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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.

Intel Arc demo: Ryan Shrout plays Shadow of the Tomb Raider on a gaming PC.

I tested Intel’s XeSS against AMD FSR — and the results speak for themselves

In a lot of modern games, you'll have the choice between AMD FSR and Intel XeSS, and there are some significant differences between them.
Computing Guides
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
Steam Deck held between two hands.

Steam Deck 2: release date speculation, specs, pricing

Valve has already said that it will be a few years before we see the Steam Deck 2, but we're already speculating on a possible release date, specs, and more.
Computing Guides
An Intel executive presenting at Intel Vision.

Intel is oddly enthusiastic about AI replacing everyone’s jobs

Intel launched the new Gaudi 3 AI chip at Vision 2024, and it's oddly enthusiastic about the AI agents it will power and that will take over people's jobs.
Computing News
Hollow Knight running on a KTC monitor.

As a lifelong PC gamer, these are the apps I couldn’t live without

As a PC gamer, there are a few critical applications I need to install on every new PC. Here's what you should download first.
Computing Features
Intel Core i9-13900K held between fingertips.

Gamers are reportedly returning Intel Core i9 CPUs in droves

An increasing number of customers are reporting issues with Intel's latest Core i9 CPUs, and the company is finally looking into the problem.
Computing News
The Intel Core i9-14900K slotted in a motherboard.

Intel’s new CPU feature boosted my performance by 26% — but it still needs work

Intel's unique APO feature showed some big improvements in our testing, but it still needs some big changes before it's a selling point for Intel CPUs.
Computing Features
A hand holding the RTX 4090 GPU.

New Nvidia update suggests DLSS 4.0 is closer than we thought

A new update for Nvidia DLSS bumps the version number, and it's getting surprisingly close to DLSS 4.
Computing News
Someone holding the Ryzen 7 5800X3D in a red light.

4 CPUs you should buy instead of the AMD Ryzen 7 5800X3D

AMD's Ryzen 7 5800X3D is one of the best gaming CPUs you can buy, but there are plenty of alternatives that are worthy of your attention.
Computing Features
RTX 3080 graphics cards among other GPUs.

10 best graphics cards of 2024: finding the best GPU for gaming

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
Three graphics cards on a gray background.

I’ve reviewed every AMD and Nvidia GPU this generation — here’s how the two companies stack up

Nvidia and AMD are hotly competitive in 2024. After reviewing every GPU the companies currently offer, here's how they compare.
Computing Guides
The Intel logo on the Arc A770 graphics card.

Intel’s next-gen GPU might be right around the corner

We've seen leaks for Intel's Battlemage GPUs for over a year now, but some shipping documentation hints that a launch is right around the corner.
Computing News
The Starforge Navigator PC sitting on a coffee table.

The biggest Twitch streamers swear by this gaming PC. Is it any good?

Starforge Systems has resounding endorsements from some of Twitch's largest streamers, but are the company's PCs any good?
Computing Reviews
AMD RX 7600 on a pink background.

Don’t buy a cheap GPU in 2024

The narrative about 8GB graphics cards isn't changing in 2024, and it's getting tougher to recommend budget-friendly GPUs as a result.
Computing Features
Aloy shooting a bow in Horizon Forbidden West.

Horizon Forbidden West is a marvel — if your PC can handle the heat

Horizon Forbidden West is finally on PC after two years exclusively on the PS5. Here's how to get the most out of the game on PC.
Computing Features
The screen of the Surface Pro 9.

Windows 11 vs. Windows 10: finally time to upgrade?

With Microsoft slowing down support for Windows 10, is it finally time to upgrade to Windows 11? We break down all the differences.
Computing Guides
Cyberpunk 2077 running on the Asus ROG Zephyrus G14.

I tested the three best 14-inch gaming laptops. There’s a clear winner

The Zephyrus G14, Blade 14, and Omen Transcend 14 are all great gaming laptops, but only one can win in this 14-inch laptop shootout.
Computing Features
Graphics card in the CLX Hathor PC.

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

After digging through dozens of our gaming desktop reviews, we've settled on a list of the 10 best gaming PCs that deserve your attention.
Computing Products
Link looking shocked holding rice.

This beloved feature almost ruined Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom

At a GDC panel, the Nintendo developers of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom gave a rare peek at the difficulty of creating the game's physics system.
Computing Features
RTX 4070 logo on a graphics card.

5 GPUs you should buy instead of the RTX 4070

The RTX 4070 is one of the best graphics cards you can buy right now, but the space it occupies is heavily contested by other GPUs from AMD and Nvidia itself.
Computing Features
An archer fires an arrow at an enemy in Dragon's Dogma 2.

Dragon’s Dogma 2 PC performance: best settings, crashing, stuttering

Dragon's Dogma 2 on PC uses the highly scalable RE Engine, but it's probably the worst showcase of Capcom's impressive tech.
Computing Features
The iMac screen on a desk.

10 best desktop computers of 2024: tested and reviewed

From Apple to Dell to HP and more, these are the best desktop PCs we've reviewed so far in 2024.
Computing Products
Assassin's Creed Mirage on the MSI Claw handheld.

MSI Claw slammed as ‘impossible to recommend’ in early review

The MSI Claw is off to a rocky start, with some early reviews saying the handheld gaming PC is impossible to recommend.
Computing News
A man works at his desktop and a Dell UltraSharp 34-inch curved monitor.

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
A banner with GDC on it outside a conference center.

GDC 2024 in review: Path tracing, upscaling, and CPU-killing tech

After spending the week at GDC, here are my big takeaways from advancements in the world of PC graphics and tech.
Computing Features
A character in an AI-driven dialogue tree by Nvidia.

I was wrong — Nvidia’s AI NPCs could be a game changer

I was disappointed by the first demo of Nvidia's AI-based dialogue in games. But after a recent demo, I walked away impressed.
Computing Features
Cyberpunk 2077 running in a Tesla.

Nvidia is bringing ray tracing and DLSS 3 to your car

Nvidia is partnering with MediaTek is build what is essentially a modern GPU into your car, and that has some big implications.
Computing News
God of War running on the LG UltraGear OLED 45.

TV vs. monitor for gaming: 5 things you need to know

TVs and monitors are used by gamers, but which is best for you? The old wisdom of using a TV for a console and a monitor for a PC holds true today. Here's why.
Computing Features
Birdo rides through a goal ring in Mario Kart 8 Deluxe's Yoshi course.

The best console emulators (NES, SNES, Genesis, and more) in 2024

Want to take a trip down memory lane with some old video games? Then you’ll probably need a console emulator, and we have an entire list of recommendations.
Gaming Guides
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
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
Lies of P on the KTC G42P5.

Nvidia DLSS is amazing, but only if you use it the right way

DLSS is quickly become a cornerstone feature of modern PC games. Here's all of the ins and outs of Nvidia's AI-driven tech, and how to make the most use of it.
Computing Features
An AI game demo produced by Nvidia.

Nvidia’s AI game demo puts endless dialogue trees everywhere

Nvidia's impressive AI-driven game characters were showed up in a playable demo -- but it just amounts to more endless dialogue trees.
Computing Features
Nvidia revealing support for the Apple Vision Pro.

Nvidia and Apple are collaborating on the Vision Pro in the most unlikely way

Nvidia and Apple are coming together in an unexpected fashion, bringing support for a major 3D application on the Apple Vision Pro.
Computing News
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