Upscaling & Sync Set Up G-Sync on a FreeSync Monitor in Windows 2026-10-26 Issue 01 Compatible AMD FreeSync monitors can use Nvidia G-Sync with the right graphics hardware, driver and DisplayPort connection. This guide covers the requirements, setup in NVIDIA Control Panel and troubleshooting steps if G-Sync does not work.
Benchmark Methods Early Ryzen Z2 Extreme benchmarks reveal a memory bandwidth bottleneck 2026-10-26 Issue 02 ETA Prime's handheld gaming tests show that AMD's Ryzen Z2 Extreme delivers relatively small gains over the Z1 Extreme at higher power and resolution, but pulls further ahead when both are reduced. The results point to shared memory bandwidth limiting the newer chip's larger GPU.
Benchmark Methods FSR 3.1 versus DLSS: AMD improves, but Nvidia retains the image-quality lead 2026-10-26 Issue 03 Andy Edser compared FSR 3.1 with DLSS on an RTX 4070 in Horizon Forbidden West and Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart. AMD's update reduced some motion artifacts, but DLSS consistently produced cleaner images, while performance differences depended on the game and settings.
Benchmark Methods Early Linux patch testing shows a 31.8% gain in Steam Deck 1% lows 2026-10-26 Issue 04 An opt-in Linux driver feature called epp_boost reportedly improved Steam Deck 1% low frame rates by 31.8% in Phoronix's Civilization VI benchmark testing. Developed with gaming in mind, it targets per-core performance behavior without globally forcing a less power-efficient setting.
Benchmark Methods Patched-up RTX 5070 Ti with a hole sets a Superposition record using donor hardware 2026-10-26 Issue 05 Paulo Gomes and his team have pushed a damaged RTX 5070 Ti to the top of its Unigine Superposition rankings using the 8K optimized preset. The heavily modified card combines donor hardware and extensive wiring changes, though voltage and temperature problems complicated the attempt.
Benchmark Methods Free CPU and GPU Benchmarking Tools for Windows 11/10 2026-10-26 Issue 06 Explore six free tools for assessing CPU and GPU performance on Windows 11/10. Their capabilities range from real-world workloads and DirectX benchmarks to hardware reporting, overclocking and graphics-card BIOS backups.
Benchmark Methods Gaming CPU Picks Compared: Ryzen 9800X3D, 9600X and 9950X 2026-10-26 Issue 07 Tech4Gamers’ gaming CPU recommendations draw on tests of AMD and Intel processors, with detailed findings for the Ryzen 7 9800X3D, Ryzen 5 9600X and Ryzen 9 9950X. The results weigh gaming speed against cost, cooling, power consumption and platform longevity.
GPU & CPU Tuning Disable Game Mode Notifications in Windows 11/10 2026-10-26 Issue 08 You can stop Game Mode notifications in Windows 11/10 through the Registry while leaving Game Mode working. The change requires administrator privileges.
GPU & CPU Tuning Enable the Ultimate Performance Power Plan in Windows 11/10 2026-10-26 Issue 09 The Ultimate Performance power plan prioritizes hardware performance over energy savings in Windows 11/10. This guide explains how to enable, select, and remove it, with cautions about laptop battery drain and system support.
GPU & CPU Tuning Checking CPU Temperatures in Windows 11 and 10—and Knowing When They’re Too High 2026-10-26 Issue 10 Use Core Temp, HWiNFO, Ryzen Master, or firmware to measure CPU temperature, then compare the results with your processor’s rated limit. If readings indicate overheating, work through software load, airflow, cooling hardware, and firmware settings before replacing thermal paste.
GPU & CPU Tuning How to Identify PC Bottlenecks and Understand Their Effect on Gaming 2026-10-26 Issue 11 A mismatch between PC components can limit gaming performance, causing frame-rate drops, lag, and stuttering. Learn how CPU and GPU balance affects FPS, which calculators can help identify bottlenecks, and how to investigate RAM bandwidth limitations.
GPU & CPU Tuning Free CPU Temperature Monitoring Tools for Windows PCs 2026-10-26 Issue 12 These free Windows utilities monitor CPU temperature, and several can warn you when it exceeds a set limit. The options include desktop alerts, audible alarms, and SMS or email notifications.
GPU & CPU Tuning Display CPU and GPU Temperatures in the Windows 11 System Tray 2026-10-26 Issue 13 HWiNFO can display CPU and GPU temperatures in the Windows 11 or Windows 10 system tray. This guide explains how to set up its sensor view and add temperature readings to the notification area.
Upscaling & Sync Super Resolution compared: NVIDIA DLSS, AMD FSR, Intel XeSS and Microsoft DirectSR 2026-10-26 Issue 14 Super Resolution improves gaming performance by rendering at a lower resolution and upscaling the result. NVIDIA DLSS, AMD FSR and Intel XeSS take different approaches, while Microsoft's DirectSR gives developers a shared way to integrate them.
Upscaling & Sync Disable VSync in Windows 11 with NVIDIA or AMD Settings 2026-10-26 Issue 15 VSync matches a game’s frame rate to your monitor’s refresh rate to address screen tearing. You can disable it in Windows 11/10 through NVIDIA Control Panel or AMD Radeon Software.
FPS Fundamentals Why Consistent Frame Rates Matter More Than Peak FPS 2026-10-26 Issue 16 Maximum FPS captures a best-case moment, not the smoothness of an entire gaming session. Average FPS and 1% lows provide a more useful picture of overall performance and the drops that cause noticeable stuttering.
Upscaling & Sync Intel XeSS 2.1 opens AI frame generation to AMD and Nvidia graphics cards 2026-10-26 Issue 17 Intel's XeSS 2.1 extends AI-based frame generation beyond Arc GPUs to supported AMD Radeon and Nvidia GeForce cards, including the RTX 30 series. Games will need updated integration, and performance and image-quality comparisons between the Intel and non-Intel implementations remain untested in the report.
Upscaling & Sync How to Enable NVIDIA DLSS and Choose a Quality Mode 2026-10-26 Issue 18 Learn what NVIDIA DLSS does, which hardware and software it requires, and how to enable it in a game's graphics settings. This guide also explains quality modes, common activation problems, and game compatibility limits.
Upscaling & Sync DLSS Swapper may bring FSR 4 to FSR 3 games with AMD's latest SDK and a renamed DLL 2026-10-26 Issue 19 A method reported by DLSS Swapper's developer uses AMD's latest FidelityFX SDK and a renamed DLL to add an FSR 4 option to some FSR 3.1 games. It remains unclear whether those games actually run FSR 4 or simply display the DLL's version, and the swap cannot overcome unsupported GPU hardware.
Graphics Settings Four graphics settings to adjust for faster Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 performance 2026-10-26 Issue 20 Testing each graphics option in Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 identified four settings that offer a useful performance boost without sacrificing too much visual quality. Lowering them from Ultra to Balanced levels raised average performance from 107 to 124 fps in the campaign test, although the benefit was smaller with upscaling enabled.
