Build Your Own High-Performance Gamer's Mod PC [ILLUSTRATED] (Paperback)

by Joel Durham Jr. (Author), Edward Chen (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
Rev it up, take it into overdrive, and transform your ordinary desktop PC into a cool looking, high-performance gamer's mod PC. Learn to acquire and install the latest CPUs, the largest hard drives, and the fastest RAM. Plus, tweak sounds and video cards so applications and games look and sound better. Also explains physical modifications including painting and lighting design.

From the Back Cover
Improve the skin and heart--the box and inner components--of your PC. Authors Joel Durham, Jr. and Edward Chen show you how to customize your machine to gain power, prestige, and excitement. Learn to improve performance and upgrade components with the latest CPUs, the largest hard drives, and the fastest RAM. Discover physical modifications such as painting, lighting, windows, and specialized controls. Build Your Own High Performance Gamers' Mod PC is a complete, illustrated step-by-step guide to the skills, tools, and accessories you'll need to build a juiced up box that will help you enjoy gaming even more.

• Improve the looks and performance of your PC
• Tweak video and sound cards so applications and games look and sound better
• Customize your box with neon, LED, Electro luminescent lights, and more
• Design and create case windows
• Add exciting switches, controls, and other custom features
• Apply professional painting techniques
• Learn from more than 200 photographs and illustrations

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Product Details

• Paperback: 208 pages
• Publisher: McGraw-Hill Osborne Media; 1 edition (April 1, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0072229012
• ISBN-13: 978-0072229011
• Product Dimensions: 10.2 x 8 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.6 out of 5 stars See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #851,902 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

18 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Good Book For First Time Computer Builders, May 8, 2003

By	"rokkar" (North Reading, MA United States) - See all my reviews

I found this book to be very knowledgeable and it guided me to building my first comp.

The pictures are a big help so you can actually see how things go together and view the correct way of doing it.

I felt the book could have been a bit more informative on the exact step-by-step method for building a comp. I was somewhat confusing weather to hook up the DVD, CDRW, and/or tape drive before or after you hit the power button for the first time. The book made you feel like you boot up the BIOS before you hook up the DVD, CDRW, etc. which may or may not be correct but it doesn't really make sense. I hooked up everything then booted up the system so the BIOS recognized everything. It worked perfectly!

The modification section was informative but there should have been more detail for wire clean up to make the inside look pretty as well. There also should have been step-by-steps on how to hook up case lighting, the best positioning, fan hook ups, etc.

Overall I think it is a good book to purchase to better understand how to build a comp and to modify it to your liking.

18 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Wires, what wires?, March 19, 2004

By	UNsatified (New York, NY) - See all my reviews

I bought this book expecting to have everything explained, in a simple manner. This was true until it came time to wire together the parts. If you ask me, the hardest part of building a computer is the wiring, it's pretty complicated. This book tells you how to install the parts themselves sans the wires. I had to figure out all of the wires on my own: the book told me how to install only about 2 of the wires. I ended up mostly using the instruction booklets that came with the parts. I ended up even having to call tech support!!! After the wiring was set up it came time to install the OS which believe it or not the book has no instructions on. If you are looking for a book to help you build a computer don't get this one!!!

12 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Good but not Great, May 13, 2003

By	Edwin S. Sharp "essharp" (Foley, Alabama USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This book would be very good for someone new to the computer building world but does not offer much to anyone with average knowledge. Most of us know what a PSU does and how memory is installed. But if your new to building a cpu, then this is a good source of information.