Building a PC for Dummies

Mark L. Chambers

ISBN 10: 0764503480 / ISBN 13: 9780764503481

Published by Hungry Minds Inc, 1998

About this Item

This item shows signs of wear from consistent use, but it remains in good condition and works perfectly. All pages and cover are intact , but may have aesthetic issues such as small tears, bends, scratches, and scuffs. Spine may also show signs of wear. Pages may include some notes and highlighting. May include "From the library of" labels. Satisfaction Guaranteed. Seller Inventory # 4BQGBJ00TZP3_ns

Bibliographic Details

Title: Building a PC for Dummies

Publisher: Hungry Minds Inc

Publication Date: 1998

Binding: paperback

Condition: Good

About this title

Synopsis:

An old adage says, "If you want something done right, do it yourself." Building A PC For Dummies can help you get the job done right -- the first time. Author Mark L. Chambers walks you through the process of figuring out which computer is right for you and how to put it all together. Building A PC For Dummies offers tons of useful cost-cutting tips, and it gives you the facts on items like hardware and operating systems, network connections, modems, CD-ROM drives, sound and video cards, and more. When you open up the CD-ROM included with Building A PC For Dummies, you'll find a number of shareware programs, demos, tools, and utilities designed to maximize your new PC's performance.

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.