Thompson, Robert Bruce: PC Hardware Buyer's Guide

If you're one of the many who has decided to build your own personal computer system, you know that doing so can be quite a challenge. The information can be overwhelming--and so can the number of choices.

It's true, whether you're perusing online sites, or wandering the aisles of your favorite retail store, shopping for PC components is no easy task. Until now. Thanks to "PC Hardware Buyer's Guide, the experience of building your own PC system has never been easier.

This handy pocket guide is the ideal shopping companion for do-it-yourself types. Loaded with valuable information, it starts off by providing a piece-by-piece overview of all the components that comprise a standard desktop computer. Then it sinks its teeth into the crux of the issue: how to choose the right parts for you, based on your particular profile (gamer, mainstream user, etc.). It does so by helping you identify which parts are:

Compatible to each other

Regarded as the best performing

Closest in line with your budget

For quick-lookup purposes, the "PC Hardware Buyer's Guide even includes a simple reference chart with recommended brands and models. Just refer to the chart and the guesswork is gone. And don't worry about the shelf-life of the information, either. The "PC Hardware Buyer's Guide features several rules of thumb for choosing components that endure past the latest models, so you don't need to buy a new guide with each passing year.

In a market where very little written information exists, this is the only pocket guide that covers PC hardware.