powerful hardware Archives

Winsage

November 25, 2025

Microsoft is speeding up and decluttering File Explorer in Windows 11

Microsoft is enhancing the File Explorer in Windows 11 with a preloading feature to improve startup speed, particularly on less powerful hardware like handhelds and tablets. Users will have the option to disable this feature if they prefer not to run File Explorer in the background. Additionally, the context menu is being refined to declutter the interface by moving less frequently used actions into submenus and introducing a new manage file flyout that consolidates various functions. Cloud file options will also be organized into a dedicated flyout. These updates are currently in testing in the latest Dev preview builds, with a broader rollout expected in early 2026.

AppWizard

November 24, 2025

Bloodborne sees a massive performance boost thanks to PS4 emulator update, with hunters’ dreams becoming more accessible on Steam Deck

The ShadPS4 emulator's version 0.12.6 significantly enhances the performance of Bloodborne on PC, making it more accessible for users with less powerful hardware. The emulator offers a stable experience, with average frames per second (fps) more than doubling compared to previous versions. A side-by-side comparison showed gameplay at 1440p on a PC with an Intel Core i5-13500 CPU and an RTX 3060 Ti GPU. On the Steam Deck OLED, the game maintains around 60 fps in handheld mode, with dips to approximately 40 fps during intense encounters, while docked mode achieves a stable 30 fps. Additional mods may be necessary for stability, and there is no official remaster planned for Bloodborne.

AppWizard

October 29, 2025

How Was THIS the First Game I Finished on My New PC?

The author recently upgraded to a new gaming PC and completed LEGO Horizon Adventures, a family-friendly game part of Sony's 2024 initiative. The game, built on Unreal Engine 5, has faced criticism for its system requirements and performance issues, but it performed well on the author's PC, especially with Nvidia's DLSS 4. The game features high production value and effective use of lighting and environmental detail, although it condenses a longer narrative into a shorter format. It was developed by Studio Gobo and Sony, not the usual TT Games team. The author created a document to track completed games and noted that LEGO Horizon Adventures is the only entry so far. The review was self-funded, with no compensation received from developers.

Winsage

October 16, 2025

Upgrading your Windows 10 PC? I answered the toughest question about buying laptops for you

Laptops can be categorized into three primary usage types: school, work, and gaming. For school laptops, key factors are battery life and durability, with a recommended battery life of 12 hours or more. A sturdy 13- or 14-inch laptop is ideal for tasks like writing and web browsing. Notable options include the Dell Inspiron 14 Plus (up to 21 hours of battery life) and the Lenovo Chromebook Plus (2K OLED touchscreen). The M1 MacBook Air is available for 9. Work laptops require powerful processors for demanding tasks like video conferencing and data analysis. Examples include the Lenovo ThinkPad X9 Aura Edition (Intel Core Ultra 7 258V) and the Dell Premium 16 (4K touchscreen, Nvidia GeForce RTX 5070). The HP EliteBook Ultra G1i features a 9MP webcam and 2.8K OLED display. Gaming laptops prioritize performance and display quality, with a preference for high refresh rates. The Alienware 18 Area-51 (Nvidia GeForce RTX 5070) and Lenovo Legion Pro 7i (16-inch 240Hz OLED display) are highlighted. The Asus ROG Zephyrus G14 features an AMD Ryzen 9 8945HS CPU and Nvidia GeForce RTX 4060. Versatile models that can handle all three categories include the MacBook Pro M4, Dell 14 Plus, and Acer Swift 16 AI, which features a 3K OLED display and Intel Core Ultra processors.

AppWizard

October 2, 2025

Amazon’s new Fire TV OS streams Android apps on worse hardware for the same price… why?

Amazon introduced the Fire TV Stick Select, featuring the new Vega OS, at its fall hardware event. The device will include a mix of Vega-native applications and clients using Amazon Web Services (AWS) for streaming, with existing Fire TV apps adaptable to the new platform. Developers will have nine months of free app streaming to create native Vega applications. The Fire TV Stick Select is priced similarly to the Fire TV Stick 4K Max but has less powerful hardware, including Wi-Fi 5 and limited HDR support. Concerns exist regarding the user experience, particularly if streaming quality is poor, which could affect Amazon's reputation in the market. The Appstore will indicate cloud notices for non-native apps, but user understanding of this feature may vary.

AppWizard

September 29, 2025

Game Optimization Issues Are Getting Out Of Hand In 2025

In 2025, PC gaming faces significant challenges due to a decline in game optimization, particularly for titles developed with Unreal Engine 5. Gamers are experiencing performance issues, often requiring top-tier hardware for a seamless experience, even with the latest GPUs. Many contemporary games demand excessive hardware capabilities, raising concerns about the disparity between visual fidelity and performance. Reliance on upscaling technologies like DLSS, FSR, and Frame Generation has become necessary to maintain playable frame rates, while features like ray tracing add complexity and performance costs. Poor optimization is more pronounced on PC than on consoles, which manage poorly optimized games more consistently. Developers need to recognize that not all gamers have access to powerful hardware, and addressing optimization concerns is crucial for the future of PC gaming.

AppWizard

September 24, 2025

Recommended Light PC Games, These Are The Types

Light PC games are designed to be accessible to a wide audience due to their minimal hardware requirements, allowing them to be played on standard computers or laptops without high-end specifications. The estimated minimum specifications for light gaming include a dual-core processor or equivalent, at least 4GB of RAM, integrated graphics or an entry-level dedicated card, and a minimum of 1GB of free storage space. Various genres of light games include adventure, RPG, simulation, strategy, puzzle, FPS, and fighting, providing diverse gaming experiences without the need for powerful hardware.

Winsage

September 8, 2025

Worried about Windows 10’s death? Don’t fret – Tiny11 is a lightweight version of Windows 11 that cuts bloatware and can run on older hardware

Microsoft is set to end support for Windows 10 on October 14. Tiny11 is a custom lightweight build designed for older or less powerful hardware, developed by ntdevlabs and available on GitHub. It removes much of the bloatware from Windows 11, allowing users to upgrade without hardware limitations. The latest release of Tiny11 is optimized for Windows 11 25H2. The Xbox app is removed in the Tiny11 build, but users can reinstall it using the tiny11maker script. Tiny11 offers a decluttered experience, appealing to gamers and power users focused on performance.

Winsage

August 21, 2025

LibreOffice 25.8 Strengthens Privacy Focus in Competitive Office Suite Market

LibreOffice 25.8 has been released by The Document Foundation, emphasizing user privacy and data control. The update features significant performance improvements, with Writer and Calc opening files up to thirty percent faster and enhanced memory management for older machines. It improves compatibility with Microsoft Office file formats, reworks word hyphenation and spacing, and adds fifteen new spreadsheet functions. The software now supports exports to the PDF 2.0 standard and introduces new scripting capabilities. However, it no longer supports Windows 7, 8, and 32-bit systems, and macOS 10.15 users will receive their final update. LibreOffice remains free, without subscriptions or advertising, and offers professional support through certified partners.

AppWizard

August 1, 2025

Battlefield 6 requirements suggest it’ll run on surprisingly modest PCs — EA VP says it still won’t work on Steam Deck, though

Battlefield 6 (BF6) is scheduled for release on October 10, 2025, for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC. The game requires a 10th-generation Intel processor or an AMD Ryzen 3000 series chip, along with an Nvidia RTX 3060 Ti or an AMD RX 6700 XT graphics card for optimal performance. It will not be playable on the Steam Deck but may work on other handheld devices that support external GPUs. Recommended specifications for BF6 include 16GB of memory and 80GB of storage. The Battlefield series has historically been less demanding in terms of graphics compared to other AAA titles.