Author Mark L. Chambers describes what to look for when shopping for components, but refrains from recommending any specific models or manufacturers. Building a PC for Dummies would be stronger if he had made such recommendations, the way Tom's Hardware Guide does. Even without a specific shopping list, this book makes it possible for a novice computer maker to make informed decisions about motherboards, processors, storage devices, expansion cards and input devices.

Chambers presents the assembly process logically, telling how to install a component or two at a time while performing incremental testing. He includes troubleshooting information in each component's section, but it's odd that he puts discussion of operating systems in an appendix-most system builders will want to see their creations run as soon as possible. --David Wall

Topics covered:
Buying and building a PC; selecting motherboards, processors, storage devices, expansion cards and inputting devices.

I don't understand why people slate this book for being simple. After all, it does say "for Dummies".


Disappointing superficial and very basic   May 18, 2001
 39 out of 44 found this review helpful

If you have ever performed any kind of upgrade on your personal computer, this book is pitched way below your existing level of expertise! The author has an endearing writing style but this does not compensate for the superficial way important subjects seem to be glossed over with suggestions to read a component's manual... When discussing the installation of Iomega ZIP drives, he omits any form of discussion other than parallel port and SCSI versions despite references to USB elsewhere in the book.

The illustrations are simple line drawings that are not sufficiently detailed. This subject's coverage benefits from the inclusion of photographs of which there are none in this book.

I felt that the book had been padded out with other unrelated information, which, interesting though it is, probably isn't relevant to the simple task of putting together a home-built PC.

Mark Chambers has tried to produce a book that would appeal to a wide audience but in writing for those who have little or no technical expertise, he has missed the mark for those of us who are not engineers but are not afraid to pick up a screwdriver, pull out expansion cards and adjust software settings.

The work has some value but insufficient to persuade me that I have spent a substantial sum wisely.

If you are the rare animal that has never touched a PC, wants one and would rather build it than buy it, you will get value from adding this to your library as one source of enlightenment.

If, however, you are a geek and proud of it, I can't recommend this as at all suitable.


Very good for a first timer   August 30, 1999
 3 out of 3 found this review helpful

A very helpful book. Explains well the building of PCs. A first timer could do this. However, comments about using Dos are a little outdated. Hopefully the second edition will sort this out.


Great for anyone just starting their 1st PC   July 12, 1999
 3 out of 3 found this review helpful

I have fairly extensive computer experience but when I set out to build my own PC I found myself in the dark about a great many things. This book helped to turn on the lights and get me on my way.