Microsoft posted a technical brief of the new Hardware-Accelerated GPU Scheduling feature introduced with Windows 10 May 2020 Update, and its latest Windows Display Driver Model (WDDM) version. In a blog post by Steve Pronovost, a tech lead with Microsoft DirectX, Microsoft finally set out to explain what WDDM GPU Scheduling is. Introduced with Windows Vista, WDDM 1.0 introduced GPU scheduling, a software component that allocates workload from multiple sources onto a GPU, prior to which all applications that needed GPU-acceleration would send as much traffic as they could to the GPU driver. With growing complexity in the modern 3D rendering pipeline, the need for a scheduler, not unlike the OS thread scheduler, was needed.

In the following section (which matters), Microsoft went on to detail what Hardware-Accelerated GPU Scheduling is. Apparently, some of the newer generations of GPUs (by NVIDIA, AMD, and Intel), have a hardware component in-built to perform scheduling. When this component is combined with Windows 10 May 2020 Update and a WDDM 2.7-compliant graphics driver, Windows offloads GPU scheduling onto it, freeing up some CPU resources and potentially reducing latencies at various stages of the graphics rendering pipeline. Windows continues to exhibit control over scheduling, but by talking to this scheduling component instead of a CPU-executed software stack.

AMD today released its first public beta driver that enables graphics hardware scheduling feature support with Windows 10 May 2020 Update (version 2004). This oddball release has the same version number as the previous-release, version 20.5.1 Beta, but with graphics hardware scheduling retrofitted. The driver hence ships with the version name "Radeon Software Adrenalin 2020 Edition 20.5.1 Beta with Graphics Hardware Scheduling." This Microsoft-supplied feature allows GPU hardware to better manage its resources, and potentially improve performance in certain applications. Currently, only AMD's RDNA-based Radeon RX 5600-series and RX 5700-series GPUs support graphics hardware scheduling - not even the RX 5500-series gets it; older generation AMD GPUs, such as the RX Vega series lack it, too.

DOWNLOAD: AMD Radeon Software Adrenalin 20.5.1 with Graphics Hardware Scheduling beta

NVIDIA today released the latest version of its GeForce "Game Ready" software. Version 451.48 WHQL drivers are NVIDIA's first official/public GeForce software release with Windows 10 May 2020 Update (version 2004) support, complete with WDDM 2.7 support, and DirectX 12 Ultimate API support, including Windows 10 hardware-accelerated GPU scheduling support. The drivers also add official support for the Vulkan 1.2 graphics API. NVIDIA also expanded the list of G-SYNC compatible monitors to include several new monitor models. Grab the drivers from the link below.DOWNLOAD: NVIDIA GeForce 451.48 WHQL Drivers

Microsoft introduced the Windows segment heap memory improvements for modern and system apps such as Microsoft Edge to reduce memory requirements. In a recent blog post, Principal PM Manager of Microsoft Edge Kim Denny announced that with the latest Windows 10 May 2020 Update Microsoft Edge saw a memory usage reduction of up to 27%. The New Microsoft Edge referenced here has adopted the chromium source engine which shows the possible memory reduction effects on google chrome.

In a recent chromium commit discovered by WindowsLatest shows a chromium developer stating that users "could save hundreds of MB in the browser and Network Service utility processes, among others, on some machines,". Considering Google Chrome has the largest market share of any browser by a healthy margin and given its memory-hogging tendencies this development will be a very welcome addition. The feature is currently being implemented and should hopefully be available soon.

TechPowerUp today released ThrottleStop 9 by Kevin Glynn, a groundbreaking update to the popular app that lets you take greater control over the power management in your Intel-powered notebook or desktop system, unleashing more performance by overriding OEM-preset processor throttling. Version 9.0 of ThrottleStop comes with system-level improvements that ensure the app isn't blocked Valorant anti-cheat, or false-positives by similar mechanisms.

The app also adds awareness and optimization for Windows 10 May 2020 Update (version 2004). Support for Intel 10th Gen Intel Core processors has been added, including Limit Reasons access. PROCHOT Offset adjustment feature has been added. The C-states window has been redesigned to make it easier to work with 6-core and 8-core processors. The throttle on the main screen has been improved to now display the type of throttling. Consistency of temperature monitoring between the notification window and main window has been improved. Grab the app from the link below.

DOWNLOAD: TechPowerUp ThrottleStop 9.0The change-log follows.

AMD today released the latest version of Radeon Software Adrenalin 2020 Edition. Version 20.5.1 beta is released exclusively for Windows 10, and comes with two new feature additions and several fixes. To begin with, version 20.5.1 introduces support for Windows 10 May 2020 Update (2004), including its new WDDM. An update to AMD Link sees a new Xinput emulation driver to improve compatibility with current- and future games. Several issues were fixed, beginning with a crash or hang on hybrid graphics system configurations, especially during a driver installation; a black screen issue on a limited number displays, requiring a reboot to resolve; a "Destiny 2" crash/hang when task-switching; an "Overwatrch" crash or black screen when joining a match; and incorrect clocks reported on performance metrics overlay for RX 5700 series graphics cards.

Also fixed were high memory usage on Instant Replay or Desktop Recording on a machine that's entered sleep; a black screen with the Vulkan test on GeekBench 5; glitching observed in "League of Legends" after a task-switch, Radeon Overlay unintentionally minimizing "Sniper Elite 4" when invoked; lighting corruption in GTA V with Radeon Boost enabled; a texture corruption issue with "Shadow of the Tomb Raider," RDR2 failing to launch in certain hybrid graphics systems; memory OC failing to apply on Radeon VII, and "Star Wars Jedi: The Fallen Order" and "Control" experiencing hangs with Radeon Anti-Lag enabled. Grab the driver from the link below.

DOWNLOAD: AMD Radeon Software Adrenalin 20.5.1 beta