Building a PC in easy steps: Covers Windows 8

by Stuart Yarnold

Overview

Walks you through all the stages of building and setting up a computer: buying the parts, installing the CPU, memory, video, etc, altering BIOS settings, installing device drivers, and troubleshooting.

For those who want more than the standard pre-built PC. Pre-built systems are often a compromise between what the manufacturers want to sell you and what you want to buy. One solution is to build it yourself.

Buying a copy of Building a PC in easy steps, 4th edition is the first step in the right direction to build a PC. Written in concise and easy-to-understand style, this book will take you by the hand and walk you through all the stages of building and setting up a computer: Buying the parts and avoiding sales scams; mastering and installing each component (CPU, memory, video, etc); altering default settings in the BIOS for optimum performance, installing and configuring device drivers. The troubleshooting chapter is invaluable in the event of problems.

By the time you’ve finished, you will have a computer that’s tailored to your exact requirements with no superfluous features or functions.

This fourth edition covers Windows 8 and 8.1.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781840786019
Publisher:	In Easy Steps Limited
Publication date:	10/29/2013
Series:	In Easy Steps
Edition description:	Fourth Edition
Pages:	192
Product dimensions:	7.20(w) x 8.80(h) x 0.50(d)

About the Author

Stuart Yarnold is an electronics engineer who has been working in the industry since leaving college. Originally a marine radio and radar troubleshooter, he now devotes much of his time to playing poker professionally and can usually be found lurking in one of the online poker rooms. Based in the U.K., he has authored several successful In Easy Steps titles including Windows 7 Tips and Techniques in easy steps, Windows 8 Tips, Tricks & Shortcuts in Easy Steps, and Building a PC in Easy Steps.

Table of Contents

1 Before You Start 7

Introduction 8

Store-Bought versus Self-Build 10

What Do You Want it to Do? 12

OEM versus Retail 13

Where to Buy Your Parts 14

Parts You Will Need 16

Tools You Will Need 16

2 Central Processing Units 17

CPU Manufacturers 18

What CPU to Buy 22

CPU Specifications 23

CPU Technologies 25

Installing a CPU 28

Fitting a Heatsink and Fan 30

3 Memory 31

Overview 32

Types of Memory 32

Error-Checking Memory 35

Buying Memory 36

Handling Memory Modules 40

Installing Memory 41

4 Motherboards 43

Overview 46

Buying a Motherboard 47

Other Motherboard Features 54

Installing a Motherboard 55

5 System Cases 57

Types of Case 58

Important Case Features 59

Aesthetics 64

Case Modding 65

6 Power Supply Unites (PSU) 67

Overview 68

Specifications 68

External AC Power Supply 72

Installing a PSU 74

Case Connections 76

7 Video Systems 77

Video Systems 78

Integrated Video 78

Video Cards 79

2D versus 3D 80

The Video Card Market 81

Video Card Specifications 82

Other Factors to Consider 84

Installing a Video Card 88

8 Monitors 91

Overview 92

Types of LCD Panel 93

Monitor Specifications 94

Installing an LCD Monitor 100

9 Testing the Basic Systems 101

Why Do This Now? 102

Check the Monitor 103

Check the Connections 104

Does it Work? 105

The PC Doesn't Boot-Up 107

Beep Codes 108

10 Hard Drives 111

Overview 112

Interfaces 113

Hard Drive Specifications 116

Types of Hard Drive 118

Buying a Hard Drive 122

Installing a Hard Drive 123

11 Input Devices 125

Mouse Technology 126

Types of Mouse 127

Mouse Specifications 128

Mouse Features 129

Keyboard Technology 130

Types of Keyboard 131

Keyboard Specifications 133

Keyboard Features 134

12 Sound Systems 135

Overview 136

Integrated Sound Systems 137

Sound Cards 138

Installing a Sound Card 142

13 Removable Media Drives 143

What's Available? 144

DVD Drives 145

DVD Formats 146

DVD Drive Specifications 147

Blu-ray Drives 149

RDX Drives 150

Tape Drives 151

USB Flash Drives 152

Installing a DVD Drive 153

14 Setting Up the System 155

Navigating the BIOS 156

Setting up a Video Card 157

Enabling USB 158

Disabling Integrated Sound 159

Setting the Boot Device 160

RAID Configurations 161

Installing Windows 163

Installing System Drivers 166

15 Peripherals 167

Printers 168

Installing a Printer 171

Multi-Function Devices 171

Broadband Modems 172

Installing a Broadband Modem 173

Scanners 174

Speakers 175

Speaker Installation 176

16 Troubleshooting 177

Hard Drives 178

Windows 180

Sound 182

Removable Media Drives 184

Printers 185

Broadband 186

Index 187