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MSI interrupt mode explained: why it steadies GPU performance, not speed

MSI (Message Signaled Interrupts) lets a device like a GPU notify the CPU of an interrupt by writing to a memory address rather than fighting for space on a shared physical hardware line. Windows 10 and 11 default to MSI-X, an expanded version introduced with PCI 3.0 in 2010, whenever a device supports it. This approach labels each interrupt with its source, avoiding the collisions that can occur on crowded shared IRQ lines.

OpenRGB releases version 1.0 for unified, cross-platform RGB control

OpenRGB, an open-source project, has reached its 1.0 release, offering a single lightweight application to control RGB lighting from multiple manufacturers instead of juggling separate proprietary apps. It runs on Windows, Linux and MacOS, and has been tested across x86, x86_64, Arm32 and Arm64 hardware including Raspberry Pi devices. The software is released under the GNU General Public License v2 and includes a network-based SDK for third-party integrations.

Dell relaunches XPS 13 as a budget rival to Apple's MacBook Neo

Dell has revived the XPS 13 line with a redesigned thin-and-light laptop starting at $699.99, positioning it as a lower-cost alternative to Apple's MacBook Neo. The tested units pair a six-core Intel Core 5 320 'Wildcat Lake' chip with 512GB storage, differing only in RAM—8GB in the base model and 16GB in the $999.99 version. Dell has since introduced a new $699.99 base configuration with just 256GB of storage while raising prices on the 512GB models by $100.

ClickFix social engineering attacks spread across Windows and macOS

Security researchers report that ClickFix-style attacks, which trick users into copying and running malicious commands via fake CAPTCHA pop-ups, are proliferating across both Windows and Mac systems. Researcher Kevin Beaumont notes victims are flooding Reddit for help, and attackers are now compromising legitimate websites to embed these prompts, making the scam harder to spot.

Microsoft confirms September patches break Remote Desktop Services on Windows Server

Microsoft has verified that its September 2026 security updates are causing Remote Desktop Services failures across Windows Server 2012 and later, plus Windows 10 and 11. Affected systems show RDP connections dropping after a few minutes, sign-in errors, servers stuck loading the Remote Desktop Configuration screen, and related tools like MMC and File Explorer becoming unresponsive.

Microsoft confirms September 2026 updates break some USB audio on Windows 11 24H2

Microsoft has acknowledged that the KB5124008 and KB5124012 security updates released on September 8, 2026 can cause USB Audio Class 1.0 devices to stop working on Windows 11 24H2 and later systems. Affected users report Code 10 errors in Device Manager, silent audio output, and frozen volume controls, with some speakers only failing when multichannel modes like 3D or 8-channel audio are used. No official fix exists yet, though switching to 2-channel mode has helped some users regain sound.

Dell Pro 5 Webcam Delivers 2K Video for Office Video Calls at $120

Dell has launched the Pro 5 (WB526), a compact 2K QHD webcam aimed at office workers, featuring a Sony sensor, 78-degree field of view, autofocus, and a physical lens shutter. The device supports Windows Hello, includes an anti-theft cable lock, and offers AI-driven features like auto-framing and face tracking, alongside a built-in microphone. It's priced at $119.99, currently discounted to $114.99.

Community developer forks Red Hat's abandoned SPICE Windows agent

A volunteer has created a public GitHub mirror and continuation of the freedesktop.org SPICE Windows guest agent project after Red Hat stopped maintaining it. The fork keeps building and packaging the Windows service that enables clipboard sharing, resolution matching, and file transfer for VMs, with fixes like a multi-GPU mouse tracking patch for passthrough setups.

SSD speed vs HDD capacity: how to choose between 256GB and 1TB drives

Comparing a 256GB SSD to a 1TB hard drive isn't a simple capacity contest, since SSDs retrieve data electronically from flash memory while HDDs rely on spinning platters and moving read/write heads, making SSDs significantly faster for booting and running programs. Whether 256GB is enough depends heavily on usage: it suits light users who rely on cloud storage, while heavy local file storage, creative work or gaming may require 512GB, 1TB or more.

How to squeeze more battery life out of a Windows 11 laptop

A tech guide outlines practical settings changes Windows 11 users can make to extend laptop battery life, noting that x86-based machines remain more power-hungry than ARM alternatives and that Windows 11 itself carries performance overhead. The top recommendation is lowering screen brightness via the Win + A shortcut, alongside other adjustments that trade some performance for longer runtime.

Microsoft: Retiring VBScript will break Slmgr.vbs Windows activation tool

Microsoft is telling enterprises to migrate away from Slmgr.vbs, the VBScript-based tool used to manage Windows product activation, because VBScript itself is being phased out of Windows. The company recommends switching to PowerShell equivalents before VBScript is removed entirely in a future Windows release.

Google releases native Gemini desktop app for Windows 10 and 11

Google has launched a dedicated Gemini desktop application for Windows, following its earlier macOS rollout, giving users a native app rather than relying solely on the browser. Users can summon Gemini with a keyboard shortcut, share their screen or local files for context-aware help, and connect the assistant to Gmail, Drive, Docs and Calendar.