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Jacob Roach

Jacob Roach

Lead Reporter, PC Hardware

Jacob Roach is the lead reporter for PC hardware at Digital Trends. In addition to covering the latest PC components, from graphics cards to processors to PC cases, Jacob also leads the ReSpec column and newsletter that covers the intersection of PC hardware and gaming. If it's something you can plug into a gaming PC, there's a good chance Jacob has used it.

Although Jacob is interested in just about anything in or around a PC, he's currently reporting on graphics cards, PC game optimization, and gaming monitors. At Digital Trends, he's dug deep on the untold origins of the Steam Deck, uncovered the truth behind poor PC port optimization, and broke the story on Microsoft's Bing Chat going off the rails.

Before joining Digital Trends, Jacob contributed to Business Insider, Forbes, and PC Invasion, among various other outlets. Jacob has been a guest on TWiT and NBC, and his work has been cited in Fox News, Futurism, and Business Insider.

As if tinkering with the latest PC hardware wasn't enough, Jacob spends most of his free time living the PC gamer life he writes about so frequently. That includes playing the latest games, but also poking around on his PC to see what he can break, just to see how it works. When he gets a moment to step outside and "touch grass," Jacob enjoys tabletop games, wandering the shops of St. Louis, and forcing his lazy Corgi onto walks.

The Hyte Y40 PC case sitting on a table.

Nvidia could flip the script on the RTX 5090

A new claim by a well-known hardware leaker suggests Nvidia's rollout of the RTX 5090 won't go exactly as expected.
Computing News
Cyberpunk 2077 running on the Samsung Odyssey OLED G8.

A new standard is raising the bar for HDR on PC

An updated DisplayHDR specification significantly raises the minimum requirements for displays looking to earn the badge.
Computing News
Apple introducing the new M4 chip.

Apple did the unthinkable with the new M4 chip

Apple just introduced the M4 chip, and it's doing something that it's never done before with this new processor.
Computing News
The Digital Trends website on the KTC G42P5.

This simple app was a surprising upgrade to my gaming PC

Sometimes the simplest Windows apps turn out to be the most useful, and JustScroll definitely fits that description.
Computing Features
Intel's 14900K CPU socketed in a motherboard.

Intel Core i9 CPUs are about to get hit with a downgrade, report says

A new report claims Intel will enforce some strict power limits on motherboards to counter a recent wave of instability.
Computing News
A hand holding an AMD Ryzen CPU.

It’s time to stop ignoring the CPU in your gaming PC

The CPU has left the conversation for PC gamers over the last few years, but with the demands of modern games, it's time to reexamine its role.
Computing Features
Lies of P running on the Asus ROG Ally.

I would give up my Steam Deck if the ROG Ally 2 had these features

Rumor has it that Asus is working on a new revision to the ROG Ally. Here's what it would take for me to finally give up my Steam Deck for Asus' handheld.
Computing Features
Pins on Core i9-12900K.

What to do if your Intel CPU keeps crashing

While Intel and motherboard vendors investigate instability issues, here's what you can do to prevent crashes on your PC.
Computing Features
Intel Core i9-13900K held between fingertips.

4 CPUs you should buy instead of the Intel Core i9-13900K

Intel's Core i9-13900K is a monster of a CPU, but recent instability concerns might make you want to consider some alternatives. Here are our favorites.
Computing Features
RTX 3080 graphics cards among other GPUs.

11 best graphics cards of 2024: the GPUs I’d recommend to any PC gamer

We've reviewed every graphics card from Nvidia, AMD, and Intel. Here are the best GPUs you can buy for your next gaming PC.
Computing Products
Nvidia GeForce RTX 4090 GPU.

The RTX 4090 is more popular on Steam than any AMD GPU

The latest Steam hardware survey shows that Nvidia's RTX 4090 is still a popular GPU despite its insane price tag.
Computing News
RX 7900 XTX installed in a test bench.

AMD’s graphics card sales just took a nosedive

AMD just reported its financial results for the first few months of 2024, and its gaming business isn't doing so hot.
Computing News
The Razer Iskur V2 gaming chair in an office.

Razer’s most boring product is also one of its best

The Razer Iskur V2 doesn't have any gimmicks, and that's exactly what makes it one of the most exciting products from the company.
Computing Features
Intel's 14900K CPU socketed in a motherboard.

No, Intel isn’t blaming motherboard makers for instability issues

Recent reports say that Intel is blaming motherboard makers for a wave of instability issues, but that's not exactly what's going on.
Computing News
The iMac screen on a desk.

10 best desktop computers of 2024: tested and reviewed

We review dozens of PCs every year, and these are the 10 best desktops we've looked at in 2024 across Apple, Dell, HP, and more.
Computing Products
The Hyte Y40 PC case sitting on a table.

It’s time to stop settling for a noisy gaming PC

It's easy to settle for a loud gaming PC after getting everything set up, but with a little tweaking, you can make your rig run cooler and quieter.
Computing Features
The HP Omen 40L desktop sitting on a coffee table.

HP Omen 40L desktop review: missing what counts the most

HP has the pricing and specs nailed with the Omen 40L, but it falls short of expectations when it comes to performance.
Computing Reviews
Intel Arc A770 GPU installed in a test bench.

Intel Battlemage graphics cards: release date speculation, price, specs, and more

We've known about Intel's Battlemage graphics cards for a few years, but in 2024, details are starting to emerge about the release date, specs, and performance.
Computing Guides
An Intel Meteor Lake processor socketed in a motherboard.

Intel’s big bet on efficient GPUs might actually work

An early look at Intel's next-gen Battlemage architecture holds promising signs for performance and power efficiency.
Computing News
AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D held between fingertips.

I’ve used Intel CPUs for years. Here’s why I’m finally switching to AMD

After so many years sticking with Team Blue, I'm switching back to AMD for the next iteration of my gaming PC.
Computing Features
Graphics card in the CLX Hathor PC.

These are the 10 best gaming PCs I’d recommend to anyone

We've reviewed dozens of gaming desktops, but only a select few are worthy of making it among the best gaming PCs in 2024.
Computing Products
A PC built with the Hyte Nexus Link ecosystem.

Hyte made me fall in love with my gaming PC all over again

Hyte's impressive Nexus Link ecosystem will force you to think differently about how you plan and build your gaming PC.
Computing Features
Asus ROG Ally handhelds side by side.

The Asus ROG Ally just got a game-changing update

The most recent update for the Asus ROG Ally adds frame generation to the handheld, which promises vastly improved performance.
Computing News
A laptop running Windows 11.

You’re going to hate the latest change to Windows 11

Microsoft just rolled out an update for Windows 11 shockingly fast, and it includes a change most users won't be happy about.
Computing News
Pads on the AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D.

Gigabyte just confirmed AMD’s Ryzen 9000 CPUs

Gigabyte just confirmed that AMD's next-gen CPUs are coming soon, and that they'll be called Ryzen 9000 series processors.
Computing News
AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D sitting on a motherboard.

4 CPUs you should buy instead of the Ryzen 7 7800X3D

AMD's Ryzen 7 7800X3D is often hailed at the best gaming CPU you can buy, but there are plenty of alternatives to keep in mind before picking up the chip.
Computing Features
A person using the Dell UltraSharp 40 U4025QW 40-inch curved Thunderbolt hub monitor with a Dell laptop on a desk.

The 10 best monitors for 2024: tested and reviewed

There are only a select few displays worthy of being deemed the best monitors. Here are the screens worth your time and money.
Computing Products
The Razer Viper V3 Pro sitting among its accessories.

Razer made the best gaming mouse even better

The Razer Viper V3 was a smash success when it released late last year, but now Razer is improving the design with the Viper V3 Pro.
Computing Features
The homemade Ryzen Deck sitting on a desk.

A Redditor ‘didn’t know’ about the Steam Deck, so they built their own

Despite not knowing that the Steam Deck existed, one Redditor decided to build their own handheld gaming PC, dubbing it the Ryzen Deck.
Computing News
A person using a Linux laptop.

How to dual boot Linux and Windows

Dual booting Linux and Windows is simple, and in this guide, we'll walk you through how to do it on your PC step-by-step.
Computing Guides
Someone holding the Core i9-12900KS processor.

Some Intel CPUs lost 9% of their performance almost overnight

A new Asus motherboard update aimed at addressing stability issues on Intel CPUs could shave upwards of 9% of your performance.
Computing News
Xbox Series S placed on a white table with the controller just in front of it

The most common Xbox Series S problems and how to fix them

The most common Xbox Series S problems include low storage space and constant crashing, and in this guide, we're going to show you how to solve them.
Gaming Guides
dlss hidden modes dt respec

How I unlocked the hidden modes of DLSS

A range of presets behind the scenes make DLSS work properly, and a clever mod allows you to tweak how they work.
Computing Features
Graphics card in the Alienware Aurora R16.

How to increase fps and smooth gameplay on your PC

Optimizing your gameplay settings could make all the difference for your next online match. Here’s all the most important adjustments you should make.
Computing Guides
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