Darren Allan

Darren is a freelancer writing news and features for TechRadar (and occasionally T3) across a broad range of computing topics including CPUs, GPUs, various other hardware, VPNs, antivirus and more. He has written about tech for the best part of three decades, and writes books in his spare time (his debut novel - 'I Know What You Did Last Supper' - was published by Hachette UK in 2013).

Articles by: Darren Allan

New concept devices from Qualcomm featuring the Snapdragon X2 Elite and X2 Elite Extreme chips.

Windows 11's next major update is only coming to a few laptops – but that could be a blessing in disguise

By Darren Allan published

Windows 11 26H1 is confirmed as exclusively for Snapdragon X2 laptops – other PCs will have to wait for 26H2 later this year.

A Dell XPS 14 sitting on display

Dell reveals people don't care about AI in PCs – and a new truly embarrassing Windows 11 fail shows why

By Darren Allan published

CES 2026 Dell says people are 'not buying PCs based on AI' – just as a cringeworthy AI agent fail pops up with terrible timing for Microsoft.

A young woman is working on a laptop in a relaxed office space.

Sick of Microslop? New Linux distro could win over Windows 11 haters

By Darren Allan published

Does the future belong to Linux? It's way too early to call that, but the new Loss32 project should make Microsoft sit up and take notice.

An Nvidia RTX 3080 on a table

'It's a good idea': Jensen Huang hints that Nvidia could consider bringing back older graphics cards to solve GPU pricing crisis

By Darren Allan published

CES 2026 Fed up with high gaming GPU prices caused by AI demand? Nvidia's solution could be AI, ironically – or even to bring back older GPUs.

EliteBoard G1a shown at an angle with a mouse

HP just squeezed a desktop computer into a keyboard – and it's powerful enough to be a Copilot+ PC

By Darren Allan published

CES 2026 HP packed a powerful Ryzen CPU, DDR5 RAM and storage into a peripheral to make the world's first keyboard that's a Copilot+ PC.

Young woman sitting on the floor with a laptop biting nails, nervous and very anxious

'Microslop' is heading for Edge – major browser redesign is inspired by Copilot, and it's already seriously unpopular

By Darren Allan published

Revamped browser design is symptomatic of a bigger problem that Microsoft is facing here.

A woman at a table using a Windows laptop, opposite sits a man, neither show their face

A popular debloating tool now has fresh powers to strip out Windows 11's AI features – but I'd proceed with caution

By Darren Allan published

Hate AI in Windows 11? You're not alone judging by the popularity of AI debloating tools, and this one just got a major update.

Woman disgusted by her laptop

Windows 11 finishes an embarrassing last in speed test of six Windows generations — but there's a big catch

By Darren Allan published

There are obvious sticking points with the methodology of the suite of tests, but the results are still worth discussing.

Intel

Intel in 2025: Year in review

By Darren Allan published

Intel made something of a recovery this year, as Team Blue cut some huge and vital deals under new CEO Lip-Bu Tan.

girl using laptop hoping for good luck with her fingers crossed

Is 8GB of RAM enough for a laptop in 2026?

By Darren Allan published

RAMageddon in 2026? There are dire predictions for laptops regarding the memory crisis, and we could see a lot more 8GB notebooks.

View of Microsoft Romania headquarters in City Gate Towers situated in Free Press Square, in Bucharest, Romania.

Microsoft in 2025: year in review

By Darren Allan published

Microsoft doubled-down on AI this year, and the resulting backlash marked one of the biggest stumbles for the company.

A young woman is working on a laptop in a relaxed office space.

I'm transforming Windows 11 in 2026 using PowerToys – here's how you can too

By Darren Allan published

If you thought PowerToys was a mysterious suite of high-powered tools for enthusiast tinkerers only, well, think again.

Nvidia

Nvidia in 2025: year in review

By Darren Allan published

AI profits hit new heights, but it's been something of a rollercoaster for Nvidia this year with its new generation of Blackwell GPUs.

girl using laptop hoping for good luck with her fingers crossed

5 big problems with Windows 11 that I really hope Microsoft fixes in 2026

By Darren Allan published

If Microsoft follows this five-point action plan, I can absolutely guarantee a much happier Windows 11 user base.

Kyle MacLachlan as Hank MacLean in Fallout season 2, next to an iPhone 16e, next to Jason Duval in GTA outside a hotel

The year the internet broke – the 11 biggest tech fails that defined 2025, ranked

By Darren Allan published

The biggest tech flops of this year, from Amazon taking out the internet to iPhone disappointment and hate for Copilot.

Maingear BYO RAM scheme showing RAM sticks on a desk

Scared RAM price hikes will make your new PC a lot pricier? 'BYO RAM' is Maingear's answer – meaning you provide your own memory

By Darren Allan published

There's a PC building party going on, just Bring Your Own RAM…

Corsair lighting enhancement kit Vengeance DDR5 shown in motherboard

RAM buyers beware — expensive high-end memory kit from Corsair was reportedly swapped for dummy RGB lighting modules

By Darren Allan published

A buyer returned their 96GB memory kit worth $999 only to receive a replacement that consisted of $35 worth of dummy RGB lighting modules.

Back view of a man using a laptop with Windows 11's Microsoft Store app open

Windows 11 preview provides more details on how AI agents will work – but this remains a controversial path for Microsoft

By Darren Allan published

We know more about how AI agents will work thanks to the latest Windows 11 preview – but not everyone's happy.

Computer memory RAM on motherboard background

Watch out – RAM rip-offs are now in vogue, so here's how to avoid falling for high-end memory scams

By Darren Allan published

Forget 'rock in a box' GPUs, high-end RAM scams are now being reported – here's how to avoid getting stung.

Origin Code Vortex DDR5 RAM close up of cooler

Don't think RAM is expensive enough yet? DDR5 sticks with a triple-fan cooler on top will be shown off at CES 2026

By Darren Allan published

DDR5 memory sticks with a triple-fan cooler on top are going to leave your wallet quaking in fear.

Lenovo Legion Go 2

Lenovo leaks reveal surprise SteamOS-powered Legion Go 2 – and full specs for its bold rollable OLED gaming laptop

By Darren Allan published

Lenovo leaks reveal surprise SteamOS-powered Legion Go 2 – and specs for its bold rollable OLED gaming laptop.

Person using laptop and phone

Smart new features for Android smartphones just arrived in Windows 11 – including remotely locking your PC via the phone

By Darren Allan published

Remotely locking your Windows 11 PC is now possible using an Android phone thanks to updated app – here's how to get it.

An Nvidia GeForce RTX 5070

Uh-oh — Nvidia could drastically reduce supply of its RTX 5000 gaming GPUs in 2026, cutting production by up to 40%

By Darren Allan published

Nvidia is rumored to be cutting supply of RTX 5000 models by 30% to 40% in the first half of 2026.

Acer Aspire 14 AI Laptop powered on to the Windows 11 login screen

Microsoft explains how Windows 11's AI agents will get access to your files – but bigger worries remain

By Darren Allan published

Microsoft calms some fears about Windows 11's AI agents, clarifying permissions around file access.

RAM

Fresh RAM woes emerge in the form of a rumor that Samsung has doubled the cost of DDR5

By Darren Allan published

Hopes that steep RAM price rises could plateau are potentially dashed by new rumor of Samsung price hikes.

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