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Build Your Own PC, Third Edition (Paperback)

by Morris Rosenthal (Author) "This chapter is written for first-time PC builders who have limited experience with PC hardware..." (more)
Key Phrases: motherboard manual, ribbon cable connection, retention clip, Control Panel, Main Setup, Device Manager (more...)

4.1 out of 5 stars See all reviews (42 customer reviews)

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Build Your Own PC, 4th Edition 4.1 out of 5 stars (42)
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Editorial Reviews

Review
"Outstanding, very informative & easy to read! This was the most informative book on building computers I have ever read, and I have read a few. I would recommend this book to anyone who was considering building a PC or who just wanted to see how they were put together, operate, and what you can do with them." -- Amazon reviewer

Product Description
Build and customize your own PC from start to finish with this highly visual guide. Now you can save money by putting together your very own PC with help from PC expert Morris Rosenthal. Containing everything you need to know--from basic vocabulary to where to find and purchase parts--this book shows you how to assemble both tower and desktop PCs, install an operating system and software, as well as upgrade and add components. If you can follow a recipe, then you can learn to build your own PC!

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Product Details

Paperback: 240 pages
Publisher: McGraw-Hill Osborne Media; 1 edition (January 18, 2002)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0072195584
ISBN-13: 978-0072195583
Product Dimensions: 10.7 x 8.5 x 0.5 inches
Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds

Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars See all reviews (42 customer reviews)

Amazon.com Sales Rank: #618,525 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)
Popular in this category: (What's this?)
#99 in Books > Computers & Internet > Hardware > Maintenance, Repair & Upgrading

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Inside This Book (learn more)

First Sentence:
This chapter is written for first-time PC builders who have limited experience with PC hardware. Read the first page

Key Phrases - Statistically Improbable Phrases (SIPs): (learn more)
motherboard manual, ribbon cable connection, retention clip, heatsink fan, floppy cable, motherboard documentation, muffin fan, key wire, thermal grease, video adapter, new motherboards, tower case, locking lever, power connector, other adapters, override switch, ribbon cables, test fitting, floppy drive

Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
Control Panel, Main Setup, Device Manager, Double Data Rate, Intel Pentium, Small Computer Systems Interface, Redundant Array of Inexpensive Drives

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Citations (learn more)

This book cites 1 book:

Build Your Own PC (2nd Edition) by Morris Rosenthal in Front Matter

Books on Related Topics (learn more)

A+ Certification All-in-One Exam Guide by Michael Meyers

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Upgrading and Repairing PCs by Scott Mueller

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A+ Certification for Dummies by Ron Gilster

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Build the Ultimate Custom PC by Adrian Kingsley-Hughes

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Customer Reviews

42 Reviews

5 star:		(23)
4 star:		(12)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(4)

Average Customer Review

4.1 out of 5 stars (42 customer reviews)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

119 of 121 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars WOW! This is a GREAT book for FIRST TIME PC BUILDERS!, November 11, 1999

By	Ryan "ryanjcarter" (Virginia USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Build Your Own PC, First Edition (Paperback)

This is an excellent book for anybody who wants to build their own computer. Even if you don't know any of the computer parts, this book fully details every part of the computer and how they work. The author introduces computer terms and allows the reader to understand what they mean in simple terms. I am 13 years old, and am making my own computer thanks to this book. The book makes things simple, building a PC is not half as hard as it seems. The book is filled with photos, allowing you to see every process of assembling the computer. This book will teach you in normal language how to make a desktop or tower. Not to mention, this book was written recentely and includes PIII cpu's, AMD processors, and even DVD-ROM drives. However, to make your own computer following this book, you must be willing to specd at least $500.00. I highly recommend this book to any person, any age, who wants to make their own computer. However, this book seems to leave some questions about assembly unanswered, and a little research by yourself might be necessary. Overall, this is a simple, fun book to read that makes PC building very easy. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.

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30 of 30 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Solid Book, October 19, 2002

By A Customer

Im typing this review from the PC I just built with help from this book. I would have given it 5 stars only if they had made it more clear that this was not for the absolute beginners. This book is for intermediate to advanced users, but even if you are a beginner there's still a chance you'd be satisfied with it. You have to refer to some background knowledge to understand some of the concepts and terminology, but by in large thats really not that big a problem if you're not prone to being easily frustrated. The bottom line is if you're patient, then you'll get the job done, but if you're looking for a quick build, then dude.....just buy a Dell. Here are the basic specs for the system I built:

Tower case (love the big casing)
Pentium 4 processor
256 MB DDR Ram
64 MB video card
Intel Mobo
Windows 2000

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34 of 35 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars First Time Computer Builder, December 28, 2000

By	D. Stoddard - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: Build Your Own PC (2nd Edition) (Paperback)

This guy has built some computers before. He has some excellent insights into the computer parts and functions. What you need versus what you want..."don't buy tomorrows technology today...you can easily upgrade it later saving hundreds ($500). Some good advice. I felt good about going forward with the build.

As the author states, he can't write in detail about everything. So, you should be prepared to pay ten cents per page for his book. He's not wordy...and he's got a sense of humor if your in the right frame of mind. The computer building business must be getting tougher to make a buck these days.

I researched my parts using what Vendors were using in thier builds and then researched them via the internet. Try Pricewatch.com; Motherboards.com; and use a search engine for computer component reviews. Then talk to the sales people...they'll help you for a sell.

Even if you buy your computer prebuilt, you should go through the reading and research so you can pick out a computer with right components you need and not just buzzword names.

Go ahead a try to build one. If you get in trouble, just be prepared to let the computer store down the road bail you out for a nominal fee.

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Most Recent Customer Reviews

2.0 out of 5 stars out of date
It's a good book but is a few years old so the material is dated. I wouldn't recommend it.

Published 12 months ago by FrankStoklasa

5.0 out of 5 stars Easy to read and comprehensive
This book helped me build my own PC, which I still use today (some 5 years later). It covers ALL of the steps necessary to successfully put a PC together. Read more

Published 14 months ago by J. M. Mckinney

4.0 out of 5 stars A Birthday Gift That Got Used.
This was one of the 'how to' books I bought for my husband for his birthday. He had been remarking how he was tempted to build his own computer! Read more

Published 22 months ago by M. Perkins

5.0 out of 5 stars A solid reference
This is probably the best "how-to" book on home PC building. Most are either too specialized (case modding, fancy cooling solutions, etc) or too basic (pick a motherboard... Read more

Published on November 8, 2006 by Matthieu P. Raillard

5.0 out of 5 stars What a great book!
I bought this book because I wanted to build a computer but was a little nervous about doing it. This book tells you everything you need to know and gives you the confidence to... Read more

Published on April 11, 2006 by computer guy

5.0 out of 5 stars Build your own PC
This is the best book of its kind I have read, and it describes fully what you need and what to do with the equipment..
It's 5 star to me......

Published on March 8, 2006 by James I. Strauss

4.0 out of 5 stars A great read
This is a very helpful book to those who want to learn to build a pc. It has somewhere near to 200 illistrations to help guide you along, and it is easy to read.

Published on February 23, 2006 by Lijah D. Robinson

4.0 out of 5 stars Good Start for beginers
This is a good start for somebody who never build a PC before, and give you and idea on where to start and what to do. This is a typical "Hows to... Read more

Published on November 15, 2005 by Michael Da Cruz

5.0 out of 5 stars Two thumbs up from a first-time builder!
UPDATED DECEMBER 2008 to add: This book is now very much out of date, and I have to recommend that you search out something newer. Read more

Published on October 21, 2005 by Voice of Reason

1.0 out of 5 stars Better than I expected
This book was easy to understand very thorough and made for the layman. I give it a definite thumbs up.

Published on September 20, 2005 by K. B. -cournand

› See all 42 customer reviews...

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