Build Your Own PC Do-It-Yourself For Dummies

by Mark L. Chambers

Overview

If you’ve dreamed about having a customized multimedia PC or one tricked out for your favorite games, build your own and make your dreams come true! Build Your Own PC Do-It-Yourself For Dummies makes it easy.

Not only is building your own PC a really rewarding project, it can also save you a nice chunk of cash. This step-by-step guide helps you decide what you need, teaches you what all those computer terms mean, and tells you exactly how to put the pieces together. It shows you:

• What tools you need (not as many as you might think!)
• All about operating systems
• How to install CD and DVD drives
• The scoop on sound and video, and how to put a sound system together from start to finish
• How to connect a monitor and install a modem
• All about setting up and configuring the hard drive
• Secrets for securing your system, and more

Included is a bonus DVD showing you how to install the motherboard, CPU, RAM, ports, hard drive, video and sound cards, a DVD drive, and more. With Build Your Own PC Do-It-Yourself For Dummies, you can have the computer you want plus the satisfaction of doing it yourself!

Note: CD-ROM/DVD and other supplementary materials are not included as part of eBook file.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780470196113
Publisher:	Wiley
Publication date:	02/03/2009
Series:	For Dummies Books
Edition description:	Book and DVD
Pages:	336
Sales rank:	285,516
Product dimensions:	9.84(w) x 8.04(h) x 0.82(d)

About the Author

Mark L. Chambers has been building, customizing, and repairing PCs for over 20 years for himself and clients. As a consultant, he helps everyday folks update, maintain, and troubleshoot PCs.

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Table of Contents

Introduction 1

Part I: Preparations and Planning 9

Chapter 1: A Screwdriver Is All You Need 11

Chapter 2: What Type of PC Should I Build? 23

Part II: Assembling the Basics 39

Chapter 3: Building the Foundation: The Case and Motherboard 41

Chapter 4: A Bag of Chips: Adding RAM and a CPU 61

Chapter 5: Installing Your Ports, Mouse, and Keyboard 77

Chapter 6: Adding Video Hardware 93

Chapter 7: Installing Your Hard Drive and Other Storage Devices 115

Chapter 8: Choosing and Installing an Operating System 135

Part III: Adding the Fun Stuff 151

Chapter 9: Installing an Optical Drive 153

Chapter 10: Let Your PC Rock! 169

Chapter 11: Modems and the Call of Broadband 187

Part IV: Advanced PC Options 207

Chapter 12: So You Want to Add a LAN? 209

Chapter 13: Input and Output: Scanners, Cameras, and Printers 223

Chapter 14: Building a Gaming PC 235

Part V: The Part of Tens 249

Chapter 15: Ten Tools and Tasks for a Power User’s PC 251

Chapter 16: Ten Important Assembly Tips 257

Chapter 17: Ten Ways to Maintain Your PC 263

Chapter 18: Ten PC Pitfalls to Avoid Like the Plague 269

Part VI: Appendixes 275

Appendix A: About the DVD 277

Appendix B: The PC Builder’s Glossary 279

Index 289