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

Black Friday 2020

AMD exec hints that discrete RDNA 4 GPUs won’t be in gaming laptops anytime soon, leaving Nvidia’s RTX 5000 cards unchallenged

By Darren Allan published

If you were hoping RDNA 4 GPUs might be powering up gaming laptops anytime soon, I’ve got some bad news for you.

Soldiers battle it out in a train yard

Worried AMD’s FSR 4 frame rate boosting won’t be as good as Nvidia DLSS 4? Good news! Initial game support is rumored to be healthy

By Darren Allan published

AMD FSR 4 looks set for ‘drop in’ support with FSR 3.1 games, meaning RDNA 4 GPUs will be good to go with over 50 titles at launch.

The GeForce RTX logo on the Nvidia GeForce RTX 5090

Another gloomy Nvidia RTX 5000 rumor suggests next-gen GPUs will be price hiked over the MSRP in many cases, and I’m getting worried now

By Darren Allan published

Between potentially hiked pricing and graphics card stock worries, is this leaving AMD an opportunity to really pile the pressure on?

AMD RX 9070 GPU models

AMD RX 9070 gets a rumored March 23 release date, but I’m not buying it (the date, that is, not the graphics card)

By Darren Allan published

AMD’s RDNA 4 latest misfires: Ad campaign appears to suggest RX 9070 GPUs should be on sale now, and another purported release date is aired, but looks wrong.

An Nvidia RTX 5000 series graphics card against a green and black background

New Nvidia RTX 5080 benchmark rumor has got me worried that the GPU won't be a major upgrade to the RTX 4080

By Darren Allan published

Claimed Nvidia RTX 5080 graphics benchmarks suggest the GPU won’t quite match the RTX 4090 (unlike the RTX 4080 which easily outgunned the 3090).

AMD RX 9070 GPU models

AMD explains why RX 9070 GPUs won’t arrive until March – and this has got me more excited for RDNA 4, I’ve got to admit

By Darren Allan published

AMD looks to be really gunning to take down Nvidia’s RTX 5070, and heated competition in the mid-range GPU space is an exciting prospect.

An Nvidia GeForce RTX 5000 GPU on a green patterned background.

Nvidia says RTX 5090 isn’t expected to suffer from power cable melting issues that blighted the RTX 4090, despite the GPU’s 575W power usage

By Darren Allan published

Afraid of the RTX 5090 GPU’s 575W power usage? You wouldn’t be alone...

ASUS GeForce RTX 5070 Ti Prime graphics card side-on

Retailer appears to spill Nvidia RTX 5070 Ti GPU release date as February 20 – but ominously there’s no mention of the RTX 5070 launch

By Darren Allan published

Potentially bad news for PC gamers who are hoping for an early February release for the Nvidia RTX 5070 Ti.

An AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D on a desk on top of its retail packaging

AMD declares battle of Ryzen 9950X3D vs 9800X3D for gaming will be a dead heat – so gamers may as well buy the cheaper CPU

By Darren Allan published

AMD primes us not to expect too much from the incoming Ryzen 9950X3D CPU – it’ll only offer ‘similar gaming performance’ to the 9800X3D.

The Nvidia GeForce 5090 GPU on display at CES 2025

Nvidia RTX 5090 and 5080 GPU stock shortage rumors are piling high – and now there’s a suggestion the RTX 5070 could be delayed

By Darren Allan published

Fresh Nvidia next-gen GPU fears emerge: shaky stock, pricing worries, and a claim the RTX 5070 is delayed until March.

G.Skilll Trident Z5 DDR5 RAM sticks on a black background

G.Skill DDR5 RAM is overclocked to a blazing 12,054MT/s with no liquid nitrogen needed – just air cooling

By Darren Allan published

DDR5 overclock using air cooling is seriously impressive, albeit with a slight catch.

NVIDIA GeForce NOW

Have RTX 5090 and 5080 stock rumors spooked PC gamers? Nvidia GeForce Now is facing high demand, with many plans now unavailable

By Darren Allan published

Nvidia’s GeForce Now is creaking under the weight of the gamers using the service, with the majority of its plans now unavailable.

Upset young man plays computer games at home.

AMD reveals RX 9070 GPUs won’t go on sale until March, which might be too late to prevent Nvidia cleaning up with RTX 5070 models

By Darren Allan published

A losing move in the next-gen GPU war? Perhaps, though Nvidia may have its own issues, if rumors are right.

Google Pixel 7 Pro hands on front Hazel

The best Android antivirus apps for 2025

By Benedict Collins last updated

Updated Android malware and scams aren't going anywhere - make sure your devices are safe with these great antivirus apps.

AMD RX 9070 GPU models

Rumor has it AMD’s feeling the heat from Nvidia’s RTX 5000 GPU launch prices – but a decision on RX 9070 pricing must be made soon

By Darren Allan published

Bewildered by all the RX 9070 GPU price rumors? I know I am, and AMD needs to cut through the confusion sooner rather than later.

The Nvidia GeForce 5090 GPU on display at CES 2025

Fresh Nvidia RTX 5090 and 5080 stock rumors again suggest that next-gen GPUs will not be easy to buy

By Darren Allan published

Latest rumors on RTX 5000 stock have me even more worried that it’ll be a frustrating scramble to buy these GPUs.

The Nvidia GeForce 5090 GPU on display at CES 2025

Nvidia RTX 5080 GPU could sell out fast – and I’m worried things might be even worse for the flagship RTX 5090

By Darren Allan published

Buying a next-gen Nvidia GPU could be a real lottery. Yes, it's the rumor we all didn't want to hear...

Windows 11

Free Windows 11 upgrade offer won’t be getting killed off by Microsoft (yet)

By Darren Allan published

Worried that the Windows 11 free upgrade might expire before you take the offer? Microsoft has assured us it’s here to stay.

A set of Nvidia RTX graphics cards next to a compact PC case.

Nvidia’s new next-gen GPU benchmarks cause concern among PC gamers, particularly with the RTX 5080 – but don’t panic yet

By Darren Allan published

Not convinced RTX 5000 is a winner? Folks worried about a reliance on ‘fake frames’ may not be that impressed with these fresh benchmarks.

AMD RX 9070 GPU models

AMD RX 9070 models spotted at retailers – all they need now is a price to sink Nvidia’s RTX 5070 GPUs

By Darren Allan published

The next-gen mid-range GPU showdown is almost upon us, and we should know soon enough how AMD pitches its RX 9070 cards.

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

Microsoft’s Copilot+ PC price cuts didn’t help disappointing sales apparently – but there’s still a glimmer of hope

By Darren Allan published

Analyst firm paints a bleak picture of late last year, but there are some more optimistic predictions for 2025

Windows 10's grave

Microsoft turns up the heat on Windows 10 diehards, hinting that free upgrade to Windows 11 could be ditched later this year (Update: Microsoft clarifies)

By Darren Allan published

Windows 10’s end is nigh – but will the free upgrade to Windows 11 expire with it? Microsoft appears to have hinted this could be the case.

A man getting angry with his laptop.

Windows 10 update installation failures aren’t rare – but an update that won’t stop installing itself is a new one on me

By Darren Allan published

Windows 10 update is the gift that keeps on giving – if you enjoy an update repeatedly installing itself over and over.

LG Gram Pro 16 OLED

Nvidia RTX 5050 was missing in action at CES 2025 – but the budget GPU might just have been spotted in a surprising laptop

By Darren Allan published

Want a Blackwell GPU to pep up cheaper gaming laptops? Here’s some good news – Nvidia’s RTX 5050 has been spotted (but not in a gaming notebook).

Woman using a Windows computer with Microsoft Edge

Microsoft’s Project Phoenix could make Edge look better than ever in Windows 11 – but I’m not sure it’s enough to take the fight to Google Chrome

By Darren Allan published

Microsoft’s apparent grand plan to improve Edge could see the browser morphing to match your Windows 11 environment.

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