Maximum PC Guide to Building a Dream PC

I bought this book in '05 when I got the itch to build my own system. I haven't read any other similar books to compare it to, but I can say the guidance and technical info was very, very helpful. I would highly recommend it to anyone looking to improve their knowledge of pc's.

Good starting book for those who know about computers and are ready to start learning the ins and outs of how the components work and how they work together. You really could start building a machine with this book, I wouldn't suggest doing so (if this being the only book you have read concerning building a computer), but you could.

Tinkerers rule! At least, you had better believe this, if you want to benefit from this book. Smith is talking to hands on hobbyists, which want truly unique machines. Often heavily souped up. The pages of the book are in colour, which helps show even motherboards and videocards as pretty. Candidly, those of you who think this is impossible should pass on this book. The text goes through the basics of each type of component, for virtually all the types that can go into a computer. As already mentioned, motherboards and videocards. But also power supplies, memory, monitors etc. It is important to note that the photos are not just of isolated items. Several series of photos show clearly how to install a component. The colour photo sequences are well done. More useful than traditional black and white sketches that vendors might supply. These are common because vendors have slim margins, and more elaborate colour diagrams are costly. So the book tries to address this gap, amongst the issues it addresses.