Build Your Own PC, Third Edition

Rating:
Summary: Mr. Rosenthal Scores Again
Review: With easy to follow photographs, Morris Rosenthal demystifies the PC building experience,providing the hobbyist or experienced technician with an easy to follow approach to building a PC from a barebones case to complex gaming systems.

Discussed are component purchasing, defining what type of system is best for certain applications,and advice on avoiding damage (repeated frquently)

In the back are handy troubleshooting guides.

Another excellent resource.

Rating:
Summary: Excellent Book!
Review: Wow! This is an excellent book. It covers everything from beginners material, to intermediate definitions and explanations. Even for an expert, this book might be of some help. I myself have never built a computer, but have had some experience. Still, this book is excellent. It covers confusing terms in simple english. Although, some parts do get a bit confusion, but reading it over should help. I really reccomend this book to anyone who has the slightest interest in building there own computer. I am only 13 years old, so I can't start my project yet, because of lack of money, but this book has given me the confidence I need to open up my computer and start tinkering around the insides. Great Book!

Rating:
Summary: Great but I want more.
Review: You can't save any money building your own PC. In fact, you'll probably spend more than going down to WalMart or CostCo. But when you build your own, you know what you're getting.

I want a system with a lot of disk performance and memory to do the jobs I ask of it. The only video I need is enough to get the operating system to load, and I usually don't even connect speakers. A heavy duty gamer needs lots more video power, and may want a sophisticated sound card as well. The WalMart/CostCo systems are designed to fit everybody, so they really fit only Mr. Average.

The first thing I did when I got this new 4th Edition was turn to the chapter on building a system using the Athlon 64. Mr. rosenthal was right on the money. He ordered a cheap case, and then immediately replaced the cheap power supply with something heavier duty. He then used an Asus motherboard, again first rate, although (I think) more expensive than some others just as good but with a less valuable name.

One minor complaint - I'd like to see some recommendations on brand names. What brand of Power Supply did he use - why? What about a reference list for mainboards, or a web site that would give recommendations? And while I'd hate to see him create a firestorm, how about an Intel/AMD comparison.

Finally we need another addition. How do you build a dual processor Opteron? I can't afford one, but I'd like to dream. And of course there will need to be a sixth edition with the new dual processor cores that are coming.