Articles by 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

Don’t panic, gaming laptop buyers – Nvidia assures us that mobile RTX 5000 graphics cards won’t have the chip-level fault that hit desktop GPUs

By Darren Allan published 7 March 25

The (rare) problem with missing rendering pipelines only applies to desktop graphics cards, not the laptop variety for RTX 5000.

An Nvidia GeForce RTX 5080 resting on an RTX 5090 on a gray crafting mat.

Corsair tells us only one of its prebuilt PCs with an RTX 5000 GPU has suffered from chip-level fault, suggesting it’s as rare as Nvidia claimed

By Darren Allan published 6 March 25

Corsair is guaranteeing prebuilt PCs with RTX 5000 cards aren’t affected by the hardware-level GPU fault, while backing up Nvidia’s assertion that it’s a rare glitch.

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

Last-minute AMD RX 9070 XT stock rumors are making me hopeful for a much better launch than Nvidia’s RTX 5000 GPUs – with just one snag

By Darren Allan published 6 March 25

While the MSRP should hold fast with the first batch of GPUs sold, it could ‘jump’ after that initial (subsidized by AMD) quantity of graphics cards has been shifted.

Asus Prime OC RTX 5070 graphics card with three fans, shown at an angle

Asus reveals Nvidia RTX 5070 launch pricing, and while one model is at MSRP – thankfully – the others make me want to give up my search for a next-gen GPU

By Darren Allan published 5 March 25

Asus reveals Nvidia RTX 5070 launch pricing, and it looks steep in places – complete with hints that GPU stock could be shaky, too. Sigh...

Portrait of African-American teenage boy studying at home or in college dorm and using laptop, copy space

Windows 11’s Notepad gets AI-powered ‘Rewrite’ feature, but not everyone’s going to be happy about it

By Darren Allan published 5 March 25

Here’s how Notepad’s new Rewrite feature works, and what you need to get the ChatGPT-powered ability.

Nvidia RTX 5070 Founders Edition GPU shown against a green and black backdrop

Nvidia RTX 5070 early pricing hints at plenty of GPUs at the MSRP – but I’ll believe it when I see it

By Darren Allan published 4 March 25

Nvidia RTX 5070 GPUs appear at MSRP in apparent early glimmers of hopeful pricing – but I really wouldn’t read much into this.

PCI Express bus interface connector, x16, x8, x4, x1, on the computer motherboard

AMD warns its RX 9070 GPUs are strictly ‘UEFI-only’ – and if that sounds worrying, don’t panic, it probably doesn’t affect you

By Darren Allan published 4 March 25

AMD’s new RDNA 4 graphics cards will only support UEFI, and we’ll explain exactly what this means for your gaming PC.

Lenovo Yoga Solar PC on a table outside of a cafe

I’d love a laptop powered by the sun... and Lenovo’s Yoga Solar PC at MWC 2025 looks like a sizeable step towards that dream

By Darren Allan published 3 March 25

A highly efficient solar panel in a laptop lid? Lenovo’s Yoga Solar PC is turning heads at MWC 2025 and it’s a genuinely exciting new laptop concept.

Windows 11 update with Task Manager menu

Microsoft is fixing Windows 11 Task Manager’s quirky reporting of CPU usage, and a much-wanted change for the lock screen is coming, too

By Darren Allan published 3 March 25

Confused by Task Manager seemingly getting CPU usage wrong in Windows 11? Don’t worry, Microsoft has cleared up what’s going on here.

Woman using a Windows computer with Microsoft Edge

Don’t panic – Microsoft’s Edge browser isn’t about to subject you to a flood of unblocked adverts (not yet, anyway)

By Darren Allan published 28 February 25

Some folks seem to believe that the end is nigh for uBlock Origin – and maybe other popular extensions for Edge – but it very much isn’t (yet).

Young woman using laptop, looking annoyed

Microsoft’s latest bit of nagging in Windows 11 might come from a good place, but it’s seriously annoying some people

By Darren Allan published 28 February 25

New piece of stealth advertising in Windows 11 is a warning to back up your PC – and while that’s good advice, not everyone needs prodding to use OneDrive.

A man at a desk using a laptop and holding his hands up, while having a confused look on his face

Windows 11 24H2 bug is confusing people by displaying half the interface in one language, and the remainder in another

By Darren Allan published 27 February 25

I’ve seen some weird bugs in Windows 11, but a glitch that mixes up two languages in the operating system’s menus takes the cake.

Evidence mounts that RX 9070 XT GPU could equal Nvidia RTX 4080’s performance – I just hope AMD doesn’t mess up pricing

By Darren Allan published 27 February 25

Purported RX 9070 XT benchmark shows it edging out Nvidia’s RTX 4080 while keeping impressively cool, suggesting AMD’s got a real winner of a GPU.

Nvidia RTX 5060 Ti GPU with 16GB rumored for March launch, followed by 8GB flavor in April – but where does that leave the vanilla RTX 5060?

By Darren Allan published 26 February 25

Nvidia could potentially be forced to don its flame-retardant suit for rumored April launch of 8GB version of RTX 5060 Ti.

I have good news and bad news about Windows 11 24H2’s new update: it introduces nifty features and fixes... but also includes another ad

By Darren Allan published 26 February 25

Tired of ads in Windows 11 yet? I know I am, but Microsoft looks to be bringing in yet another, and this time it’s referrals for PC Game Pass.

Microsoft just gave Edge a great new feature to ensure the browser doesn’t slow down the PC, and it’s tempting me to switch from Google Chrome

By Darren Allan published 25 February 25

In the Edge vs Chrome battle, Microsoft just landed a telling blow – a nifty new RAM limiter feature.

An Nvidia GeForce RTX 5080 sitting on its retail packaging

Some lucky RTX 5080 buyers may not be so lucky after all, as Nvidia confirms ‘rare’ chip fault also applies to this GPU as well as the RTX 5090 and 5070 Ti

By Darren Allan published 25 February 25

If you’ve bought an RTX 5080, you need to check your GPU specs and see if the count for a certain rendering pipeline is correct.

Finding Windows 11 sluggish when you’re working with files and folders? You’re not alone – and it’s high time for Microsoft to sort out File Explorer

By Darren Allan published 24 February 25

Some people are complaining that File Explorer is woefully slow, or that it regularly crashes, and Microsoft needs to shape up here.

A laptop with the Windows 11 desktop on screen, glowing, while on a work desk

Microsoft changes Windows 11’s Start menu for the better (gasp) while introducing nifty new file sharing options

By Darren Allan published 24 February 25

Windows 11 appears to be getting a Start menu change that I like (shock, horror).

An RTX 5090 sitting on top of its retail packaging against a green background

Nvidia confirms 'rare issue' with some RTX 5090 and RTX 5070 Ti GPUs – here’s how to check if you’re affected and to get a replacement

By Darren Allan published 23 February 25

The launch of Nvidia's new GPUs has gone badly enough already, but now there's a hardware-level glitch slowing down RTX 5090 and 5070 Ti GPUs.

AMD RX 9070 GPU spec and benchmark rumors cast fresh doubt on power usage and performance – but I wouldn’t worry about the latter

By Darren Allan published 21 February 25

Rumors continue to fly about AMD’s RDNA 4 GPUs, and here we’ve got news on power usage, and a somewhat shaky-sounding story with performance.

A woman sitting in a chair looking at a Windows 11 laptop

Windows 11’s screenshot tool is getting a nifty new time-saving ability

By Darren Allan published 21 February 25

Right now, the change for Snipping Tool is just in testing, but it looks slick already, and hopefully it’ll be arriving soon enough.

Rumor suggests Nvidia’s had difficulties to iron out with chips for RTX 5070 and 5060 GPUs, seemingly leading to delays and possibly low stock levels

By Darren Allan published 20 February 25

More chatter from the grapevine indicates that Nvidia RTX 5070 stock will be low initially, and the RTX 5060 won’t be out until April.

AMD’s powerful Ryzen 9 9950X3D and 9900X3D CPUs rumored to arrive on March 12 – but gamers will still be better off with the 9800X3D

By Darren Allan published 20 February 25

If you were wondering when the next 3D V-Cache chips might arrive, apparently it’s March 12, with reviews emerging the day before.

Clues in Windows 11 suggest Microsoft has a nifty plan to help you move all your stuff from an old PC to a new computer more easily and conveniently

By Darren Allan published 19 February 25

Worried about how you’ll transfer all your files and settings from your existing PC to a new one? Windows 11 might soon help with a handy ‘Migration’ app.

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