Building a PC for Dummies

(Author)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com 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. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Description

This book gives you step-by-step instructions to build your own PC, including what kind of computer you need, parts you will need, how to choose components, how to install them, which operating system you should use and much more. The 3rd Edition of this successful For Dummies title is updated to include the latest technologies making it the most up-to-date reference for new and old do-it-yourselfers.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 358 pages
• Publisher: For Dummies; 3rd edition (October 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0764507826
• ISBN-13: 978-0764507823
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 7.5 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.3 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (38 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #687,733 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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  #83 in	Books > Computers & Internet > Hardware > Microprocessors & System Design > Microprocessor Design
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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

39 of 39 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Great Format! A little dated., December 6, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Building a PC for Dummies (Paperback)

This is another great book in the Dummies series. I had never built a computer before, but this book showed me how. My brother and I built two computers in about a day and a half, and this book was a big help. But although the book was a great introduction to computers and components, and although it did a great job convincing me that even I could build a computer, it was a bit outdated when it came to hardware. That's a dilema, of course, because new computer products come onto the market so fast that by the time a book makes it to the market, it's already a bit behind. I suggest that the publisher post an "update" chapter on its website. Then, even if the book gets a bit outdated, readers can download the "update" chapter to find out about important recent developments in computer hardware that the book didn't already cover.

22 of 24 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Any similar alternate book would be better., March 18, 2004

By	Gordon (Lynnwood, WA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Building a PC for Dummies, Fourth Edition (Paperback)

While I was reading/assembling my computer I found the book to be poorly written, with not nearly enough specific info. I was very frustrated, and needed to purchase a different book to correctly assemble my rig. Since then I've read 15-20 other books related to computer hardware/software/networking affording me a fair amount of perspective. This book ranges from badly outdated general info. to just plain incorrect info. I can say now with confidence that using only this book as a reference will almost guarantee an improper assembly of your computer. You will be frustrated and you will probably waste a decent amount of money.

20 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Perfect book for the First Time Computer Builder, October 15, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Building a PC for Dummies (Paperback)

As a Value Added Reseller, I have been building computers for the last 15 years. I am now recommending "Building a PC for Dummies" for first time computer builders and those who want to open the hood and understand what's inside. The book takes a humorous approach to the construction process and provides a complete "How To" step by step processes. The components of a computer system can change each month. Information about the latest and greatest parts can be gained from many other sources, such as Toms Hardware. For the first timer, this book is a must have.

Dave Barnett Vice President SDSI Business Systems