Building a PC For Dummies? - Softcover

Chambers, Mark L.

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0764505718 ISBN 13: 9780764505713

Publisher: For Dummies, 1999

Synopsis

Let the lemmings buy the standardized, assembly-line, factory-produced computers. For a technical trailblazer like yourself, only a unique system will do, and only you know how to create it. Do it yourself with Building A PC For Dummies, 2nd Edition. Author Mark L. Chambers walks you through the process of figuring out which computer is right for you and putting it all together.

Pore through Chambers' tons of useful cost-cutting tips, and get the up-to-this-minute information on Pentium III processors, SDRAM and DIMMs, USB, AGP video ports, DVD drives, next-generation Internet connections (ISDN, satellite, and cable modem), LANs, scanners, printers, digital cameras, and more.

Take advantage of the CD-ROM included with Building A PC For Dummies, 2nd Edition. The CD-ROM contains a number of shareware programs, demos, tools, and utilities designed to maximize your new PC's performance. Step away from the crowd and build a custom PC that meets your very specific needs ñ not the needs of Everyman!

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 he 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 builder to make informed decisions about motherboards, processors, storage devices, expansion cards, and input devices.

Chambers presents the assembly process logically, explaining 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 his 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 input devices.

From the Back Cover

Complete Coverage of Cool Peripherals!

Build a PC as Good as — or Better Than — Anything You Can Buy! This complete hands-on reference shows you step-by-step how to build and configure the computer system of your dreams — from case, motherboard, and drives to video cards, modems, and peripherals. Author Mark Chambers has updated this friendly do-it-yourself guide to include all the latest information on Pentium III processors, SDRAM and DIMMs, USB, AGP video ports, DVD drives, next-generation Internet connections (ISDN, satellite, cable modem), LANs, scanners, printers, digital cameras, and more. If you want a customized, state-of-the-art computer system — and you don't want to pay retail — then this is the book for you! Let These Icons Guide You!

• Identifies both the profits and the pitfalls of installing used parts
• Highlights nerdy technical explanations you can skip if you want to
• Pinpoints shortcuts and alternatives that will save you time, money, and trouble

Valuable Bonus CD Includes:

• DisplayMate for DOS and Windows — Demo versions of this video utility
• Paint Shop Pro — An evaluation version of the powerful image-viewing program

Shareware programs are fully functional, free trial versions of copyrighted programs. If you like particular programs, register with their authors for a nominal fee and receive licenses, enhanced versions, and technical support. Freeware programs are free, copyrighted games, applications, and utilities. You can copy them to as many PCs you like — free — but they have no technical support System Requirements: 486 or faster PC running Windows 3.1 or later, 8MB RAM (16MB RAM recommended for Windows 95 or later); CD-ROM drive double-speed (2X) or faster; Internet connection (14,400 bps or faster modem, or network-regular access charges apply).

Inside, find helpful advice on how to:

• Familiarize yourself with the ins and outs of the latest hardware and technology
• Evaluate your needs and build a computer that's just right for you
• Save hundreds of dollars by scavenging used parts or buying new parts online
• Build in cutting-edge multimedia capabilities with video ports, video cards, digital cameras, video capture, sound cards, speakers, microphones, and more
• Pair your PC with the perfect peripherals — from printers to scanners and beyond
• Surf the Web at lighting speed with an ISDN or other broadband connection
• Connect your PC to a home or office network

Edition details

• Publisher: For Dummies
• Publication date: 1999
• ISBN 10: 0764505718
• ISBN 13: 9780764505713
• Binding: Paperback
• Language: English
• Edition number: 2
• Number of pages: 384