Anandtech Guru Computer Book List! For beginner-noobs!!!

[bovinda]

Hey all,

What books/publications would you recommend for a beginner who wants to learn more about how computers work and perhaps how to build one?

It's for a very close friend of mine who will have a couple months of free time on his hands. He won't have internet access however, so providing links doesn't do any good (or else I would have, since that's where I learned everything I know).

Any and all suggestions are greatly appreciated! Thank you in advance. :beer:

 

[Budman]

mechBgon's guide to building your first PC from parts

You have a printer,start printing.

 

[bovinda]

Smart-a$$.

No, actually that is a good suggestion Budman, I could print that out for him. In fact, I think I will...

However, I'd still like to compile a list of books in addition, so if anyone has any suggestions, they are still welcome.

 

[Matthias99]

There are some pretty good articles at HowStuffWorks.com about computers. They're a tad dated, but the basics (CPU, RAM, motherboard, video card, hard drives, etc.) haven't really changed much in the last few years.

You might look for a "...For Dummies" book on PC basics or building PCs. They're usually pretty solid.

 

[Ausm]

I learned by trial and lots of error

Ausm

 

[TwoBills]

There's a book in Boarders that looks pretty interesting. Not sure of the exact title but it's a compilation (sic?) of articles from Maximum PC. Maximum PC's Proformance Guide? Magazine size, soft cover. About half of it concerns building.

 

[KoolDrew]

Originally posted by: Ausm
I learned by trial and lots of error

Ausm

 

[joshc]

Computer Organization and Design : The Hardware/Software Interface - Patterson & Hennessy

lol...have fun

 

[Maluno]

From personal experience, I have found that the "Dummies" books arent the greatest. I would instead go for something from O'Reilly, I have had better luck with them.

 

[leedog2007]

Originally posted by: KoolDrew

Originally posted by: Ausm
I learned by trial and lots of error

Ausm

 

[brob23]

why no links? is he in jail?? j/k LOL

 

[ribbon13]

O'Reily - Building The Perfect PC
http://www.nerdbooks.com/isbn/0596006632

 

[bovinda]

Thank you for the suggestions everyone. I will check some of those out and see if I can send them to him before he leaves. He's going to a very remote island of the coast of Thailand for several months. The way I phrased it, it did sound like it could be jail though. Anyway, he will have no access to computers or to the internet, so I figured books of some kind would be the way to go since he really wants to learn.

Ribbon, just as an aside, how in hell did you get nearly 5k posts in two months??? I don't think I could type that fast. Anyway, more power to ya. :beer:

 

[CheesePoofs]

Originally posted by: ribbon13
O'Reily - Building The Perfect PC
http://www.nerdbooks.com/isbn/0596006632

:thumbsup: Or PC Hardware in a Nutshell by the same people.

 

[ribbon13]

Originally posted by: bovinda
Ribbon, just as an aside, how in hell did you get nearly 5k posts in two months??? I don't think I could type that fast. Anyway, more power to ya. :beer:

Helping people.

 

[w00t]

Originally posted by: Budman
mechBgon's guide to building your first PC from parts

You have a printer,start printing.

 

[bovinda]

Originally posted by: ribbon13

Originally posted by: bovinda
Ribbon, just as an aside, how in hell did you get nearly 5k posts in two months??? I don't think I could type that fast. Anyway, more power to ya. :beer:

Helping people.

Well then you must be knowledgable and a fast typist.

 

[Remedy]

Upgrading and Repairing PC's 16th edition this is pretty much the bible most schools go with. I've been using it since 1994 in high school. It's just the standard. It now comes with DVD roms too on subjects and order of operations. He owes to himself.

 

[bovinda]

Originally posted by: ReMeDy{WcS}
Upgrading and Repairing PC's 16th edition this is pretty much the bible most schools go with. I've been using it since 1994 in high school. It's just the standard. It now comes with DVD roms too on subjects and order of operations. He owes to himself.

Hey that looks great too! Thanks for the suggestion.

 

[PhlashFoto]

Originally posted by: bovinda

Originally posted by: ReMeDy{WcS}
Upgrading and Repairing PC's 16th edition this is pretty much the bible most schools go with. I've been using it since 1994 in high school. It's just the standard. It now comes with DVD roms too on subjects and order of operations. He owes to himself.

Hey that looks great too! Thanks for the suggestion.

I too recommend that book as well. I have used it over the years since the mid 90s as well. It is very well written and detailed. I would definately pick that up.