RAM Archives

Winsage

December 28, 2024

I’ve been a Windows on Arm user for years — Snapdragon X Elite has changed everything

The author has been using Arm-based computers, specifically an M1 Mac Mini and a Qualcomm Snapdragon-powered Windows two-in-one PC, and has found Apple's silicon consistently impressive while Microsoft's offerings have lagged. In April 2024, Microsoft introduced the Snapdragon X Elite and X Plus chipsets, enhancing the compatibility layer for applications on Windows on Arm through a new emulator called Prism, which matches the efficiency of Apple's Rosetta 2. Testing the Honor MagicBook 14 Art, powered by the Snapdragon X Elite, revealed significant improvements, including native support for previously struggling applications like Google Drive and ExpressVPN. The MagicBook features a 12-core Snapdragon X Elite, offering seamless application launch and multitasking without the random freezes seen in earlier models. Its thermal performance is commendable, achieving around ten hours of usage in "Balanced" mode. The device also includes a Neural Processing Unit for enhanced AI capabilities. Compatibility advancements allow mainstream applications to run natively, and upcoming Windows updates promise to expand this further. The MagicBook 14 Art is priced at approximately ,750, featuring 32GB of RAM, a 1TB SSD, and a detachable webcam for privacy. Despite the progress, the market for Snapdragon X computers remains niche, and Qualcomm's disputes with Arm could impact future sales.

AppWizard

December 28, 2024

What a Minecraft Game Made in Unreal Engine 5 Could Look Like

Digital Dreams has reimagined Minecraft using Unreal Engine 5, resulting in impressive visuals that surpass those of a movie featuring Jack Black and Jason Momoa. The hardware requirements for this version include a Gigabyte Aorus X670 AX motherboard, AMD Ryzen 9 7950x processor, Kingston Fury 6000MHz RAM, NVIDIA RTX 4090 graphics card, and Samsung 970 EVO SSD. LEGO has released The Crafting Table building set to celebrate Minecraft's 15th anniversary, designed for adult fans. This set features 12 biomes, including Deep Dark and Lush Cave, and includes five mini builds and eight micro figures, such as Steve and Creeper.

Winsage

December 27, 2024

Compare Dell Latitude 5300 Laptop i5 Intel Core i5 8th Gen-8365U Integrated 8GB 512GB SSD Windows 10 vs Lenovo Thinkpad T490s (20NYS3050D) Laptop (Core i5 8th Gen/16 GB/256 GB SSD/Windows 10) – Dell Latitude 5300 Laptop i5 Intel Core i5 8th Gen-8365U Integrated 8GB 512GB SSD Windows 10 vs Lenovo Thinkpad T490s (20NYS3050D) Laptop (Core i5 8th Gen/16 GB/256 GB SSD/Windows 10) Comparison by Price, Specifications, Reviews & Features

Dell Latitude 5300 specifications: - Processor: Intel Core i5 8th Gen (8365U) - RAM: 8GB - Storage: 512GB SSD - Operating System: Windows 10 Lenovo ThinkPad T490s specifications: - Processor: Intel Core i5 8th Gen - RAM: 16GB - Storage: 256GB SSD - Operating System: Windows 10 Dell Latitude 5300 features: - Lightweight build for portability - Extended battery life suitable for travel and remote work Lenovo ThinkPad T490s features: - Durable construction - Ergonomic keyboard for enhanced typing experience - Commendable battery life Price comparison: - Dell Latitude 5300 is competitively priced considering its storage. - Lenovo ThinkPad T490s is slightly higher in price due to enhanced RAM and robust build quality.

Winsage

December 26, 2024

Windows Recall support for Intel & AMD PCs: Eligible PC List

Microsoft has introduced an AI feature called Recall for Windows PCs, enabling users to retrieve actions or searches by capturing and storing screenshots in an encrypted format. Users can search for specific content using keywords, but Recall will only be available to select Windows 11 PCs. Initially exclusive to Snapdragon X SoCs, Recall now supports newer Intel and AMD CPUs with a 40 teraflops Neural Processing Unit (NPU). To use Recall, the system requirements include: - Windows 11 PC enrolled in the Insider Program (Canary or Dev channel) - 16 GB RAM - 256 GB SSD - CPU with 8 logical processors - NPU with 40 teraflops - Windows Hello for sign-in security and device encryption activated. Compatible devices include: - Acer Swift 14 AI - ASUS Vivobook S 15 and ProArt PZ13 - Dell Latitude 7455, XPS 13, and Inspiron 14 - HP OmniBook X 14 - Lenovo Yoga Slim 7x and ThinkPad T14s - Microsoft Surface Laptop Copilot+ PC - Microsoft Surface Pro Copilot+ PC - Samsung Galaxy Book4 Edge Supported CPUs are: - AMD Ryzen AI 300 series - Intel Core Ultra 200V series - Snapdragon X Elite - Snapdragon X Plus More compatible systems and CPUs are expected by 2025.

Winsage

December 26, 2024

How I virtualized my Windows 11 PC using Disk2vhd and VirtualBox

Virtualization technology allows users to create a virtualized instance of their primary operating system using tools like Disk2vhd and VirtualBox. Disk2vhd is a free utility that converts storage drives into .vhd files for Physical to Virtual migration of Windows 11. The process involves downloading Disk2vhd, running it with administrator privileges, selecting drives, and creating the .vhd file while disabling the Use vhdx and Prepare for use in virtual PC options, but enabling Use Volume Shadow Copy for external drives. To deploy a virtual machine in VirtualBox, users must ensure CPU virtualization is enabled in the BIOS, install VirtualBox, and create a new VM by specifying its name, storage folder, type as Microsoft Windows, and version as Windows 11 (64-bit). Users then allocate memory and processors, select the option to use an existing virtual hard disk, browse for the .vhd file, and finish the setup. Once the VM is deployed, it should boot into the Windows 11 environment. If it loads the recovery environment, users can follow prompts to repair the system. However, running Windows 11 in a VM may lead to performance issues unless the host system has a high-end processor and sufficient RAM and CPU cores allocated. This project allows experimentation with the daily driver without risking its integrity.

Winsage

December 26, 2024

Hands on: Microsoft made it easier to run AI models on Windows 11 locally

Copilot+ PCs are the first personal computers to run Small Language Models (SLM) directly on-device, allowing for quicker interactions without relying on the cloud. Microsoft has introduced the AI Dev Gallery, which offers over 25 samples for developers to integrate on-device AI features into applications on Windows 10 and 11. The gallery requires building the project in Visual Studio, needing at least 20GB of storage and a multi-core CPU. A GPU with 8GB VRAM is recommended for heavier models but not mandatory for lighter applications. The app has two operational modes: Sample and Models. Testing models for image generation typically requires around 5GB of bandwidth, while a smaller image upscaling model under 100MB was successfully tested, completing the process in under 30 seconds with peak RAM usage of 1GB. The resulting image resolution was 9272x4900, but clarity issues were noted, especially with text. The application lacks features for previewing images in larger formats or downloading outputs directly. A model named Detect Human Pose was able to identify positions within images, including desktop screenshots. Substantial storage and robust CPUs are necessary for effective model accommodation, and the practicality of downloading large models for niche use cases is questioned.

Winsage

December 23, 2024

Windows 11’s new native Copilot rolls out to everyone, but it consumes more RAM

Microsoft has released a new version of its Copilot application for Windows 11, marking the fourth redesign since its launch. This version is now available in the Microsoft Store and is described as a more "native" experience compared to previous iterations, which were Progressive Web Apps (PWAs). The new app integrates more seamlessly with Windows and can be accessed from the system tray. However, it still relies on web-based components, loading its interface through a Microsoft Edge-based WebView, resulting in higher RAM consumption of 500MB to 600MB, with spikes up to 1.5GB. Users can summon the app using the Alt + Space keyboard shortcut. The redesign has been led by Mustafa Suleyman, and while it features a more traditional Windows appearance, the app's web-centric nature remains evident.

Winsage

December 23, 2024

Windows 10’s updated Settings sneak in a Windows 11 reminder, add colours

Microsoft is redesigning the "About" page within the Windows 10 Settings app to align with its strategy to encourage users to upgrade to Windows 11. The new design features a visually appealing layout that includes bubble-like boxes displaying key system specifications such as installed RAM, processor details, graphics card specifications, and storage breakdown. A "Frequently Asked Questions" section has been added, addressing basic queries and subtly promoting the benefits of upgrading to Windows 11. Additionally, the Settings homepage will feature colorful icons that reflect the user's accent color, although there are inconsistencies in the application of these colors across different icons.

AppWizard

December 23, 2024

The 15 best PC games of 2024: From Indy to Kratos, samurai to outlaws, and everything in between

In 2024, the PC gaming landscape thrived due to the resolution of component shortages, the popularity of cloud gaming, and the rise of PC gaming handhelds. A diverse range of games was released, including indie titles and AAA adventures, along with remakes and remasters of classics. The top PC games of 2024 included: 1. Thank Goodness You're Here! 2. Helldivers 2 3. Indiana Jones and The Great Circle 4. Red Dead Redemption 5. Star Wars: Outlaws 6. Balatro 7. Animal Well 8. Fallout: London 9. Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 10. Dragon Age: The Veilguard 11. Silent Hill 2 12. God of War: Ragnarok 13. Black Myth: Wukong 14. Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree 15. Ghost of Tsushima: Director’s Cut The gaming rig used featured an Nvidia GeForce RTX 4070 Ti Super graphics card, Intel Core i5-13600K CPU, 32 GB DDR5 RAM, and an Asus ROG STRIX Z690-F GAMING WIFI motherboard.

Winsage

December 23, 2024

Your Windows 11 PC is acting up? 4 essential settings I always check first

Windows 11 users may experience a decline in performance due to resource-heavy applications, unoptimized settings, or malware. A simple reboot can refresh the RAM and system connections. To enhance performance, users can: 1. Download the latest updates by checking the Windows Update section in Settings and installing any pending patches. Users can revert to a previous version if performance issues arise post-update. 2. Disable startup applications through the Task Manager to prevent them from launching at boot, which can improve system performance. OneDrive syncing can also be paused to reduce slowdowns. 3. Deactivate unused features, such as notifications and Transparency Effects, to free up system resources. 4. Remove malware by installing a robust antivirus program. Windows Security provides basic protection, but alternatives like Bitdefender Total Security or AVG Antivirus may offer more comprehensive security against threats.