024

Gamers rejoice! Windows 11 will soon let you keep HDR off for games, but have it enabled for streaming videos.

Windows 11 Build 27686 has been rolled out to Insiders in the Canary Channel. This build introduces several features, including the ability to set Power Mode based on whether the PC is plugged in or on battery, accessible through the Settings app. Users can now enable HDR video streaming even when HDR is turned off. The updated Windows Sandbox Client Preview is available through the Microsoft Store, featuring runtime clipboard redirection, audio/video input control, and folder sharing with the host. A new detach virtual hard disk (VHD/VHDx) button has been added to the Settings app. Optimizations have been made to enhance battery life for PCs running Build 27686 and above. Background network tests will be conducted on devices to gather diagnostic data, consuming up to 10MB/day. The FAT32 size limit for formatting disks from the command line has been increased from 32GB to 2TB.

Winsage

August 19, 2024

You can finally pick different power modes for battery or plugged in with the latest Windows 11 Insider build, ending the tyranny of one power setting for all

The latest Windows 11 Insider Canary build (Build 27686) introduces the ability to select distinct power modes for gaming laptops based on whether the device is plugged in or running on battery. Users can choose from options such as Best Performance, Balanced, or Best Power Efficiency. This update enhances user control over device performance, allowing for tailored settings rather than automatic adjustments. Additionally, the FAT32 partition size limit has been increased from 32 GB to 2 TB, and a new HDR streaming feature has been introduced, although it does not yet address existing HDR gaming challenges on Windows.

Winsage

August 18, 2024

Windows 11 preview update adds new Power mode options

Windows 11 Build 27686 introduces support for 2TB storage on FAT32, enhances Windows Sandbox functionality, and improves HDR settings control. A new feature allows users to customize power modes for devices when plugged in or on battery, enabling distinct settings such as "Best Performance," "Balanced," or "Best Power Efficiency" for each state. Users can set their preferred Power Mode in the Settings menu, allowing for automatic transitions between modes based on the power source.