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

Intel Core Ultra processor

Windows 11 desktop PCs could soon get Copilot+ AI powers, as Intel might radically switch tactics with next-gen CPUs

By Darren Allan published

Ready for your Windows 11 PC to get proper AI powers? Rumor has it Intel's next-gen desktop CPUs could deliver Copilot+ features.

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

Windows 11 could get AI-powered dynamic wallpapers - I just hope Microsoft doesn't kill off this idea

By Darren Allan published

Dynamic wallpapers could make a comeback - if Microsoft has a bit more conviction about the idea this time around.

A selection of Nvidia RTX 5060 Ti graphics cards.

Worrying Nvidia stock rumor hints at GPU price rises – here's why Prime Day could be the best time to buy a new graphics card

By Darren Allan published

Need a new GPU? Prime Day deals could be the most affordable pricing you'll see this year.

Windows 10's grave

It only took four years, but Windows 11 is now the most popular desktop OS - and time is running out for Windows 10

By Darren Allan published

Windows 10 support ends in just three months, so you need to be thinking about your options at this point.

AMD RX 9070 GPU models

AMD's new GPUs could be a flop – and while that's good news for Nvidia, I'm worried for gamers

By Darren Allan published

AMD's RX 9070 XT looks a tempting buy right now – so why is it losing out to Nvidia, with even the RTX 5090 ahead of Team Red's GPU on Steam?

People using Windows 11 laptops

Windows 11 search just got more powerful courtesy of Copilot - and I think this is a great use of AI, even if there'll still be haters

By Darren Allan published

New AI search tricks help all Windows 11 users catch up with Copilot+ PCs when it comes to swiftly finding the files they need.

The radeon logo on the AMD Radeon RX 9070

Now might be the perfect time to buy an AMD RX 9070 XT, as retailer rumors suggest it's hit a low for the year

By Darren Allan published

Thinking of buying a new GPU? Now might be the time to strike, before rumored price hikes kick in for graphics cards later this year.

An AMD Radeon RX 9070 XT made by Sapphire on a table with its retail packaging

AMD's impressive free RX 9070 XT speed boosts confirmed in new benchmarks – and they make the GPU a better buy than Nvidia's RX 5070 Ti

By Darren Allan published

Driver-driven performance improvements over time means AMD's graphics card is now better value than ever.

Windows 10's grave

Confused by a mysterious update that's suddenly appeared on your Windows 10 PC? Don't panic – here's what you need to know

By Darren Allan published

Microsoft is stealthily installing a mysterious update on Windows 10 PCs: here's what it does, and why you need to start thinking about your next move.

Mature man using laptop in a cafe, looking annoyed

Microsoft just gave the Windows 11 Notepad app a controversial feature that people are either loving or hating

By Darren Allan published

Is Notepad becoming WordPad now? Microsoft's new formatting features for Windows 11's text editor are proving to be highly divisive.

Frustrated unhappy laptop user girl touching head at work table with computer

'It's obvious that users are frustrated': consumer rights group accuses Microsoft of not providing a 'viable solution' for Windows 10 users who can't upgrade to Windows 11

By Darren Allan published

A recent lifeline for those who are stuck on Windows 10 is welcome, but still not enough – and Microsoft should be looking at doing more.

Woman disgusted by her laptop

No, Windows 11 PCs aren't 'up to 2.3x faster' than Windows 10 devices, as Microsoft suggests – here's why that's an outlandish claim

By Darren Allan published

Microsoft is pushing Windows 11 upgrades increasingly hard, but misleading marketing is not going to help its cause in the end.

Upset PC gamer with head in hands by his PC

I don't generally recommend downloading Windows 11's preview updates, but some gamers may want to chance Microsoft's latest effort

By Darren Allan published

Some PC gamers may want to take a chance on a new optional update for Windows 11 as it fixes a nasty black screen bug.

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

Microsoft confirms Windows 11 25H2, and in some ways, I'm glad we're not getting a major update like Windows 12 this year

By Darren Allan published

Forget Windows 12, Microsoft's confirmed Windows 11 25H2 - and this year's update might disappoint in some ways, but there's good news too.

Angry PC gamer sitting at a gaming desktop PC and losing

Steam's new in-game overlay offers some useful upgrades - and I'm particularly happy about one that exposes a controversial AI trick

By Darren Allan published

Hate 'fake frames' - and games that may enable them without your knowledge? Valve has the answer to the hidden use of frame generation, and more besides.

The GeForce RTX logo on the Nvidia GeForce RTX 5090

Nvidia could have a new take on its fastest GPU that will reportedly pack a 'surprise' – but I wouldn't get your hopes up

By Darren Allan published

Nvidia's rumored new RTX 5090 model could surprise us – but if that shock is a cheaper price for the GPU, I'd still prepare for disappointment.

Windows fail

Windows 11 user has 30 years of 'irreplaceable photos and work' locked away in OneDrive - and Microsoft's silence is deafening

By Darren Allan published

Three decades of personal data lost due to a badly planned transfer process that relied on Microsoft's OneDrive.

Angry woman using a laptop

Windows 11’s new Start menu falls short in one key area – and it’s making people angry

By Darren Allan published

Windows 11’s new Start menu misses a trick (or two) with customization, but I’m hoping Microsoft will change its tune here.

A Microsoft Surface Laptop being shown at Microsoft's Copilot Plus PC Showcase

Microsoft has made it harder to log in to Windows 11 using your face - and that’s good and bad news

By Darren Allan published

Wondering why your Windows 11 face login doesn’t work sometimes? It’s because of Microsoft’s recent push for ‘enhanced security’.

A man getting angry with his laptop.

Windows 11’s new update is reportedly proving a nightmare to install for some, but I’m hardly surprised given its messy rollout

By Darren Allan published

Windows 11’s new update looks like a double dose of trouble with reports of nasty bugs and serious problems installing the upgrade.

Woman disgusted by her laptop

‘You did say how much you loved Vista’ – Microsoft’s most hated operating system pops up in Windows 11’s weirdest glitch ever

By Darren Allan published

Microsoft confirms bug with Windows 11 playing Vista startup sound by accident, but there’s more to this than meets the ear.

Windows 10's grave

Windows 11's hidden PC migration feature proves Microsoft isn't messing around when it comes to killing off Windows 10

By Darren Allan published

Windows 10 is set to get a new way of easily transferring all your data to a brand-new PC, and I’m in two minds about this feature.

LibreOffice Writer

LibreOffice maker urges Windows 10 users to defect in viral ‘Go Linux, not Windows 11’ campaign

By Darren Allan published

Microsoft is under fire again for steep Windows 11 spec requirements, as the maker of LibreOffice urges Windows 10 users to switch to Linux.

The Asus Dual OC RTX 5060 inside a PC case.

Nvidia RTX 5050 again rumored to pack slower VRAM than other Blackwell GPUs, but don’t write off this budget graphics card yet

By Darren Allan published

Nvidia RTX 5050 VRAM rumor adds to the general gloom around the budget GPU, but honestly, I’d ignore the doomsayers.

Motherboard close up on PCIe slots

PCIe 7.0 has been announced, offering superfast speeds for the components inside your PC – but don’t get excited just yet

By Darren Allan published

Even though PCIe 6.0 still hasn’t arrived, PCIe 7.0 has just been announced – and work has begun on PCIe 8.0. Confused? We’ll explain it all.

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