SSDs Archives

AppWizard

December 4, 2025

A 23GB Helldivers 2 Is Better Than A 154GB Helldivers 2

Helldivers 2 was initially reported to require 154GB of storage, aimed at accommodating older mechanical hard drives in PCs. However, analytics revealed that only 11% of players used HDDs, and the main cause of slowdowns was level generation rather than asset loading. In response, Arrowhead is testing a "slim" version of the game in public beta, which is 23GB, significantly reducing the storage requirement while maintaining gameplay integrity. This change allows players to install additional games, potentially fitting at least 13 indie city-builders in the space previously occupied by the original version.

AppWizard

December 3, 2025

Helldivers 2 on PC will now take up 85% less space thanks to reduced installation size

Arrowhead Studios has reduced the installation size of the PC version of Helldivers 2 to 23GB, down from 154GB, by optimizing asset management with Nixxes. This reduction involved eliminating duplicated assets, which previously aimed to enhance loading times for players using mechanical hard drives. The studio confirmed that the majority of loading time is due to level generation rather than asset loading, and the differences in loading times between the new and old versions are minimal. A "slim version" is currently available for testing, with plans to make it the default version after confirming stability. The legacy version is expected to be discontinued next year.

Winsage

December 3, 2025

5 Windows maintenance tasks I finally stopped doing

- Third-party registry cleaners are no longer effective and can cause more problems than they solve. - Windows 10's Storage Sense automatically manages temporary and unnecessary files, making manual Disk Cleanup unnecessary. - Disk defragmentation is not needed for solid-state drives (SSDs) as Windows 11 automatically optimizes them. - Relying on third-party driver updaters can be risky; it's better to use the built-in updater from the PC manufacturer or trusted sources like Nvidia or AMD. - Using a program like BCUninstaller allows users to uninstall multiple applications simultaneously, making the process more efficient.

AppWizard

November 30, 2025

My top choice of external SSD has a 32% discount for Black Friday – don’t miss this great Samsung deal

The Samsung T9 external SSD is a portable data storage solution that offers speed, durability, and convenience. During Black Friday sales, discounts of up to 32% are available across all sizes, including a 1TB model reduced by 32%, a 2TB model discounted by 25%, and a 4TB model also at a 25% discount. The T9 weighs 4.3 ounces (122g) and measures 88 x 60 x 14mm, featuring a rubberized exterior with a fall-resistance rating of up to 3 meters (10 feet). It has sequential read and write speeds of up to 2,000MB/s. The discounts are available on Samsung's official store and various retailers, including Amazon.

Winsage

November 28, 2025

Is Windows 11 fighting a losing battle? Dell underlines how unpopular the OS is after support ended compared to Windows 10

Dell's Chief Operating Officer, Jeffrey Clarke, reported a 10% to 12% lag in the migration from Windows 10 to Windows 11 compared to previous adoption rates. Approximately 500 million PCs are incompatible with Windows 11 due to its stringent system requirements. Dell has seen an increase in PC sales for 2025 but anticipates flat sales in 2026 due to rising component costs and supply chain issues. The slow uptake of Windows 11 may lead consumers to retain their Windows 10 machines or consider alternatives like Linux or macOS. Microsoft is providing extended support for Windows 10 until October 2026, allowing users more time to decide on upgrades. The future pace of migration to Windows 11 may be influenced by Microsoft's integration of AI functionalities.

AppWizard

November 12, 2025

The second-fastest SSD we’ve ever tested is an incredible bargain at up to $130 off

The Samsung SSD lineup currently features a significant discount on the Samsung 9100 Pro, with savings reaching up to 0, marking the lowest price for this high-performance drive. The Samsung 9100 Pro has sequential read speeds of 14,800MB/s and write speeds of 13,400MB/s, achieving 14,645MB/s read and 13,450MB/s write in testing. It requires only a modest heatsink for thermal management. The 1TB model is now available for .99, the 2TB variant has a discount, the 4TB model has a 0 discount, and the 8TB model is priced at 9.99 after a 0 discount.

AppWizard

November 10, 2025

Windows 11 ends Android app support: practical workarounds

Microsoft has discontinued the Windows Subsystem for Android and its integration with the Amazon Appstore on Windows 11 due to low demand. Users can no longer use an official Microsoft method to install general Android apps. The primary alternatives are Google Play Games on PC, which focuses on gaming, and third-party emulators like BlueStacks, LDPlayer, and GameLoop for a broader range of applications. To use Google Play Games, users need a PC with at least 8 GB RAM, a modern quad-core processor, hardware-accelerated graphics, SSD storage with 10 GB free, and hardware virtualization enabled. Users must enable virtualization in their UEFI or BIOS settings and activate the Virtual Machine Platform and Windows Hypervisor Platform in Windows. Emulators allow users to run full Android apps on Windows. They can download apps from the Google Play Store within the emulator or sideload APK files. Users should be cautious about security risks when sideloading apps and stick to reputable sources. Performance tuning for emulators involves allocating sufficient resources, resolving virtualization conflicts, and optimizing settings like resolution and frame rate. Users are advised to install on SSDs and minimize background tasks for better performance.

AppWizard

October 31, 2025

Helldivers 2’s 150GB PC install is “unacceptably large,” and Arrowhead hopes to work out a solution that could “theoretically slice the size in half”

The storage requirement for Helldivers 2 on PC is 150GB, which is significantly larger than the console version. Developer Arrowhead acknowledges the frustration this has caused and considers it a top priority to address. Game director Mikael Eriksson noted that the large file size is due to technical challenges, including the duplication of data files to improve loading times for users with mechanical hard drives (HDDs). In contrast, console file sizes are smaller because they do not require such duplications, as SSDs are standard on those platforms. Arrowhead is committed to optimizing performance and storage efficiency.

Winsage

October 24, 2025

Windows Weekly 955: Chewy Indifference

Microsoft has announced new Copilot and AI features for Windows 11, transitioning to Windows.ai. An emergency update was released for Windows 11 to address issues that disabled USB mouse and keyboard support in the Windows Recovery Environment. The Windows Insider Program is evolving with improvements to mobile device settings, File Explorer, and Drag Tray in the Dev and Beta channels, while a revamped Start menu and Copilot Vision integration are set for the Release Preview. Microsoft's annual report highlights three core business segments: Windows, Microsoft 365 Consumer, and Xbox/gaming, with Xbox/gaming having 500 million users but the highest engagement levels. Microsoft plans to launch Copilot for Education in December and integrate Anthropic Claude into Microsoft 365 commercial offerings. The Xbox president indicated that the next console will be "very premium," and new hardware options are available for purchase. The Xbox Development Kit has seen a 33 percent price increase due to U.S. tariffs. Many laptops are now designed to be end-user repairable and upgradeable, allowing users to swap out SSDs and other components.

Winsage

October 21, 2025

Microsoft issues fix for Windows 11 update that bricked mouse and keyboard controls in recovery environment – here’s what you need to know

Microsoft released an out-of-band update to fix a significant issue with its Windows 11 security update (KB5066835) that rendered essential USB devices non-functional in the Windows Recovery Environment (WinRE). This fix was distributed to all Windows 11 users six days after the initial update. The flaw affected versions 24H2 and 25H2 of Windows 11 and Windows Server 2025. Users are advised to avoid resetting their PCs or entering recovery mode until further notice. Additionally, the October update has other known issues, including problems with smartcard authentication, challenges in playing protected content with certain DVD and BluRay applications, failed updates using shared network folders, and potential loading failures for IIS websites. Microsoft has resolved the smartcard authentication issue but has not yet addressed the IIS website problem. In recent months, Microsoft has faced multiple bugs associated with its updates, including SSD malfunctions in August and a "latent code issue" in its Intune software in April. Last year, a bug led to unexpected upgrades for older Windows Server versions, causing system crashes, and Microsoft had to retract a preview of a Windows 11 update due to identified problems.