test results Archives

Winsage

September 15, 2025

Windows 11 lets you run a network speed test right from the taskbar now – how to try it

Microsoft is testing a new feature in Windows 11 that allows users to conduct network speed tests directly from the taskbar. This feature is available to Windows 11 insiders in the Canary, Dev, and Beta builds. Users can access a speed test via an icon on the taskbar, which redirects them to Microsoft's Bing toolbox site to measure download and upload speeds and latency. The Bing speed test uses Ookla for backend processing, but it requires users to manually initiate the test, unlike applications like Speedtest by Ookla that provide real-time notifications. The feature may benefit users unfamiliar with speed testing tools and is expected to roll out to all Windows 11 users in the future.

Winsage

September 2, 2025

Time’s Running Out on Windows 10: Is Your Laptop Future-Ready?

Experiencing sluggish performance, faster battery drain, or loud fan noise may indicate a need for a computer upgrade. Microsoft will stop supporting Windows 10 in October 2025, which means no more security patches or updates. The Dell 16 Plus laptop features an Intel® Core™ Ultra 7 to Ultra 9 V Series processor with eight cores and clock speeds up to 4.8GHz. It has a neural processing unit capable of 47 trillion operations per second, up to 32GB of memory, and two terabytes of SSD storage. The laptop offers up to 20 hours of battery life and includes SupportAssist for monitoring device health and performance. Dell Care Premium enhances support with AI for issue prediction and personalized assistance. A Back to School sale from August 25 to September 23 offers up to 29 percent off the Dell 16 Plus Laptop.

AppWizard

August 23, 2025

Fitbit finally listened! Dark Mode arrives on Android after years of user demands

Fitbit has rolled out the dark mode feature in its Android app with version 4.50, allowing users to manually activate the "Dark Theme" or have it automatically adjust based on system settings. This update aims to reduce glare in low-light environments and may extend battery life on OLED devices. However, not all app elements are fully optimized for dark mode at launch, with some inconsistencies expected to be addressed in future updates. The rollout began on August 21. Additionally, Fitbit is exploring AI tools to enhance health tracking, including an AI-driven lab report summary tool and a Symptom Checker that provides personalized health suggestions.

Tech Optimizer

August 23, 2025

How to load test PostgreSQL database and not miss anything

Practitioners face challenges during load testing of Tantor Postgres databases using pgbench, primarily due to insufficient documentation of the testing environment, leading to non-representative results and the need for repeated tests. The pg_perfbench tool has been developed to address these issues by ensuring repeatability, safeguarding data, and simplifying result comparisons through a cohesive template. It automates pgbench execution, collects metadata about the testing environment, and generates structured reports. pgbench operates on a TPC-B model, providing performance metrics such as transactions per second (tps), average latency, and the number of processed and failed transactions. A Bash script can be used to automate pgbench tests with varying client numbers, logging results into separate files. The pg_perfbench tool captures extensive data regarding the database environment and generates reports that include system properties, common database information, benchmark details, and test results. It facilitates the comparison of multiple load test results and ensures that environments being compared are consistent in terms of PostgreSQL versions and system parameters. The tool also allows for the evaluation of performance impacts from changes to PostgreSQL settings by generating separate reports for different configurations. It verifies compliance of specified parameters before joining reports, ensuring accurate comparisons. The final reports are structured in JSON and HTML formats, enhancing analysis and collaboration efforts.

Tech Optimizer

May 20, 2025

Running I/O intensive workloads on PostgreSQL with Amazon EBS io2 Block Express

Databases are essential for organizations, and their performance is critical to user experience and operational efficiency. AWS introduced Amazon Elastic Block Store (Amazon EBS) io2 Block Express in December 2020 to address performance issues related to storage latency during database operations. This solution enhances storage management for high-performance database servers, supporting up to 256,000 IOPS and 4,000 MiB/s throughput per volume, with a maximum volume size of 64 TiB and sub-millisecond disk I/O latency. A performance comparison was conducted between PostgreSQL databases on Amazon EBS gp3 and io2 Block Express, utilizing the HammerDB benchmarking tool. The analysis involved four tests: OLTP Load test, OLTP Stress test, OLAP Load test, and OLAP Stress test, using r5b.24xlarge EC2 instances. Results indicated that io2 Block Express outperformed gp3 by 2.08 times in transactions per minute (TPM) and provided significantly lower latency for both OLTP and OLAP workloads. Key differences between gp3 and io2 Block Express include durability, with io2 offering 99.999% durability compared to gp3's 99.8% – 99.9%. The maximum IOPS for gp3 is 16,000, while io2 supports up to 64,000 IOPS. Pricing for gp3 is approximately ,375.36/month, while io2 Block Express costs around ,408/month, reflecting its premium performance capabilities. In benchmarking tests, io2 Block Express demonstrated superior performance, achieving 3.95 times faster average performance than gp3 across all scenarios. It is particularly suitable for mission-critical applications requiring consistent sub-millisecond latency and high durability.

Tech Optimizer

May 17, 2025

Do You Really Need Antivirus on Windows 11? Probably Not—Here’s Why

Windows 11 has robust built-in security features that may reduce the need for third-party antivirus software. Windows Security now offers comprehensive protection, including real-time malware detection, firewall protection, SmartScreen alerts, hardware-level security, account monitoring, and system health reports. According to AV-TEST results from January and February 2025, Microsoft Defender Antivirus scored 6.0/6.0 in protection, performance, and usability, effectively stopping advanced malware and phishing attempts with minimal system resource usage. Users of Microsoft Edge benefit from SmartScreen filtering, while those using other browsers receive system notifications for network protection. Basic digital hygiene practices, such as avoiding suspicious downloads and keeping software updated, are crucial for security. Third-party antivirus solutions may offer additional features but can lead to performance issues and privacy concerns. For casual users who maintain their systems and practice safe browsing, Windows Security is generally sufficient, while those handling sensitive information or needing advanced features may consider premium antivirus options.

AppWizard

May 11, 2025

I just tested Doom: The Dark Ages on an RTX 5090 PC — and I’m still in shock

Doom: The Dark Ages was tested on an Alienware Area-51 gaming PC with an Nvidia GeForce RTX 5090, achieving 155 frames per second at Ultra Nightmare settings and 4K resolution without DLSS. With DLSS 4 x4 activated, the frame rate increased to 344 fps. The Alienware setup included an Intel Ultra Core 9 285K CPU, 64GB of RAM, and a 2TB SSD. Testing with other RTX 50 series cards showed the RTX 5060 Ti reached 153 fps at 4K with DLSS 4, while the RTX 5070 Ti achieved 185 fps with DLSS 4. Performance results for various RTX 50 cards at different settings were provided, highlighting their capabilities.

Tech Optimizer

April 14, 2025

Malwarebytes named “Best Antivirus Software” and “Best Malware Removal Service”

Malwarebytes has been recognized in 2025 with several accolades: it is listed as PCMag’s “Best Antivirus Software for 2025,” “Best Malware Removal Service 2025” by CNET, and awarded “Best Protection Software 2025” by PCMag. The evaluations included real-world testing and independent lab assessments, highlighting Malwarebytes Premium's speed, effectiveness, and top-tier malware removal capabilities. CNET noted its easy-to-use, customizable interface.

Tech Optimizer

March 17, 2025

F-Secure Internet Security

F-Secure Internet Security provides coverage for Windows, macOS, Android, and iOS platforms, but its features are more limited compared to competitors like Bitdefender Total Security and Norton 360 Deluxe. The pricing starts at .99 per year for a single license, with options for up to 25 licenses, making it competitive in the market. F-Secure has received a perfect score of 18 points from AV-Test Institute for malware protection, performance impact, and usability. In testing, F-Secure achieved a malware detection rate of 97% and a phishing detection rate of 94%. The software includes features like banking protection, scam protection, and parental controls, though the latter lacks the depth found in some competitors. The installation process is user-friendly across all platforms, but the macOS, Android, and iOS versions have fewer advanced features compared to other security suites.

Tech Optimizer

February 28, 2025

TopTen Best Software Launches “The Ultimate Antivirus Buyer’s Guide” to Empower Consumers with Informed Security Choices

California-based TopTen Best Software has released "The Ultimate Antivirus Buyer's Guide: Tips for Choosing the Right Protection" to help users make informed decisions about antivirus software. The guide emphasizes understanding individual needs, recommending basic antivirus for casual users, multi-device coverage for small businesses, lightweight options for gamers, and software with parental controls for families. Key features to consider include real-time scanning, firewall protection, anti-phishing tools, VPN services, and password managers. Compatibility with operating systems and user experience are important factors, along with reliable customer support and independent lab test results. The guide advises comparing pricing and exploring free trials, highlighting that paid versions often offer better protection. Regular software updates are essential for optimal security, and TopTen Best Software provides side-by-side comparisons of antivirus products.