Jon Martindale

Computing Coordinator

Jon Martindale is the Evergreen Coordinator for Computing, overseeing a team of writers addressing all the latest how to guides, best-of lists, and explainers to help everyone understand the hottest new hardware and software in desktops, laptops, and on the web.

Jon also writes for Forbes, Lifewire, and Microcenter, has authored two novels, and provided back story and dialogue for a handful of games.

What is the BIOS and how to use it

The BIOS or UEFI is an interface you can use to examine core settings on your PC and make important boot changes. Here's how to access it and what you can do.

Computing Guides

1 hour ago

What is Grok? Elon Musk’s controversial ChatGPT competitor, explained

Grok is the Elon Musk-backed AI offshoot of X that he's hoping will compete with ChatGPT and Midjourney.

Computing Guides

2 days ago

The G.Skill Trident Z5 Neo DDR5 memory seated on a motherboard.

DDR6 rumors: everything we know about the next-gen RAM

DDR6 is the next generation of memory that's coming down the pipe, and though it's early days, the performance potential of this RAM is exciting.

Computing Guides

August 8

What is RAM? Here’s everything you need to know

RAM, or memory, is one of the most important components of your PC, but what is RAM? We explain what RAM does, how much you need, why it's important, and more.

Computing Guides

August 8

The Kingston Fury Renegade DDR5 memory modules in white.

How to clear your RAM cache (and why you probably shouldn’t)

Clearing your RAM cache is often touted as a way to improve system performance, but it can actually slow it down. Here's how to do it anyway.

Computing Guides

August 7

AMD Zen 5: everything we know about Ryzen 9000 and Ryzen AI 300

AMD's first Zen 5 CPUs are finally here. Here's everything you need to know about Ryzen 9000 and Ryzen AI 300 processors.

Computing Guides

August 7

SSD not showing up in Windows? Here are some easy fixes

Is your new SSD failing to register on your Windows PC? Here’s a few troubleshooting and repair methods you can try.

Computing Guides

August 7

A man holds a Corsair MP600 PRO LPX PS5 SSD next to an open PS5.

What is an SSD? Here’s everything you need to know

Most PCs use exclusively SSDs for just about every kind of storage these days. But what about hard drives? What is an SSD, really?

Computing Guides

August 7

The Corsair Dominator Platinum RGB DDR5 memory for AMD Ryzen 7000.

DDR5 vs. DDR4 RAM: Is DDR5 worth it?

DDR5 stands as the contemporary RAM standard for modern PCs. However, the question remains: Between DDR5 and DDR4, which one is better?

Computing Guides

August 6

The best RAM for 2024

There are a lot of RAM kits on the market, but only a select few made the cut in our roundup of the best RAM kits. Here are the top options in 2024.

Computing Best Ofs

August 6

How to allocate more RAM to Minecraft

Minecraft Java can run out of memory quickly if you heavily mod the game. Here's how to allocate more to boost performance.

Computing Guides

August 5

Person using Windows 11 laptop on their lap by the window.

How to show hidden files in Windows

If you've hidden certain files away, they aren't lost. Here's how to show hidden files so you can more easily interact with them again.

Computing Guides

August 5

ram prices are increasing until third quarter 2017 corsair vengeance led ddr4 memory

How much RAM do you need for a laptop, gaming PC, or tablet?

How much RAM do you really need? It's a question that plagues many PC buyers, and in this guide, we break it down for tablets, laptops, and desktops.

Computing Guides

August 5

How to install RAM

Sometimes, all you need to make your PC feel like it's new is a new RAM kit. Here's how to install RAM step by step.

Computing Guides

August 5

Canon's Pixma TS6420a handles double-sided document printing reliably.

The best cheap printers for 2024

Searching for a budget-friendly printer option? Take a look at our collection of the finest affordable printers currently on the market.

Computing Best Ofs

August 2

The WD Black SN850P 2TB Internal PS5 SSD before insertion into a ready PS5.

How to install an SSD in your PC

Installing an SSD in your PC is quick and straightforward, and can give your PC a big performance boost. Here's how to do it.

Computing Guides

July 30

How to clone a hard drive or SSD for free

Cloning a hard drive is a great way to get your PC back up and running. Here's how to do it with a great free app.

Computing Guides

July 27

How to install an SSD in your laptop

Upgrading your laptop to a solid-state drive (or a better one) is a great way to improve performance. Here's how to do it yourself.

Computing Guides

July 25

How to get Photoshop for free

Adobe allows limited-time downloads of Photoshop without needing to pay upfront. Here's how to get a full version of Photoshop for free, for a time.

Computing Guides

July 23

Which operating system is safest to use?

Windows, macOS, Chrome OS, Linux -- which is the safest to use? Each have their strengths and weaknesses. Here's what we think is the most secure.

Computing Guides

July 23

How to unlock a mouse (and why you might need to)

Is your mouse frozen? Locked? Unresponsive? It might be that your laptop or PC has locked, or a problem with the mouse itself. Either way, here's how to fix it.

Computing Guides

July 22

Intel Core i5-13600K installed in a motherboard.

Intel Arrow Lake rumors: everything we know about the 15th-gen chips

Intel Arrow Lake is slated to launch in 2024, even if that wasn't the original plan. Here's everything we know about Arrow Lake so far.

Computing News

July 20

The Glorious Model O 2 Pro mouse sitting on a desk.

How to clean a mouse pad — the right way

Cleaning your mouse pad is important for keeping your mouse working. Here's how to clean it properly to keep it in tip-top condition.

Computing Guides

July 19

The Satechi M1 Wireless Mouse on a desk next to a MacBook.

How to connect a wireless mouse to a laptop

You can connect a wireless mouse to your laptop with its bespoke USB receiver or by using Bluetooth -- or both! Here's how to do it.

Computing Guides

July 17

A Dell laptop with Windows 10 sitting on a desk.

Windows 10 end-of-life: Here’s when you’ll be forced to upgrade and what to do

Windows 10 is officially reaching its end of life in 2025. If you haven't upgraded to Windows 11 yet, here's what you need to do to be ready.

Computing Guides

July 12

The ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 10 laptop, opened with a colorful wallpaper on the screen.

Best 14-inch laptops for 2024: tested and reviewed

Good 14-inch laptops offer a little more display space while still being lightweight and portable. These are the best 14-inch laptops for all sorts of needs.

Computing Best Ofs

July 10

How to recover lost or deleted files on Windows

If you delete a file in Windows and desperately need it back, you're in luck! There are a few ways to recover lost files. Here's how to do it.

Computing Guides

July 9

The HP Omen Transcend 14 gaming laptop sitting on a table.

What is the best graphics card for laptops?

The best graphics cards for laptops in 2024 are seriously powerful and very efficient. Here are our favorites.

Computing Best Ofs

July 8

A person using 1Password on a desktop all-in-one computer while sat at a desk. There are two laptops next to them on the desk.

This is the best password manager for Windows

Everyone needs a password manager these days, but picking the best one for you can be tricky.

Computing Guides

July 6

The best home internet providers of 2024

Picking the right home internet provider will make sure you get a good deal and high performance with no data caps. Here are our favorites.

Computing Best Ofs

July 5

toshiba mn series hdds hard drive disk computer storage

The best data recovery software

Data recovery software can save you from losing essential documents and important photos. Here's a list of our top picks to restore your lost files.

Computing Best Ofs

July 3

AMD Ryzen processor going into a socket.

The best AMD processors for 2024

The best AMD CPUs are some of the best processors in the world, period. Here are our top AMD chips, whether you're a gamer, worker, or a little bit of both.

Computing Best Ofs

July 1