Build Your Own PC Do-It-Yourself For Dummies (eBook)

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.

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