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Jacob Roach

Jacob Roach

Senior Staff Writer, Computing

Jacob Roach is a writer covering computing and gaming at Digital Trends. After realizing Crysis wouldn't run on a laptop, he started building his own gaming PCs and hasn't looked back since. Before Digital Trends, he contributed content to Forbes Advisor, Business Insider, and PC Invasion, covering PC components, monitors, and peripherals.

Outside of tinkering with his PC and tracking down every achievement in the latest games, Jacob spends his time playing and recording music. Before switching to writing full time, he worked as a recording engineer in St. Louis, Missouri.

The Digital Trends website on the KTC G42P5.

This new Windows 11 shortcut made using my PC so much easier

One feature that flew under the radar in Windows 11's latest feature update has made using my PC feel so much easier.
Computing Features
Intel Arc A580 graphics card on a pink background.

I’m shocked how good this $180 GPU is

We haven't seen a true budget GPU in a few years, but Intel's Arc A580 fills that gap with compelling 1080p performance at a fantastic price.
Computing Reviews
Cyberpunk 2077 running on the Alienware 34 QD-OLED.

The best HDR monitors for gaming, content creation, and more

To properly enjoy HDR you need a good monitor that fully supports it. Here are the displays gamers, content creators, and enthusiasts should look out for.
Computing Products
AMD revealing its Ryzen 8040 CPUs.

AMD’s new Ryzen 8040 CPUs aren’t all that new

AMD revealed its new Ryzen 8040 laptop CPUs, but looking closely at the specs, it doesn't look like there's much new with them at all.
Computing Features
AMD's CEO presenting the MI300X AI GPU.

AMD is taking the gloves off in the AI arms race

With the new MI300X GPU and MI300A APU, AMD is finally taking the AI fight back to Nvidia.
Computing News
A man drives away in a boat with stolen money in Grand Theft Auto 5 art.

I’m glad GTA 6 isn’t coming to PC right away

It looks like GTA 6 won't launch on PC alongside console, but despite a barrage of criticism, that's a good thing for PC gamers.
Computing Features
AMD CEO Lisa Su holding an APU chip.

Intel said AMD’s Ryzen 7000 is snake oil

A new marketing playbook from Intel compares AMD's Ryzen 7000 mobile processors to snake oil.
Computing News
The Samsung Odyssey OLED G9 was the most innovative monitor of 2023.

The most innovative monitors of 2023

2023 was a huge year for monitors. Here are the displays that pushed the envelope forward like no others this year.
Computing Features
Hi-Fi Rush on the KTC G42P5.

I traded the best gaming monitor for something totally different

The Alienware 34 QD-OLED is widely considered the best gaming monitor you can buy, but I traded mine away for something completely different.
Computing Features
The RTX 4080 logo on a pink background.

Graphics cards are selling again, and that worries me

This is the second quarter we've seen GPU shipments increase, but that could have an unintended effect on GPU prices.
Computing News
Portal RTX running on the Surface Laptop Studio 2.

To celebrate its milestone, here are the best (and worst) examples of RTX in games

Nvidia now has over 500 RTX games and apps, so it's time to look back at a few big wins, and a couple of unfortunate misses.
Computing Features
An OLED gaming monitor showing an HDR demo.

Brighter isn’t better for OLED monitors. An expert told me the surprising reason why

The most common criticism of OLED gaming monitors is that they don't get bright enough, but there's a good reason for that.
Computing Features
Cooler Master Qube 500 PC case sitting on a coffee table.

I fell in love with this PC case that looks like a cheese grater

Cooler Master's flat pack PC case looks a lot like a cheese grater, but it brings far more than a unique look to the table.
Computing Features
Colt shoots an enemy off their feet in Deathloop.

How to check your fps (frames per second) in games on PC

If you want to see how your PC is performing, you need to check your fps, or frames per second, while playing games. Here's how to do it.
Computing Guides
Starfield running on the Asus ROG Ally.

Asus’ forgotten ROG Ally is now totally worth the money

The Asus ROG Ally with the Ryzen Z1 wasn't very good when it released, but a refreshed price makes it the best deal you can find on a handheld gaming PC.
Computing News
An illustration of Nvidia's Resizable Bar.

This essential GPU feature isn’t as simple as you think

Resizable Bar has become an essential feature for modern GPUs, but the more you dig into it, the more complicated it becomes.
Computing Features
Logo on the SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro headset.

7 best headsets for PC gaming: tested and reviewed

Only a few headsets are worthy of making it on the list of the best headsets for PC gaming. Here are our top picks this year.
Computing Products
The Hyte Y40 PC case sitting on a table.

The best PC gaming hardware of 2023: GPUs, CPUs, monitors, and more

After reviewing dozens of PC gaming products this year, here are our favorites, from GPUs and CPUs to keyboards and headsets.
Computing Features
Controls on the SteelSeries Acris Nova Pro headset.

The best Xbox Series X headsets

To get the most out of your Xbox Series X, you'll need a good headset. Our roundup of the best Xbox Series X headsets has options for any budget and need.
Gaming Products
Mario narrowly avoids a Chain Chimp in Super Mario 64.

The best console emulators (NES, SNES, Genesis, and more) in 2023

The best emulators allow you to replay your favorite games from systems like the Super Nintendo, PlayStation 2, and Switch. Here are the best options in 2023.
Gaming Guides
Kena Bridge of Spirits on the Samsung Odyssey OLED G9.

Graphics terms every PC gamer should know

There are dozens of graphics terms PC gamers need to keep track of. We rounded them up so you know what to look for while playing games.
Computing Guides
NVIDIA CEO Jensen Huang on stage.

Nvidia is ‘no longer a graphics company’

Nvidia is an AI company more than it's a graphics company, and apparently that was an intentional shift from within the company.
Computing News
Horizon Zero Dawn running on the Lenovo Legion Go,

Why the latest rival handheld still can’t beat the ROG Ally

The Lenovo Legion Go is one of the most impressive handhelds we've seen, but further testing reveals it exhibits some strange behavior compared to the ROG Ally.
Computing Products
Cyberpunk 2077 running on the Samsung Odyssey Neo G8 monitor.

These are the rules I live by when optimizing PC game performance

Optimizing the performance and image quality of PC games isn't easy, but these simple rules can steer you in the right direction.
Computing Features
Nvidia GeForce RTX 4090 GPU.

This might be why the RTX 4090 is getting so expensive

Prices have been rising for Nvidia's RTX 4090 over the last several weeks, and we might finally have an explanation as to why that's the case.
Computing News
AMD RX 6600 among other graphics cards.

Best graphics cards 2023: finding the best GPU for gaming

The best graphics cards for 2023 include GPUs from Nvidia, AMD, and Intel, but only a select few rise to the top of the rankings.
Computing Products
Diablo 4 running on the Alienware x16.

Buying a gaming laptop? These are the brands to trust

You may know what the best gaming laptops are, but what if you want a few more options? These are the gaming laptop brands you should look at first.
Computing Guides
NVIDIA Unveils GeForce RTX, World’s First Real-Time Ray Tracing GPUs

In 2023, Nvidia finally delivered on a promise it made 5 years ago

Nvidia laid out a platform for the future five years ago in the form of RTX, and this year, we finally saw it all come together.
Computing Features
A solider from Call of Duty Modern Warfare 3.

When a high frame rate can lose you the game

Nvidia's Frames Win Games campaign has a lot of truth, but with DLSS 3 Frame Generation, the sentiment gets a little more complicated.
Computing Features
Former OpenAI CEO Sam Altman standing on stage at a product event.

OpenAI is on fire — here’s what that means for ChatGPT and Windows

OpenAI, maker of ChatGPT, fired CEO Sam Altman on November 17, kicking off a string of events that are still playing out.
Computing Features
The Threadripper 7980X CPU installed in a motherboard.

AMD isn’t competing with Intel anymore — Threadripper just wins

AMD's new Threadripper 7000 CPUs put up insane performance, but it's the fact that you can actually buy them that stands out.
Computing Features
The Steam Deck OLED sitting in a case.

The Steam Deck OLED makes the original model obsolete

The Steam Deck OLED looks like a minor revision of the original model, but our testing reveals it's so much more.
Computing Products
Steam Deck held between two hands.

The best handheld gaming PCs you can buy

We've seen a surge in new handheld gaming PCs over the past year, but which should you buy? We've rounded up the best handheld gaming PCs.
Computing Products
Master Chief meeting the Weapon in Halo Infinite.

The best Xbox Series X exclusives

There won't be many exclusives on Microsoft's new console for awhile, but with our list of the best Xbox Series X exclusives, you'll know which to download.
Gaming Guides
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