Discord is rebuilding its desktop app in Rust to fix its memory problem
A screenshot of an early build shows the new client using about 290MB of RAM, versus gigabytes for the current Electron app
Optimization articles
Microsoft says Windows is now 20% more responsive and 40% faster at multitasking on 8GB PCs
As RAM prices soar, Microsoft is trying to make 8GB PCs usable again
The new Windows Photos app goes native for editing and viewing, but power users are mad about the web-based gallery
The updated Photos app also supports editing HDR, HEIC, and WebP images
Cloudflare freed up 100TB of RAM behind its 1.1.1.1 DNS without adding a single server
Five Rust code changes cut typical DNS cache entries from 953 bytes to 420 bytes
The AMD Radeon Settings You Should Actually Be Using
AMD Software is packed with gaming features, but not all are worth using. Here are the Radeon settings we recommend for better image quality, smoother gameplay, and cleaner recordings.
A new coding contest challenges developers to fit an entire game onto a 1.44MB floppy disk
No single byte is going to be wasted
Testing AMD's EXPO Ultra Low Latency Memory
AMD's new EXPO Ultra Low Latency memory promises tighter timings without manual tuning. We tested G.Skill's latest DDR5 kits to see how much faster they make Ryzen gaming.
Nvidia Profile Inspector 3.0 modernizes the popular driver profile editor
Nvidia Profile Inspector lets you view and edit hidden driver profiles and settings. Version 3.0 delivers its biggest update in years with a redesigned interface, faster profile browsing, and support for newer features including DLSS overrides and RTX Dynamic Vibrance.
Microsoft and Adobe team up and make Photoshop 20% faster on Windows
Microsoft compiler optimizations deliver a 20% speedup on x64 and 13% on Arm
The Nvidia App Settings You Should Actually Be Using
The Nvidia App has evolved far beyond basic driver updates. From monitor tweaks, to DLSS overrides and recording tools, these are the settings PC gamers should actually be using.
Forza Horizon 6 Optimization Guide: Best Settings for PC Gamers
Forza Horizon 6 looks stunning on PC, but some settings deliver huge FPS gains with little visual loss. We benchmark every major option to find the best optimized settings for every GPU tier.
Valve engineer develops Linux VRAM fix that boosts gaming on 8GB GPUs
New Linux patch stops background apps from stealing VRAM from games
Microsoft plans 100% native Windows 11 apps in major shift away from web wrappers
First look: Microsoft plans to build 100% native apps for Windows 11 and launch an initiative centered on a new team focused on native experiences instead of web-based wrappers. The company has also created a new team to lead the work, following years in which many core and third-party Windows apps have relied heavily on web technologies.
Google's TurboQuant compression tech cuts LLM memory use by 6x with no accuracy loss
Breakthrough AI technique could end the global memory shortage
Windows 11 users are still fixing the Start menu with third-party tools
While Microsoft rethinks where they've failed with Windows 11, many users rely on tools like Open Shell, Start11, StartAllBack, and ExplorerPatcher to take back control of the UI. Open Shell remains a free favorite with a customizable Windows 7-style menu, while Start11 and StartAllBack offer more polished tweaks for modern systems. ExplorerPatcher rounds things out as another powerful free option.
Crimson Desert Optimization: Best Settings for Performance and Visual Quality
Crimson Desert looks great and runs well on most PCs, but some settings introduce visual noise and inefficiencies. We break down every option to find the best balance of image quality and performance.
Stop the Slop: 8 Tools That Clean Up Windows 11
If Windows 11 feels cluttered with AI features, ads, and background services, these popular free tools help strip out the bloat, disable telemetry, and give you more control over the OS.
Discord is force-restarting itself on Windows 11 to stop eating your RAM
A "temporary" solution as the company optimizes desktop app performance
Borderlands 4 Optimization: Improving a Big Mess
Borderlands 4 demands far more from your hardware than its visuals justify. Our guide breaks down settings to help you boost FPS and smooth out performance issues.
Borderlands 4 launches to 'Mixed' Steam rating due to performance issues and bugs
DLSS Balanced and 4x Frame Generation at 1440p is recommended -- for an RTX 5080!
Performance woes in Unreal Engine 5 games are developers' fault, says Tim Sweeney
Epic founder says game studios are using Unreal Engine wrong
In a nutshell: Unreal Engine powers some of the world's biggest games, but its reputation has taken a hit as several high-profile releases stumble with performance issues. Epic CEO Tim Sweeney argues the problem isn't the technology itself – it's how developers are using it. His comments cut to the core of an ongoing debate about whether today's development struggles stem from engines, hardware, or studio practices – and how much responsibility Epic should bear in addressing them.
Wuchang patch "optimization" may be forcing lower-res upscaling even at native resolution
A quick and deceitful way to "optimize" a game?
Facepalm: 505 Games, publisher of Wuchang: Fallen Feathers, has managed to pour oil on the fire of controversy surrounding the game by releasing a patch that apparently forces upscaling even when native resolution is selected. The game has been slammed on Steam for its poor optimization and forcing a lower rendering resolution even when scaling is set to 100%.
FFmpeg gets 100x faster with AVX-512 and handwritten assembly code
What just happened? FFmpeg developers keep on crunching "handwritten" assembly code to make the multimedia project faster than ever before. Thanks to newer vector-based instructions included in modern x86 processors, FFmpeg can truly provide a massive speedup in media transcoding workloads – if you are lucky enough.
Unreal Engine 5.6 outperforms 5.4 with up to 30% faster frame rates and improved lighting
Real-world tests highlight smoother gameplay and richer visuals