Windows 11 will hobble gaming performance by default on some prebuilt PCs

«Despite Microsoft's claims that "if you're a gamer, Windows 11 was made for you" you will need to watch out for future prebuilt PCs with the new OS factory installed. That's because the Big M is enabling more security features in PCs by default, and one in particular can seriously tank gaming performance.

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The issue is Virtualization-Based Security (VBS), a setting introduced into Windows 10 which uses hardware and software virtualisation to enhance the security of your system. It basically creates an isolated subsystem that helps prevent malware from screwing your PC.»

Sigh

*opens spreadsheet titled "things to turn off on a windows system and periodically check that they're still off" and adds another entry

Sure, while they already have me bent over from ads and fucking Candy Crush on my desktop, a pushy browser, a high performance laptop from 2019 that can't be upgraded to Windows 11 why not try squeeze in VBS slow-downs, too.

It feels like the SSD with Windows 10 will become my gaming machine for all of my old or offline titles (with OOSU https://www.oo-software.com/en/shutup10, Kaspersky Antivirus and other software to help mitigate its eventual downwards spiral into insecurity, much like XP experienced), whereas the M.2 SSD with Ubuntu LTS will become my new daily driver.

It's not like i have much of a choice, because thankfully Microsoft finally forced my hand by not supporting my Ryzen 3 1200.

After all, gaming is the only thing holding me back: it's amazing to see Proton and other tech progressing rapidly to bridge the gap, even though i'll still want to occasionally play some of the older unsupported titles.

To me, the only piece that's missing is something like VirtualBox with good GPU passthrough and relative mouse movement mode, so i can run Windows 10 in a VM without any sorts of other trickery. Either that, or for Wine to get better.

Well, perhaps software like MobaXTerm (https://mobaxterm.mobatek.net/) is also excellent but also only available on Windows (Remmina doesn't quite come close), or maybe WinSCP - apart from those, most other of the software that i use as a software dev is available on Linux distros already, which is lovely to see!

Microsoft should just release a $149 Software upgrade for Xbox S/X that allows/requires full mouse+keyboard UI and access to Windows store apps (Windows store would probably need to be cleaned up and properly curated), Edge browser, plus printing support.

Then in a few years they could also release a portable version of the S, with a battery, 15.6" 1080p 75hz screen, and a few hours of battery life. If you reduce the size of the cooling system in the S (possible with 5nm), and have an external PSU, this is definitely possible.

Full Windows is basically overkill for the average consumer.