Windows performance Archives

AppWizard

January 22, 2026

Arm-Based Windows 11 PCs Can Now Download and Play Games from the Xbox App

Microsoft's Xbox app on Windows 11 now supports game downloads on all ARM-based PCs, expanding functionality beyond cloud gaming for Qualcomm-powered devices. This update follows an initial rollout for Xbox Insiders in August, coinciding with Epic Games' compatibility of its Easy Anti-Cheat system with Windows on ARM. The Prism emulator was updated in December to support more x86 games on ARM devices, and the Xbox app now includes a Windows Performance Fit feature to assess game performance based on hardware. Over 85% of the Game Pass catalog is compatible with ARM PCs, with ongoing efforts to increase support. Emulation performance has improved on Qualcomm Snapdragon X Series chips, with further enhancements expected from upcoming X2 series chips, although native ARM64 game versions are still anticipated.

Winsage

January 21, 2026

Play more: Xbox app is now available on Arm-based Windows 11 PCs

Windows 11 has made significant advancements in gaming, particularly for Arm-based devices. The Xbox app is now available on all Arm-based Windows 11 PCs, with over 85% of the Game Pass catalog compatible. Xbox Cloud Gaming offers an alternative for unsupported titles. The introduction of Prism allows x86/x64 software to run on Arm, supporting AVX and AVX2 for modern games. Epic Anti-Cheat support has enabled popular games like Gears of War: Reloaded and Fortnite on these devices. The Windows Performance Fit feature helps players choose games based on their hardware capabilities. Ongoing collaborations aim to enhance catalog compatibility and improve the gaming experience on various Windows 11 devices. Player feedback is shaping updates and new titles for Arm-based Windows 11 PCs.

Winsage

January 6, 2026

Windows 11 Trails Older OS Versions in ThinkPad X220 Speed Tests

Windows 11 has been tested on a Lenovo ThinkPad X220, revealing it to perform poorly compared to its predecessors, particularly Windows 8.1, which excelled in benchmarks for boot times and application launches. The test involved various Windows versions (XP, Vista, 7, 8.1, 10, and 11) on the same aging hardware, highlighting that Windows 11 consistently finished last in most categories. The ThinkPad X220 does not meet Windows 11’s minimum requirements, lacking essential components like TPM 2.0 and a compatible processor, which may have skewed the results. Critics argue that using outdated hardware for testing is not representative, suggesting that a fair comparison would involve flagship devices from each generation. Windows 11's architecture is designed for modern multicore CPUs and SSDs, which may struggle on older hardware. Additionally, Windows 11 has heavier overheads due to advanced security features, which consume resources that older operating systems do not. User feedback indicates frustration with Windows 11's performance on legacy hardware compared to leaner alternatives like Linux. Despite Microsoft promoting optimizations in Windows 11, these did not manifest in the ThinkPad test, and the findings raise concerns for businesses considering upgrades as Windows 10 approaches its end-of-support date in 2025.

Winsage

January 3, 2026

Benchmarking Windows Against Itself, From Windows XP To Windows 11

TrigrZolt conducted benchmarks on multiple Windows versions (XP, Vista, 7, 8.1, 10, and 11) using a Lenovo ThinkPad X220. Windows 8.1 had the fastest startup time due to its Fast Boot feature, while Windows 11 was notably slow, struggling to load the taskbar. Windows XP had the smallest installation size and least RAM usage at 800 MB, compared to Windows 11's 3.3 GB. In memory management tests with the Supermium browser, Windows XP and Windows 11 performed similarly under heavy usage, but Windows 7 and 8.1 managed to keep over 200 tabs open before hitting the 5 GB RAM limit. Windows 11 also performed poorly in battery life, video rendering, and application launch times, with users experiencing significant delays. The poor performance of Windows 11 is attributed to extensive code rewrites since Windows 7 and the default storage encryption with BitLocker, which slows performance. Microsoft has implemented workarounds to improve File Explorer's responsiveness. Overall, the trend indicates that increasing resource demands can lead to inefficiencies in software performance.

Winsage

December 30, 2025

These Changes Stopped Windows Updates From Wrecking My PC Performance

Windows updates can enhance system stability and performance, but they often lead to issues such as stutters and slowdowns due to the unpredictable nature of how updates affect system behavior. Microsoft's release notes do not provide comprehensive details about changes, which can include adjustments to task scheduling, background services, and driver interactions. Independent driver updates, particularly for GPUs and chipsets, can also impact performance negatively. Users have reported significant performance declines after updates, sometimes requiring hotfixes. To manage updates effectively, users can treat Windows updates as optional, be conservative with driver updates, stabilize power management settings, and ensure rollback options are available. This approach can lead to a more predictable and stable system performance.

AppWizard

October 15, 2025

The ROG Xbox Ally X Makes Me Want to Play More PC Games

The ROG Xbox Ally X scores 8.1 out of 10 and is a portable Windows gaming system with Xbox branding. It supports a broader library of games than competitors like the Steam Deck and Nintendo Switch, offers excellent performance for lightweight games, and features responsive controls and comfortable grips. However, it is priced at ,000, lacks HDR support, has a buggy interface, and does not include a protective case. There are two models available: the ,000 Ally X and a 0 base model with lower specifications. The design includes enhancements for comfort but complicates access to some buttons. Windows performance is inconsistent, and gaming performance varies, with lightweight titles running well while demanding games may need graphics adjustments. Battery life averages around three hours.

AppWizard

August 20, 2025

Xbox rolling out Handheld Compatibility Program for Rog Ally consoles

Microsoft is launching its Handheld Compatibility Program ahead of the ROG Ally handheld gaming devices release. The program categorizes games into two segments: Handheld Optimised, which are fully compatible with the ROG Ally, and Mostly Compatible, which may need minor adjustments. A Windows Performance Fit feature will indicate expected game performance on the new hardware. Xbox's Corporate Vice President Roanne Sones stated that Microsoft will collaborate with developers to test both new and existing PC titles for compatibility. The ROG Xbox Ally is set to launch on October 16th, with the base model speculated to cost 9.99 and the advanced ROG Xbox Ally X priced at 9.99.

Winsage

August 15, 2025

Microsoft Issues Emergency Windows Fix For Frustrating Installation Woes

Microsoft has acknowledged installation issues with certain security updates following Patch Tuesday, specifically for organizations using Windows Server Update Services (WSUS). A temporary remedy has been issued for these organizations, while individual home users are unaffected. IT administrators can download a Group Policy for the known issue rollback or manually install the update package. Additionally, Microsoft has identified an Event Viewer error related to August updates, which does not affect Windows performance. The issues were first reported by Windows Latest, and Microsoft plans to resolve them in future updates.

Winsage

July 25, 2025

This update could finally solve Windows 11’s sluggishness

Microsoft has introduced a new logging system in a test build of Windows 11 that automatically gathers performance logs when users experience sluggishness. This feature allows Windows Insiders to provide feedback on slow performance, with logs collected automatically to help identify issues. Users should select the Desktop > System Sluggishness category for feedback, and logs are stored locally in the %systemRoot%TempDiagOutputDirWhesvc folder before being sent to Microsoft upon feedback submission. This initiative is part of ongoing performance enhancements for Windows 11, which have included improvements to the Taskbar, notifications area, and quick settings panel, as well as reduced impact from startup applications. The upcoming 25H2 update will introduce new certification requirements for Windows drivers, including static analysis to identify potential issues before deployment.

Winsage

July 22, 2025

Copilot+ PCs powered by Intel and AMD still trail behind Snapdragon counterparts — even with experimental features

Microsoft has introduced new Copilot+ experiences for AMD and Intel-powered PCs through recent Windows Insider Builds. The "describe image" action in Click to Do has been made available to these users starting with build 26200.5710, after previously being accessible only to Snapdragon X-powered devices. This feature provides detailed descriptions of images, charts, and graphs to enhance accessibility, particularly for blind and low-vision users. The Narrator tool has also been improved to generate rich descriptions of visual content. Users can activate this feature by pressing the Narrator key + Ctrl + D. Additionally, Microsoft is collecting logs to address performance issues and has updated the lock screen widget experience for Windows Insiders. A new section in Settings allows users to see which third-party applications have recently used generative AI models. There is a noted disparity in feature rollout between Snapdragon X and AMD/Intel-powered PCs, with Snapdragon devices receiving updates first.