Processor Archives

Winsage

November 8, 2024

Microsoft tests emulator to bring support for x64 apps and games to Windows on Arm: What it means for users

Microsoft is testing a significant update for systems using Qualcomm's Arm-based processors, introduced in the latest Windows 11 Insider Preview Build. This update includes a tool that enhances Copilot Plus PCs with Snapdragon X Elite or X Plus processors through its Prism emulation layer, allowing a wider range of x64 applications and games to run on these devices. The update aims to enable high-demand games like Starfield and Helldivers 2 on Arm-based Windows devices and is currently being trialed by Windows Insiders in the Canary Channel. The update improves the usability of 64-bit x86 software, providing access to processor extensions like AVX and AVX2, enhancing performance and compatibility. However, 32-bit software will still face limitations. Many applications, including Photoshop, Hulu, and Chrome, have transitioned to native ARM64 versions, while others rely on emulation. Adobe has re-enabled Premiere Pro for Windows 11 ARM devices powered by the Snapdragon X chip, allowing it to run under emulation after previously disabling it due to performance issues. Premiere Pro is now available within the Creative Cloud app, although performance may not match that of Intel or AMD-based machines. A native ARM version of Premiere Pro is in development, but no release date has been announced. Photoshop is currently the only Adobe application available natively for Windows on ARM, while other applications like After Effects are expected to gain support through emulation. Adobe's move aligns with its commitment to enhance its Creative Suite for Windows on ARM, and competitors like DaVinci Resolve are also working on native ARM versions of their software. Microsoft's Clipchamp has already been established as an ARM-native solution.

Winsage

November 8, 2024

Windows on Arm apps are about to get access to the secret sauce Adobe used to get Premiere Pro 25 to work on Copilot+ PCs

Windows on Arm PCs with the Snapdragon X Elite processor are receiving a preview build of Windows 11 that enhances Prism emulation, specifically Build 27744. This update expands support for various CPU features, allowing non-native Arm applications to run more efficiently. The update increases the range of 64-bit x86 applications that can be emulated, integrating support for additional CPU extensions like AVX, AVX2, BMI, FMA, and F16C. Currently, only x64 applications are supported, and users can provide feedback on compatibility and performance issues. Additionally, the Start menu has been simplified, a new Gamepad keyboard layout is being introduced for Xbox controller navigation, the Task Manager's Disconnect and Logoff dialogs have been updated for dark mode and text scaling, and the detach virtual hard disk button has returned in the Settings menu.

Winsage

November 7, 2024

New Windows Build Brings AVX Support To Snapdragon X For Gaming And More

Recent evaluations of laptops with Qualcomm's Snapdragon X Elite processors have praised their performance and battery life, but issues arose with the high-end Snapdragon X Elite X1E-84-100 chip in the Samsung Galaxy Book4 Edge, where certain applications were found incompatible due to limitations in emulation capabilities. The Windows operating system uses an emulation layer called Prism to run x86-64 applications on Arm architecture, but it initially lacked support for essential SIMD instructions like AVX2 and AVX. Microsoft announced an update in Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 27744 that enhances Prism by adding support for AVX, AVX2, and other instructions, allowing Snapdragon-based Windows machines to run x86 software requiring these instruction sets. However, only x64 applications will benefit from this update, leaving legacy 32-bit x86 applications unaffected. This is significant for gaming, as many recent titles utilize AVX for improved processing speeds, potentially increasing compatibility for previously unplayable games on Snapdragon devices. Despite these advancements, Microsoft has not addressed the potential performance implications of the emulation process. Initial observations suggest that while performance degradation from Prism emulation is less severe than expected, it still does not match that of native Arm applications. Qualcomm is tasked with improving Snapdragon X Elite gaming capabilities, facing challenges with Windows graphics drivers, particularly the Adreno graphics drivers, which may hinder its competitiveness against AMD and Intel in the Windows laptop market.

Winsage

November 7, 2024

Windows 11 Canary Build 27744 returns the Gamepad keyboard, and fixes old dGPUs

Microsoft has released Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 27744 in the Canary Channel, providing a unified experience and eliminating the previous dual-experience model. This build enhances the Prism emulator for Windows on Arm, allowing a wider range of 64-bit x86 applications to run, including support for additional CPU features. The update enables previously incompatible games and creative software to function on Arm devices. Key changes include the simplification of the Start menu, a new Gamepad keyboard layout for the on-screen keyboard, and updates to Task Manager and Settings. Several fixes have been implemented, addressing issues with NVIDIA GPUs, the Emoji Panel, Windows Sandbox performance, and various graphics and app-related bugs. Known issues include potential problems with Windows Hello PIN on new Copilot+ PCs and desktop background display across multiple monitors. Users are encouraged to provide feedback on their experience.

Winsage

November 7, 2024

Microsoft’s new emulator could bring more games to Windows on Arm

Microsoft is updating Windows on Arm to improve x64 software and game compatibility through advanced emulation, focusing on devices with Qualcomm’s Snapdragon X Elite and X Plus processors. This update is part of the Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 27744, being tested in the Canary Channel. The new emulator will support 64-bit x86 software and various processor extensions, including AVX, AVX2, BMI, FMA, and F16C, but will not support 32-bit software. Popular games using AVX2 technology, like Starfield and Helldivers 2, will benefit from this update. Some widely-used applications, such as Photoshop, Hulu, and Chrome, have native ARM64 versions, but others still rely on emulation. The emulator is currently enabled in a limited capacity on retail PCs, allowing Premiere Pro 25 on Arm to operate. A correction noted that Blender now has an ARM64 version and does not require emulation.

Winsage

November 6, 2024

Announcing Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 27744 (Canary Channel)

Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 27744 has been released to the Canary Channel. This build introduces enhanced support for 64-bit x86 applications in the Prism emulator, allowing previously incompatible applications, including Adobe Premiere Pro 25, to run on Arm devices. The virtual CPU for x64 emulated applications now supports various x86 instruction set architecture extensions, such as AVX and FMA. Changes include the simplification of the "All apps" section in the Start menu, a new Gamepad keyboard layout for the on-screen keyboard, redesigned Task Manager dialogs, and the return of the detach virtual hard disk button. Fixes address issues with NVIDIA GPUs, the Emoji Panel, Windows Sandbox performance, and various bugs affecting graphics and application stability. Known issues include potential loss of Windows Hello PIN and biometrics for new Copilot+ PC users joining the Canary Channel and desktop background display problems across multiple monitors. Insiders are reminded that features in the Canary Channel may not be released and can change during development.

Winsage

November 5, 2024

Are you suffering from printer woes on Windows 11 24H2 for Arm? It’s not just you, says Microsoft

Users of Windows on Arm devices are experiencing difficulties in installing printer drivers, whether using bundled software or downloading from manufacturers' websites. Microsoft has acknowledged this issue and provided a workaround. To add a printer, users should go to Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Printers & scanners and select Add device, unless specific instructions for Windows on ARM PCs are provided by the manufacturer. To check if a device is ARM-based, users can go to Settings > System > About and look for "ARM based processor" under Device specifications.

AppWizard

November 5, 2024

Dragon Age: The Veilguard PC Performance Analysis

EA has released Dragon Age: The Veilguard for PC, built on the Frostbite Engine. The performance analysis was conducted using an AMD Ryzen 9 7950X3D processor, 32GB of DDR5 RAM, and various AMD and NVIDIA graphics cards. The game features extensive graphics settings, including options for Textures, Lighting, Level of Detail, Terrain, Ray Tracing, DLSS 3, AMD FSR 3.0, and Intel XeSS. It does not have a built-in benchmark tool, but performance was analyzed in a demanding initial area. The game can utilize more than eight CPU cores, with minimum framerates improving when Simultaneous Multithreading (SMT) is enabled. A minimum of six CPU cores is recommended for optimal performance. At 1080p with Ultra Settings and no Ray Tracing, the game runs smoothly on various GPUs, with the NVIDIA RTX 2080Ti achieving over 70FPS. For 1440p at Ultra Settings, an NVIDIA RTX 3080 or equivalent is advised, while the AMD Radeon RX 7900XTX and NVIDIA RTX 4090 maintain over 60FPS at native 4K with Ultra Settings. The game showcases high-quality character models, detailed environments, and smooth gameplay without stuttering issues.

AppWizard

November 5, 2024

Dragon Age: The Veilguard PC Performance Analysis

EA released Dragon Age: The Veilguard for PC, utilizing the Frostbite Engine. Performance testing was conducted on a system with an AMD Ryzen 9 7950X3D processor and various GPUs, including AMD Radeon and NVIDIA models. The game features extensive graphics settings, including Ray Tracing, DLSS 3, AMD FSR 3.0, and Intel XeSS. It does not have a built-in benchmark but was tested in a demanding initial area. The game supports more than eight CPU cores, with minimum framerates improving with Simultaneous Multithreading (SMT). A minimum of six CPU cores is recommended for optimal performance. At 1080p with Ultra Settings and no Ray Tracing, the game performs well across multiple GPUs, with the RTX 2080Ti achieving over 70FPS. For 1440p at Ultra Settings without Ray Tracing, an RTX 3080 is recommended. At Native 4K with Ultra Settings, the AMD Radeon RX 7900XTX and NVIDIA RTX 4090 maintain above 60FPS. The game features detailed character models and high-quality environments, with smooth performance and no stuttering issues. Dragon Age: The Veilguard is noted for being one of the most optimized PC games of 2024.

Winsage

November 5, 2024

Microsoft confirms Windows Server 2025 blue screen, install issues

Microsoft has acknowledged bugs in Windows Server 2025 affecting systems with more than 256 logical processors, leading to installation failures, prolonged restarts, and Blue Screen of Death (BSOD) errors. Symptoms include unresponsive installation processes, server restarts taking over three hours, and blue screens during application launches. Not all devices are affected, and users can check their system's logical processor count via the Windows Task Manager. Microsoft is working on a fix for these issues, expected in a future update, and recommends limiting logical processors to 256 or fewer as a temporary solution. Additional problems include language discrepancies during installation and boot issues in iSCSI environments. Windows Server 2025, introduced in January to the Windows Insider program, includes features like next-gen Active Directory and hotpatching capabilities, and is now generally available with a 180-day trial.