If youve dreamed about having a customized multimedia PC or one tricked out for your favorite games, build your own and make your dreams come true!Build Your Own PC Do-It-Yourself For Dummies makes it easy.

Not only is building your own PC a really rewarding project, it can also save you a nice chunk of cash. This step-by-step guide helps you decide what you need, teaches you what all those computer terms mean, and tells you exactly how to put the pieces together. It shows you:

What tools you need (not as many as you might think!)All about operating systemsHow to install CD and DVD drivesThe scoop on sound and video, and how to put a sound system together from start to finishHow to connect a monitor and install a modemAll about setting up and configuring the hard driveSecrets for securing your system, and more

Included is a bonus DVD showing you how to install the motherboard, CPU, RAM, ports, hard drive, video and sound cards, a DVD drive, and more. WithBuild Your Own PC Do-It-Yourself For Dummies, you can have the computer you want plus the satisfaction of doing it yourself!

Note: CD-ROM/DVD and other supplementary materials are not included as part of eBook file.

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 Users 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 Builders Glossary 279

Index 289