Building a PC For Dummies
Chapter One
What's in a Computer, Anyway?
In This Chapter
* Discovering how simple PCs really are
* Using commonsense assembly (CA)
* Understanding standard PC components
* Connecting components
Ask most people what they know about computers, and they'll tell you
that a PC is a complex, sealed box full of confusing parts that you need
an engineering degree to understand - something like a cross between an
unopened Egyptian pyramid and a rocket engine. Ask those same people
whether they want to try their hand at actually building a computer, and
they'll probably laugh out loud. Even if you did buy all the mysterious electronic
parts (which techno-types affectionately refer to as computer components),
where would you start? Where do you buy everything? How do you fit
the components together? Nobody but an honest-to-goodness computer nerd
could possibly put a computer together!
Well, ladies and gentlemen, I have great news: If you can handle the tool
shown in Figure 1-1 - yes, the humble Phillips screwdriver - you can safely
assemble your own computer (and even enjoy doing it!). After you discover
how to build your own computer a ... read full excerpt from Building a PC For Dummies ebook
