Chris Hoffman

Chris Hoffman is a veteran tech journalist and the former Editor-in-Chief of How-To Geek. He's been going hands-on with PC hardware and getting his hands dirty with Windows for 15 years, writing for publications including PCWorld, PCMag, Computerworld, The New York Times, Fast Company, Reader's Digest, and more.

All Posts by Chris Hoffman

How-To

Chris Hoffman • Aug 24, 2026

How to Upgrade Your Laptop's RAM and Storage

You might be able to upgrade your laptop more than you expect. Here's how to figure out what's possible.

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How-To

Chris Hoffman • Aug 14, 2026

How to Master OneDrive on Your PC

From backing up files to syncing up a new PC.

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image about - how to use local ai with your own files: a beginners guide to rag

Chris Hoffman • Aug 4, 2026

How to Use Local AI With Your Own Files: A Beginner's Guide to RAG

Retrieval-augmented generation works differently than just attaching a file to a prompt.

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How-To

Chris Hoffman • Jul 7, 2026

How to Set Up Windows LAN File Sharing

HomeGroup is gone, but Windows 11 PCs still have traditional network file sharing.

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image about - quantization explained: why the same llm gives better results on high-end hardware

Chris Hoffman • May 12, 2026

Quantization Explained: Why the Same LLM Gives Better Results on High-End Hardware

Choosing an LLM means choosing a quantization, not just a model. Here's what you need to know.

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How-To

Chris Hoffman • Apr 21, 2026

How to Move Your Windows Install to a New SSD (Without Reinstalling Everything)

Your new SSD doesn't need a new OS install.

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image about - dual displays on the go: why you might need a portable monitor for your laptop

Buying Guides

Chris Hoffman • Mar 25, 2026

Dual Displays on the Go: Why You Might Need a Portable Monitor for Your Laptop

This incredibly flexible laptop upgrade can cost as little as $100-$200.

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image about - electric dusters vs. canned air: a key upgrade for cleaning your pc

How-To

Chris Hoffman • Feb 25, 2026

Electric Dusters vs. Canned Air: A Key Upgrade for Cleaning Your PC

Photo: Chris HoffmanThe first time I used a can of air, it was like magic. With the press of a trigger, a jet of air cleaned out my PC's fan vents and lifted the gunk from my keyboard. But, if...

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image about - asus shows off new laptops for consumers and creators at ces 2026

News

Chris Hoffman • Jan 6, 2026

ASUS Shows Off New Laptops for Consumers and Creators at CES 2026

ASUS's Zenbook A16 is a 16-inch laptop without the usual big laptop tradeoffs.

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image about - asus rog unveils gaming laptops and more at ces 2026

News

Chris Hoffman • Jan 5, 2026

ASUS ROG Unveils Gaming Laptops and More at CES 2026

ASUS is partnering with Kojima Productions to deliver a PC that looks incredible for local AI — with a design straight out of Death Stranding.

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image about - where local ai beats the cloud (and where it doesnt)

Chris Hoffman • Dec 17, 2025

Where Local AI Beats the Cloud (and Where it Doesn't)

With modern hardware, you can run capable AI models on-device and keep complete control of your data.

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image about - benchmarking ai on an rtx 5080: how well do popular llms run

Chris Hoffman • Dec 5, 2025

Benchmarking AI on an RTX 5080: How Well Do Popular LLMs Run?

How do LLMs run on this popular gaming GPU, and how much of the bottleneck is VRAM?

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Chris Hoffman

All Posts by Chris Hoffman

How to Upgrade Your Laptop's RAM and Storage

How to Master OneDrive on Your PC

How to Use Local AI With Your Own Files: A Beginner's Guide to RAG

How to Set Up Windows LAN File Sharing

Quantization Explained: Why the Same LLM Gives Better Results on High-End Hardware

How to Move Your Windows Install to a New SSD (Without Reinstalling Everything)

Dual Displays on the Go: Why You Might Need a Portable Monitor for Your Laptop

Electric Dusters vs. Canned Air: A Key Upgrade for Cleaning Your PC

ASUS Shows Off New Laptops for Consumers and Creators at CES 2026

ASUS ROG Unveils Gaming Laptops and More at CES 2026

Where Local AI Beats the Cloud (and Where it Doesn't)

Benchmarking AI on an RTX 5080: How Well Do Popular LLMs Run?

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