Jacob Ridley
Jacob earned his first byline writing for his own tech blog. From there, he graduated to professionally breaking things as hardware writer at PCGamesN, where he was one half of a popular weekly YouTube show. He would go on to run the team as hardware editor before joining PC Gamer's world-class staff as senior hardware editor. Today, he's managing editor of the hardware team, and you'll find him spending his days reporting on the latest developments in the technology and gaming industries. He's found reporting from floors, benches, and, if he's lucky, plush press rooms at the biggest tech shows, such as Computex and CES. But more often than not he's hunched over the office test bench evaluating the newest PC components.
When he's not writing about GPUs and CPUs, you'll find Jacob trying to get as far away from the modern world as possible by wild camping.
Latest articles by Jacob Ridley
![A Logitech G RS Shifter and Handbrake on a desk.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/bFnjN5UBj4UPH4XNVWx6Pa-320-80.jpg)
Logitech G RS Shifter and Handbrake review
By Jacob Ridley published
Shifty Sequential shifter and handbrake in one robust package.
![Velocity Micro and iBuyPower gaming PCs](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Je5qixhcLEV3B9rPEmQrTf-320-80.jpg)
Best gaming PCs: these are the rigs and brands I recommend in 2025
By Dave James last updated
Perfect PC Everything you need to know about buying the best gaming PC today.
![Two of the best graphics cards from top down and side on view, on a pastel yellow background](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/yDoLrx9uVA5c55aXYLSyDo-320-80.jpg)
Best graphics cards: the GPUs I recommend for every budget in 2025
By Jacob Ridley last updated
Pixel Pushers Our picks of the most powerful gaming GPUs and the ones that provide the best bang for your buck.
![Nitro Concepts CES 2025 booth with a sim racing rig that offered wind simulation from twin fans near the wheelbase.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/SUSP4cpRxAGUbNwHW7ZkGj-320-80.jpg)
I tried a sim racing rig that generates 'wind' at CES 2025 and it's claimed to help keep VR nausea at bay
By Jacob Ridley published
News It's surprisingly immersive.
![The best wireless gaming keyboards](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/uSc3d7LdhpnidL5aanYQ9n-320-80.jpg)
Best wireless gaming keyboard in 2025: my top picks for cable-free typing delights
By Jacob Ridley last updated
Freedom Cut the cord with the best wireless gaming keyboards.
![Two Thermaltake PSUs on show at CES 2025, one very large and the other very small.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/wH3LxLE4oLthcESc3WqGEn-320-80.jpg)
Thermaltake's new 2000 W PSU is too powerful to be sold in the USA and comes with four PCIe 5.0 GPU power connectors
By Jacob Ridley published
News We're going to need a bigger power outlet.
![A gaming PC at the Hyte CES 2025 booth with a Bitspower distro plate and themed like Jinx from League of Legends.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/wDt84mbDMFn5dM7DWyELhZ-320-80.jpg)
This Jinx-inspired gaming PC is my favorite of CES 2025 and I'm head over heels for the hardware
By Jacob Ridley published
News Just look at that distro plate…
![The best VR headsets from Meta on a grey background with the PC Gamer Recommends badge in the upper right corner.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/u5cggJUjzeNhRQnAo2bdtm-320-80.jpg)
Best VR headset in 2025: my top picks for stunning virtual reality experiences
By Jacob Ridley last updated
Jack In Immerse yourself in stunning game worlds with the best VR headset.
![A college of video capture cards against a gradient blue background with a PC Gamer Recommended logo in the corner](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Uao3TW8fCZtCopY9qCaNbk-320-80.jpg)
Best capture cards for PC gaming in 2025: whether it's streaming, recording, 1080p or the big 4K, these cards have you covered
By Jacob Ridley last updated
Broadcast Show off your greatest gaming moments with the best capture cards.
![Secretlab NeueChair and Office Star ProGrid gaming chairs on a grey background with PC Gamer recommended logo](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Lq9RwTKLYVWuNAkaaDBp5j-320-80.jpg)
Best office chairs for gaming in 2025: The top seats for work and gaming that I've tried and tested
By Dave James last updated
Take a seat Take care of your spine with the best office chairs for gaming.
![Hyte Processor Frames on show at its CES 2025 booth.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Js5xirxPqSbS7m5WgF4ZnC-320-80.jpg)
Hyte's new $20 processor frames are yet another way to customise your gaming PC
By Jacob Ridley published
News Finishing touch or unnecessary add-on?
![Thermaltake's brightly coloured PC cases at its CES 2025 booth.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/gjzvRXAbzocn9EmTYij4CN-320-80.jpg)
Colorful PC cases are so in this year
By Jacob Ridley published
News Thermaltake and Hyte are serving up pastel pink and purple at CES 2025.
![The new Asus ROG Zephyrus G14 2025 model on display at CES 2025.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/big2V8baQLuVNuLg8zxMFf-320-80.jpg)
The ROG Zephyrus G14 is calling to me even more now it has an RTX 5080 stuffed inside it
By Jacob Ridley published
News The new Zephyrus 2025 models are mostly the same as last year's, but that's not a bad thing.
![The Monsgeek Bun Wonderland gaming keyboard on show at CES 2025.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/9Tg5e3exqEFcjoAHmNGfv6-320-80.jpg)
This keyboard combines two of my favorite things: mechanical switches and bread
By Jacob Ridley published
News This mechanical keeb is most certainly not gluten free.
![Asus ROG Strix Scar 18 2025 with the underside panel removed.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/wsFoDeAfVNVhYDYq5nN73P-320-80.png)
The SSDs and RAM on this new Asus ROG Strix Scar 18 can be upgraded entirely without tools
By Jacob Ridley published
News That's a welcome change from soldered memory and fiddly NVMe slots.
![Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang holding an RTX 50-series card.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/aSTxQ4YwGLDCb76EUatHWV-320-80.png)
Nvidia announces the RTX 50-series, led by the $1,999 RTX 5090 with 'twice the performance of the 4090'
By Jacob Ridley last updated
News With more AI acceleration than ever even the RTX 5070 is claimed to offer RTX 4090-level performance for $549.
![Intel architectural breakdown of new Battlemage GPU designs](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/8pWbThcjy2zmqmyacojW7B-320-80.jpg)
Intel is 'confident' about next-gen Arc Celestial GPUs following Battlemage's success
By Jacob Ridley published
News The Arc B570 will be available from next week, too.
![Steam Deck OLED: Limited Edition White](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Coph5tP2BPCHLz4dv9SCEj-320-80.jpg)
AMD announces more powerful Ryzen Z2 Series processors for future PC handhelds, but Valve says 'there is and will be no Z2 Steam Deck'
By Jacob Ridley published
News AMD says Valve will be using one of its latest processors, the Z2 Series, inside a new Steam Deck, but Valve says otherwise.
![Asus ROG Strix Scar 17 gaming laptop](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/guLQUSGD3AuiZ9C6LTBn8X-320-80.jpg)
AMD's throwing the considerably hefty Ryzen 9 9950X3D at gaming laptops and calling it a Ryzen 9 9955HX3D
By Jacob Ridley published
News That's one beefy laptop chip. If you can even call it that.
![Robert Hallock, VP of CCG at Intel, on stage at CES 2025.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/CJMN4Gj9vvbYeWhtcJSUuZ-320-80.png)
Intel unveils second round of updates intended to bring Arrow Lake desktop chips up to expectations: 'our software for the 200S has reached full performance'
By Jacob Ridley published
News Long story short: update your BIOS.
![Intel Core Ultra 200HX and 200H series chip renders.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/2TYsGbAqhjixZv8LYAxrJH-320-80.png)
Intel announces new mobile Core Ultra 200HX Series processors to power the next generation of gaming laptops
By Jacob Ridley published
News New Arrow Lake chips likely to land in gaming laptops near you in the next couple months.
![A collage of gaming desks from Ikea and Secretlab against a gradient green background, with a PC Gamer Recommended logo in the corner](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/u6rJ4roQn5GkU47Ln9N6VY-320-80.jpg)
Best gaming desk in 2025: my top picks for standing, sitting and everything in between
By Dave James last updated
Top Desks We've chosen the best gaming desks based on hours of playing on both sitting and standing desks just to see which is worth your money.
![Asus ROG Strix Scope II 96 Wireless and Keychron Q3 Max on grey background](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/mMw38XcdwxNiKg3g7M2vCY-320-80.jpg)
Best gaming keyboards in 2025: the fastest, smoothest and loveliest keyboards I've tested
By Jacob Ridley last updated
Keyed in The best gaming keyboards have it all: style, ergonomics, and of course, the most satisfying clickity clacks.
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