Skip to main content
Jon Martindale

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.

 

how to optimize wifi network for work from home wrt1900acs router position location direction improve signal

How to extend your Wi-Fi range with another router

Wi-Fi dead zones in the home or at work can be a real pain. But if you have an old router, you can convert it into a Wi-Fi repeater yourself. Here's how.
Computing Guides
A hand grabbing MSI's RTX 4090 Suprim X.

The most common GPU problems and how to fix them

Every graphics card has problems some times, but do you know how to fix them? Here's a look at some of the most common GPU problems and how to set them right.
Computing Guides
AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D held between fingertips.

What’s the best CPU under $400? Here are Intel and AMD’s best options

The 7800X3D and 14700K are the best CPUs at around $400, but which is truly better? If you're a gamer, there's only one clear winner.
Computing Guides
Intel Core i5-14600K processor inside its socket.

What’s the best $300 CPU? I compared two of the best options

The Ryzen 7 7700X and Core i5-14600K are two of the best midrange CPUs for gaming and work, but which is the best for you? Let's find out.
Computing Products
How to delete your YouTube account

Here’s how to delete your YouTube account on any device

If you want to learn how to delete your YouTube account, you've come to the right place. It might be a little scary, but we'll walk you through it step by step.
Computing Guides
The bottom of the AMD Ryzen 9 7950X3D

What’s the best $100 CPU? I compared the two main options

The Core i3-14100F and the Ryzen 5 5600 are two excellent budget processors, but which is the fastest and most efficient? Let's take a look.
Computing Products
how to uninstall steam games 1

How to uninstall Steam games (and reinstall them later)

This guide will teach you how to uninstall Steam games to help create storage space. There are a few ways to do it, and this guide will show you each of them.
Gaming Guides
Pads on the AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D.

Here’s how two of the best budget CPUs stack up against each other

The Ryzen 5 7600 and Core i5 14400 are two of the best budget CPUs of their generations, but which is the best of the two? Let's find out.
Computing Products
The new Start Menu in Windows 11, 22H2

How to get Windows 11 for free

If you already have a legal Windows 10 installation, you can easily upgrade to Windows 11 for free. Here's how to do it.
Computing Guides
AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D held between fingertips.

The best CPU to pair with the RTX 4070 or 4070 Ti

If you have an RTX 4070 Ti or RTX 4070, you want to pair a strong CPU with either of them to get the best performance. Here are our top picks.
Computing Products
woman sitting and using laptop

How to make a GIF from a YouTube video

YouTube videos are great, but if you want to use them for some quick reactions, GIFs are better. Here's how to make a GIF from a YouTube video in three ways.
Computing Guides
AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D installed in a motherboard.

What CPU do I have? Here’s how to easily check

If you want to find out what CPU your PC or laptop is running, you don't need to take it apart. Here's how to check your processor in just a few quick steps.
Computing Guides
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 Products
A CPU cooler installed on a motherboard.

How to install a CPU cooler to lower temperatures and noise levels

Installing a CPU cooler is relatively straightforward if you have the right tools to hand. Here's how to do it in just a few steps.
Computing Guides
Pads on the bottom of the Ryzen 9 7950X.

AMD vs. Intel: the rivalry has never been more fierce

The AMD versus Intel debate is ever-raging, and in 2024, it's just as competitive. With Meteor Lake, Raptor Lake, and Ryzen 7000 now available, which are the best CPUs?
Computing Guides
Exploring the Enshrouded opening area.

Enshrouded performance guide: best settings, fps boost, and more

Enshrouded performance is pretty good for a game so early in its development, but you can make it better by adjusting the settings. Here's how.
Computing Guides

The 5 best websites like Craigslist in 2024

A wide variety of alternatives to Craigslist are available -- some even have modern, easier-to-use interfaces. Check out our favorite websites like Craigslist.
Web Guides
The AMD Ryzen 5 8600G APU installed in a motherboard.

AMD Zen 5: Everything we know about AMD’s next-gen CPUs

AMD's Zen 5 CPUs will debut sometime in the second half of 2024 and they may well bring with them the biggest performance boost in generations.
Computing Guides
A person using a laptop while lounging on a couch.

How to password-protect an Excel file on Windows and Mac

Sending Excel files containing crucial financial and business data has risks. To add a layer of protection, you should learn to password protect an Excel file.
Computing Guides
How to clean a laptop screen

How to clean a laptop screen without scratching it

Over time, dirt and dust build up on your display, which can then leave grimy, ugly deposits. Here's how to clean a laptop screen safely for a clearer view.
Computing Guides
Intel Core i5-13600K installed in a motherboard.

Intel Arrow Lake: 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
A person typing on a laptop that is showing the ChatGPT generative AI website.

The best custom GPTs to make ChatGPT even more powerful

ChatGPT gets a lot more impressive when you use Custom GPTs. Here are some of the best ones right now.
Computing Guides

How to change your mouse cursor in Windows

The standard Windows mouse cursor only goes so far. If you want your cursor's appearance to be more playful, here's how to change your mouse cursor in Windows.
Computing Guides
best websites for free audiobooks version 1428320425 shutterstock 236974753

The best websites to download audiobooks for free in 2024

Audiobooks make catching up on lengthy stories pretty easy. But they can be expensive. So we've rounded up the best websites to download audiobooks for free.
Web Guides
A person typing on a laptop that is showing the ChatGPT generative AI website.

I used ChatGPT to help me make my first game. Don’t make the same mistakes I did

Making games is hard, but maybe using ChatGPT can make it much easier? I've had a go at it and the results are mixed, to put it best.
Computing Features
A view out to the sea in Palworld.

Palworld Performance guide: best settings, fps boost, and more

Palworld is tearing up the Steam charts as 2024's first big hit. It's Early Access though, so here's how to get the best performance out of it.
Computing Guides
hail your mechanical overlord why keyboards arent just for geeks anymore keyboard mem 4

The best mechanical keyboards you can buy

Selecting the right keyboard can be difficult given all the available options. These are the best mechanical keyboards for fast and accurate typing experiences.
Computing Products
Minecraft on Chromebooks.

How to play Minecraft on a Chromebook

Chromebooks are fantastically affordable, and they're great for work and play. Here's how to play Minecraft on your Chromebook.
Computing Guides
razer ornate chroma keyboard amazon dal ornata mecha membrane gaming 2

Mechanical keyboard switches: Here’s everything you need to know

Mechanical keyboard switches are all a little different, changing how your keyboard feels, sounds, and behaves. Here's what you need to know before choosing.
Computing Guides
A person using MS Word.

How to delete a page in Word (including a blank page)

If you need to know how to delete a page in Word, this guide will show you tricks for deleting pages at the end, in the middle, and anywhere else.
Computing Guides

How to use cut, copy, and paste keyboard shortcuts in Windows

In need of some convenient Windows keyboard shortcuts? Cut, copy, paste, and undo -- they're four of the easiest and most helpful commands for any application.
Computing Guides

Spilled water on your laptop? Here’s how to fix it

You've just spilled water on your laptop. What now? Turn your system off right away, and then follow these steps. If you're lucky, you might be able to save it.
Computing Guides
A person sits in front of a laptop. On the laptop screen is the home page for OpenAI's ChatGPT artificial intelligence chatbot.

How to build your own custom GPT with ChatGPT

Building your own custom GPT is a great way to make a chatbot that works exactly how you want it to and knows what you need it to. Here's how to make one.
Computing Guides
A lock surrounded by keys.

How to password protect a folder in Windows and macOS

Everyone has private data on their PC, and one of the best ways to safeguard that is to password protect it. But do you know how to password protect a folder?
Computing Guides
1234567
Next