Building the Perfect PC is the... well... perfect book if you want to know everything you need to know - but not too much - about putting your own PC together. I can't recommend this book enough if you're planning on building your own computer anytime soon.
Experts and first time builders alike will find tremendous value in this book!
- Easy reference for anyone starting to think about building a PC
- Details every aspect from start to finish in easy to understand language
- Demonstrates six specific PC building projects
- Contains photographs of every critical point during the build process
- Lack of traditional glossary might make the learning process difficult for true novices
- Building the Perfect PC takes you through every detailed step from choosing which components to buy to actual assembly.
- "Mainstream PC" project walks you through building a fast, reliable, every-day PC that won't break the bank.
- Every step is outlined to create a "Media Center PC" with tons of storage and all the audio and video capabilities you need.
- The "SOHO Server" is becoming more necessary in our networked homes. This project will have you building your own one fast.
- Games are said to drive the industry and the "Gaming PC" project proves it with super fast, state of the art components.
- If space is a consideration, the "Small Form Factor PC" project will help you build a smaller PC that will fit right in.
- Finally, the "Budget PC" project will help you build a solid system for around $350!
- Unlike a lot of computer how-to books, Building the Perfect PC is clearly written with just the right amount of "tech."
If it's not clear yet, I like Building the Perfect PC. I liked it a lot. It's simple, to-the-point, and full of completely relevant information.
The problem with many books that try to walk you through computer hardware tasks is that they are often far to technical and not nearly as practical as they should be. Instead of being written for the new or average PC builder, they are often written for someone so advanced that a book is probably a waste of time.
This is where Building the Perfect PC really shines. This book is for everyone. It was masterfully written in a dialog that is understandable and nonthreatening and yet simultaneously accurate and technical. In other words my friend, who knows just enough to feel comfortable opening the computer case, would find it very easy to follow and I, who do this for a living, find it totally thorough and technical accurate. This doesn't happen a lot with these kinds of books.
Building the Perfect PC is split up in six easy to reference computer building projects that walk you through the specifics of each kind of build. The projects include:
- Mainstream PC
- Media Center PC
- Small Form Factor PC
- Budget PC
- Gaming PC
- SOHO Server
Additionally, there are some great chapters at the beginning of the book concerning choosing the right parts, troubleshooting and the kinds of tools you need on hand before beginning.
It doesn't matter whether you've never built a computer before or if you're an old hat at it. This book will really come in handy as a guide. I highly recommend that you pick up a copy today!
