Product Description

Building on the success of the original manual, this fully revised, updated and expanded third edition brings the reader right up to date with ever changing technology. The aim remains the same - why buy an off-the-shelf beige box when you can custom-design and construct a PC that perfectly fits your needs and your budget? Ease of understanding is emphasised as we steer the enthusiast through all the jargon, from motherboard to monitor. For this edition, new hardware is used and the software side is based on Windows Vista.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #4452 in Books
• Published on: 2007-09-20
• Original language: English
• Binding: Hardcover
• 176 pages

Customer Reviews

Great book for noobies like me!
I'd been thinking vaguely about building a computer for some time, but had never done it before. Which bit plugs into there? Where does this connect to? Will this bit work with that bit? I picked up this book and found it extremely easy to understand. All the jargon and standards were explained, and it did not overcomplicate things like some books of this type can. It even has a couple of step-by-step guides on building a couple of example computers.

It became my main book of reference when I started ordering parts and putting bits together. Now, the result is that I have a brand spanking new computer that works without a single glitch. I would certainly recommend this book to anyone thinking of building their first computer.

Everything in one place........
I disagree with the previous reviewer (Az).
Having upgraded several components with increasing confidence I had yet to make the "leap" to a full build. This book gave me that reassurance that it could be done. It is true that the various manuals give part of the story and the internet can solve particular problems but none of this sets it out in a clear, simplified form excluding nothing and including the trickier points. For example getting the push pins in place on the heatsink cooler and the connections to the front panel.........both normally glossed over but surmountable with the explanations and patience.
Having successfully assembled your hardware the author then gives a shortened (as opposed to the motherboard manual) guide to setting up the bios and operating system which most first builders will surely want having done the hard part.
In all an excellent book that I would thoroughly recommend.

Great start to understanding of pc
Pretty new to pcs and how they work and wished to gain an insight to it all as many use a language still alien to some of us.After my machine died on me I decided instead of keep paying for expensive repairs to have a try,after all what did I have to lose?so purchased this book and was very surprised how easy it is to understand,the photos and easy to follow advice was easy to grasp and after just a few weeks have identified the problem and changed the psu.and upgraded trhe ram,so in a very short space of time I have save money and gained knoledge and some experience along with confidence.you can google for the answers,but I prefer to have it all in front of me.great value and would recommend this to the novice.