Building a PC For Dummies® - Softcover

Chambers, Mark L.

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0471767727 ISBN 13: 9780471767725

Publisher: John Wiley & Sons, 2005

Synopsis

Shows tech hobbyists how to build the perfect PC, whether they want to create the ultimate gaming machine or combine new and recycled parts to construct an inexpensive computer for a child The do–it–yourself craze is sweeping through the tech community, and this guide is now significantly revised and updated to cover the wide array of new hardware and accessories available Step–by–step instructions and dozens of photos walk first–time computer builders through the entire process, from building the foundation, and adding a processor and RAM, to installing a video card, configuring a hard drive, hooking up CD and DVD drives, adding a modem, and troubleshooting problems

About this title

Review

By buying components and assembling them yourself, you can save a little money and gain a lifetime of free technical support. Building a PC for Dummies removes the intimidation factor from building your own Intel-based personal computer, explains what you need and shows you how to put everything together. It's a fine place to start if you've never assembled your own machine before and want to give the process a try.

Author Mark L. Chambers describes what to look for when shopping for components, but refrains from recommending any specific models or manufacturers. Building a PC for Dummies would be stronger if he had made such recommendations, the way Tom's Hardware Guide does. Even without a specific shopping list, this book makes it possible for a novice computer maker to make informed decisions about motherboards, processors, storage devices, expansion cards and input devices.

Chambers presents the assembly process logically, telling how to install a component or two at a time while performing incremental testing. He includes troubleshooting information in each component's section, but it's odd that he puts discussion of operating systems in an appendix-most system builders will want to see their creations run as soon as possible. --David Wall

Topics covered:
Buying and building a PC; selecting motherboards, processors, storage devices, expansion cards and inputting devices.

Review

Covers how to build the case and motherboard, how to get good chips, putting in the ports, mouse and keyboard, etc... -- Freelance Informer 20 April 2001

Edition details

• Publisher: John Wiley & Sons
• Publication date: 2005
• ISBN 10: 0471767727
• ISBN 13: 9780471767725
• Binding: Paperback
• Language: English
• Edition number: 5
• Number of pages: 360