About four years ago, I decided to build a computer. Primarily I designed it for playing games, but in the last four years it has served well for a variety of purposes, from editing photos for work to taking a run at Twitch streaming to even briefly mining cryptocurrency.
However, as versatile as the computer was, it wasn’t perfect. It was my first PC build after all and, at the time, I made a few mistakes. Ultimately, those lead me to my current position: an ageing PC in need of an upgrade and no clear path forward.
Recently, I received some of Intel’s latest 10th Gen desktop processors to review — you can read about those over here. It seemed like perfect timing. I was preparing to figure out how to move forward with upgrading my PC since doing a full system rebuild wasn’t feasible for me. Since I was testing the new i5-10600K anyway, I figured it was the perfect chance to see which component upgrade would give me the biggest boost in performance.
The issues with my computer
In short, the biggest problem with my current PC was that it was struggling to hit the performance I was looking for, especially with modern games.
One particular issue I noticed was that in several games, CPU usage was quite high while the GPU seemed much more sporadic. This indicated to me that, at least in some games, my 6th Gen Intel Core i5-6500 CPU just wasn’t keeping up.
I began considering upgrading my CPU to eke out some more performance in those games but discovered my motherboard would only support up to 7th Gen Intel CPUs with a BIOS update. To me, it didn’t seem worthwhile to make that jump. And if I had to replace the motherboard, I figured rebuilding the whole PC would make the most sense.
However, with the new 10600K I was reviewing, I had the means to test performance and see if a new CPU would really make that much of a difference. Likewise, I needed to see what difference swapping out the GPU would make in my scenario. AMD suggested a Radeon 5600 XT as a logical upgrade from the R9 390 for someone looking to game at 1080p.
Once I had both components, I began testing. I ran a suite of benchmarks across four configurations of the system, including the original i5-6500 with an R9 390, the 6500 with the Radeon 5600 XT, the i5-10600K with the 390 and the 10600K with the 5600 XT. Everything else in the system remained the same — 16GB of RAM, 128GB SSD with Windows plus other drives with the games I tested. The only real difference between the two other than CPU and GPU configuration was the motherboard since the 10th Gen CPUs use a different socket. However, that should not significantly impact any performance metrics.
Before we dig into the results, keep in mind that the focus here is on game performance and what benefits a new CPU and new GPU bring to the table. If you’re curious about a direct comparison between the new 10600K and the 6500, check out the full 10th Gen CPU review here.
CPU makes a difference, but a GPU does more to improve your game
Starting with the synthetic GPU benchmarks, you can see the systems running the newer 5600 XT clearly perform better while the CPU makes a marginal difference. This shouldn’t come as much of a surprise as these benchmarks specifically test the GPU performance. Still, the 10600K system does see a tiny improvement in every test with the exception of the FurMark score with the 390, where it comes in slightly lower than the 6500/390 system, but maintains the same framerate.
Likewise, CPU benchmarks I tried showed no difference in performance between the systems with the 390 and systems with the 5600 — only the CPU made a difference here.
The game benchmarks, however, show a different story. When both components have to work in tandem, a clear delta appears between the different configurations. In almost every test, the 10600K configurations out-performed the 6500 versions. However, the 6500/5600 XT config bested the 10600K/390 and, unsurprisingly, the 10600K paired with the 5600 XT scored best across all tests.
The first round of tests used the games’ built-in benchmarking tool, while the second round simply recorded the average framerate through a few rounds of Battlefield V’s ‘Breakthrough’ game mode and Warzone’s solos mode. The third graph is the Final Fantasy XIV: Shadowbringers benchmark, which provides a score instead of an average framerate, so it’s set apart accordingly.
Looking at these results, it becomes abundantly clear that, in most games at least, the 6500 was not the main cause of performance issues, regardless of the high CPU usage. If the 6500 was the culprit, then the tests with the 6500/5600 XT pair shouldn’t have seen as big an increase in framerate as they did.
What the benchmarks don’t show
Despite the performance deltas displayed in the tests above, there are more things to consider when it comes to upgrading a part of your PC. Yes, upgrading the GPU lead to better framerates compared to upgrading the CPU, but I do more than just game with my computer.
It’s worth noting that the configurations with the 10600K felt much snappier in almost everything. Whether navigating Windows 10, browsing the web, working or editing photos, the 10600K configs were always faster.
Likewise, the 5600 XT brought some significant benefits over the 390. For one, it uses a 7nm process compared to the 28nm used in the 390. The new RDNA architecture in the 5600 is more power efficient as well and I found it was able to run much cooler under load than the 390. Thanks to the improvements in AMD’s Adrenalin 2020 Edition software, newer GPUs like the 5600 XT have more options when it comes to overclocking as well.
Drawbacks to consider when swapping hardware
Also worth considering are the drawbacks to upgrading either component. Despite the excellent performance I got from the 5600 XT, I initially had some glitches and crashes. At first, I thought Windows just wasn’t a fan of swapping the GPU. After some troubleshooting and back-and-forth with AMD, it turned out to be related to an older vBIOS installed on the GPU. After updating the vBIOS, everything worked fine.
On the CPU side of things, in my case, upgrading to a new CPU required a whole new motherboard. Changing that is not only an added expense but also a lot of work since you’ll have to essentially rebuild your PC instead of just swapping one component. Not every computer will be in the same boat as mine, however, and if you feel a CPU upgrade is the way to go, make sure to check your motherboard compatibility. With a BIOS or similar software update, you may be able to keep the motherboard and just swap the hardware.
If you opt to upgrade the motherboard and CPU, be prepared for some software bugs. Along with the GPU software issues mentioned above, when I swapped motherboards in my test rig, the audio completely stopped working. In part, this was because something broke somewhere in Windows and I believe it was trying to use the old audio drivers despite cleaning them out and installing the new drivers. It’s also partially because the new motherboard’s audio drivers have some software bugs that need to be worked out.
None of this is to disparage the hardware I tested, but instead to make it clear that, regardless which component you choose to upgrade in an ageing rig, you should be prepared for something to break.
If you can’t afford a full system upgrade, swapping a GPU could give you a boost
Ultimately, the experiment answered my questions about upgrading specific components of my build.
In my case, I likely could upgrade my GPU to something like the 5600 XT, which you can find for as low as $409 depending on the variant, and get a significant performance boost. While I can’t say for sure, I’d guess the 6500/5600 XT pairing could likely carry me through another year or two of gaming no problem.
The 10600K, however, would likely leave me in the same position I am now without a corresponding GPU upgrade. Considering the 10600K retails for $399, it’s clear where that money should go.
All that said, upgrading both would by far improve performance across the board in both gaming and work tasks.
Since every computer system is different, your mileage may vary. That said, if you’re considering upgrading but can’t go for a full system upgrade, a newer graphics card can definitely help boost your game performance.
The federal government is ordering the dissolution of TikTok’s Canadian business after a national security review of the Chinese company behind the social media platform, but stopped short of ordering people to stay off the app.
Industry Minister François-Philippe Champagne announced the government’s “wind up” demand Wednesday, saying it is meant to address “risks” related to ByteDance Ltd.’s establishment of TikTok Technology Canada Inc.
“The decision was based on the information and evidence collected over the course of the review and on the advice of Canada’s security and intelligence community and other government partners,” he said in a statement.
The announcement added that the government is not blocking Canadians’ access to the TikTok application or their ability to create content.
However, it urged people to “adopt good cybersecurity practices and assess the possible risks of using social media platforms and applications, including how their information is likely to be protected, managed, used and shared by foreign actors, as well as to be aware of which country’s laws apply.”
Champagne’s office did not immediately respond to a request for comment seeking details about what evidence led to the government’s dissolution demand, how long ByteDance has to comply and why the app is not being banned.
A TikTok spokesperson said in a statement that the shutdown of its Canadian offices will mean the loss of hundreds of well-paying local jobs.
“We will challenge this order in court,” the spokesperson said.
“The TikTok platform will remain available for creators to find an audience, explore new interests and for businesses to thrive.”
The federal Liberals ordered a national security review of TikTok in September 2023, but it was not public knowledge until The Canadian Press reported in March that it was investigating the company.
At the time, it said the review was based on the expansion of a business, which it said constituted the establishment of a new Canadian entity. It declined to provide any further details about what expansion it was reviewing.
A government database showed a notification of new business from TikTok in June 2023. It said Network Sense Ventures Ltd. in Toronto and Vancouver would engage in “marketing, advertising, and content/creator development activities in relation to the use of the TikTok app in Canada.”
Even before the review, ByteDance and TikTok were lightning rod for privacy and safety concerns because Chinese national security laws compel organizations in the country to assist with intelligence gathering.
Such concerns led the U.S. House of Representatives to pass a bill in March designed to ban TikTok unless its China-based owner sells its stake in the business.
Champagne’s office has maintained Canada’s review was not related to the U.S. bill, which has yet to pass.
Canada’s review was carried out through the Investment Canada Act, which allows the government to investigate any foreign investment with potential to might harm national security.
While cabinet can make investors sell parts of the business or shares, Champagne has said the act doesn’t allow him to disclose details of the review.
Wednesday’s dissolution order was made in accordance with the act.
The federal government banned TikTok from its mobile devices in February 2023 following the launch of an investigation into the company by federal and provincial privacy commissioners.
— With files from Anja Karadeglija in Ottawa
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 6, 2024.
LONDON (AP) — Most people have accumulated a pile of data — selfies, emails, videos and more — on their social media and digital accounts over their lifetimes. What happens to it when we die?
It’s wise to draft a will spelling out who inherits your physical assets after you’re gone, but don’t forget to take care of your digital estate too. Friends and family might treasure files and posts you’ve left behind, but they could get lost in digital purgatory after you pass away unless you take some simple steps.
Here’s how you can prepare your digital life for your survivors:
Apple
The iPhone maker lets you nominate a “ legacy contact ” who can access your Apple account’s data after you die. The company says it’s a secure way to give trusted people access to photos, files and messages. To set it up you’ll need an Apple device with a fairly recent operating system — iPhones and iPads need iOS or iPadOS 15.2 and MacBooks needs macOS Monterey 12.1.
For iPhones, go to settings, tap Sign-in & Security and then Legacy Contact. You can name one or more people, and they don’t need an Apple ID or device.
You’ll have to share an access key with your contact. It can be a digital version sent electronically, or you can print a copy or save it as a screenshot or PDF.
Take note that there are some types of files you won’t be able to pass on — including digital rights-protected music, movies and passwords stored in Apple’s password manager. Legacy contacts can only access a deceased user’s account for three years before Apple deletes the account.
Google
Google takes a different approach with its Inactive Account Manager, which allows you to share your data with someone if it notices that you’ve stopped using your account.
When setting it up, you need to decide how long Google should wait — from three to 18 months — before considering your account inactive. Once that time is up, Google can notify up to 10 people.
You can write a message informing them you’ve stopped using the account, and, optionally, include a link to download your data. You can choose what types of data they can access — including emails, photos, calendar entries and YouTube videos.
There’s also an option to automatically delete your account after three months of inactivity, so your contacts will have to download any data before that deadline.
Facebook and Instagram
Some social media platforms can preserve accounts for people who have died so that friends and family can honor their memories.
When users of Facebook or Instagram die, parent company Meta says it can memorialize the account if it gets a “valid request” from a friend or family member. Requests can be submitted through an online form.
The social media company strongly recommends Facebook users add a legacy contact to look after their memorial accounts. Legacy contacts can do things like respond to new friend requests and update pinned posts, but they can’t read private messages or remove or alter previous posts. You can only choose one person, who also has to have a Facebook account.
You can also ask Facebook or Instagram to delete a deceased user’s account if you’re a close family member or an executor. You’ll need to send in documents like a death certificate.
TikTok
The video-sharing platform says that if a user has died, people can submit a request to memorialize the account through the settings menu. Go to the Report a Problem section, then Account and profile, then Manage account, where you can report a deceased user.
Once an account has been memorialized, it will be labeled “Remembering.” No one will be able to log into the account, which prevents anyone from editing the profile or using the account to post new content or send messages.
X
It’s not possible to nominate a legacy contact on Elon Musk’s social media site. But family members or an authorized person can submit a request to deactivate a deceased user’s account.
Passwords
Besides the major online services, you’ll probably have dozens if not hundreds of other digital accounts that your survivors might need to access. You could just write all your login credentials down in a notebook and put it somewhere safe. But making a physical copy presents its own vulnerabilities. What if you lose track of it? What if someone finds it?
Instead, consider a password manager that has an emergency access feature. Password managers are digital vaults that you can use to store all your credentials. Some, like Keeper,Bitwarden and NordPass, allow users to nominate one or more trusted contacts who can access their keys in case of an emergency such as a death.
But there are a few catches: Those contacts also need to use the same password manager and you might have to pay for the service.
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Is there a tech challenge you need help figuring out? Write to us at onetechtip@ap.org with your questions.
LONDON (AP) — Britain’s competition watchdog said Thursday it’s opening a formal investigation into Google’s partnership with artificial intelligence startup Anthropic.
The Competition and Markets Authority said it has “sufficient information” to launch an initial probe after it sought input earlier this year on whether the deal would stifle competition.
The CMA has until Dec. 19 to decide whether to approve the deal or escalate its investigation.
“Google is committed to building the most open and innovative AI ecosystem in the world,” the company said. “Anthropic is free to use multiple cloud providers and does, and we don’t demand exclusive tech rights.”
San Francisco-based Anthropic was founded in 2021 by siblings Dario and Daniela Amodei, who previously worked at ChatGPT maker OpenAI. The company has focused on increasing the safety and reliability of AI models. Google reportedly agreed last year to make a multibillion-dollar investment in Anthropic, which has a popular chatbot named Claude.
Anthropic said it’s cooperating with the regulator and will provide “the complete picture about Google’s investment and our commercial collaboration.”
“We are an independent company and none of our strategic partnerships or investor relationships diminish the independence of our corporate governance or our freedom to partner with others,” it said in a statement.
The U.K. regulator has been scrutinizing a raft of AI deals as investment money floods into the industry to capitalize on the artificial intelligence boom. Last month it cleared Anthropic’s $4 billion deal with Amazon and it has also signed off on Microsoft’s deals with two other AI startups, Inflection and Mistral.
