How do I become like y'all?

[goofy2000]

I wanna be a hardware guru like all of ya.
Is there a easy way? or should I just take the MCSE test..
(wait.. that's for the software..)

 

[Vegito]

MCSE is both hard & software... its a networking model. Anyway. You need to get your hand on parts to learn.. and read some books.. no magically way..

 

[AmdEmAll]

Just keep reading and reading on the internet and hands on is the best way to learn. I still have lots to learn

 

[goofy2000]

k....

books.. you mean like a..
"How to build your own PC?" sort of book?

My problem is that I don't know the basic concepts and jargons..
so it's hard to keep it up..

Likea... umm.. DMA, IRQ Registry, slocket, that sort of things..
Is there a website that can teach these things, from gound up?
(but not too basic.. like.. what is a cpu or..)

 

[Roguetech]

My favorite book is Upgrading and Repairing PCs, but Winn L. Rosch Hardware Bible isn't bad. You can pick up an older version of either off e*Bay pretty cheap. Hell, I need to; I'm stuck with a 3rd ed. Uprading.

I'm sure there are sites around... Hell, there's stuff these geeks post I don't understand, either, and I am a geek. What sites are good, I don't know. If you find some, post 'em... Even if I'm not interested, I'm sure I'll run across someone who is.

But, as far as IRQ's 'n stuff, just play hard with your computer. It'll f**k up sooner or later, then fix it yerself. You'll learn the basics quick enough. If that's not fast enough, try installing a few modems or sound cards in DOS, and that'll cover IRQ's and DMA's!

For specific questions, feel free to ask me, though there are geekier people here

 

[Cybordolphin]

Change your username. J/K..
(and misspell it lol)

Check out sites that cover "overclocking"... like BXBOARDS, etc..

You can printout instructions from sites like the above.. on how to construct your own system(s).
Also check here often by "searching" first... whenever you have a question... or get stumped.

HAVE FUN!

 

[AmdEmAll]

Hmm... check out www.geek.com They have a good "How To" area. And they have a Technical glossary which is very useful.

Other Helpful sites:

HardOcp
MaximumPc
Anandtech
Ars Technica

Im sure theres tons more. I'll tell you when I think of them.

 

[medic]

An excellent guide here:

100's of info and assembly guides here:

 

[Roguetech]

Cyberdolphin:
You bastard, you could at least have the decent courtesy to say where you're sig quote comes from! Please

 

[LordSandMan]

Get a book called Upgrading and Repairing PCs by Scott Mueller. It covers every component of the PC in detail, but is still very easy reading. I've got the 11th edition, but I think they're on 12 or 13 by now. Also order yourself some parts and put one together and use it for your main computer. Like everyone else said hands on is the best way to learn. If you need help ordering parts look at the threads that some other people have posted about purchasing parts for new PC's, or post another thread yourself.

I think you'll find most people around here are more than willing to help you out, but you should try to do a little bit of research on sites like anandtech, hardocp, and others first before posting questions on the forums. Otherwise some people get irritable.

Any questions let us know.

Edit- Damn, someone already mentioned that book before I got it posted. Hate when that happens. wow, hot thread.

 

[Roguetech]

CRV:
Thanks, now I'm gonna be up all night reading that site!

PaulVitti:
Thanx (some geek, not knowing a line from Matrix )

LordSandMan:
Thanx for supplying the author. I looked on mine, but my old version doesn't say on the cover.

[edit] /me is going to check for newer versions of Upgrading off e*Bay...

[edit2] heh. My copy's not old; it's "Vintage" e*Bay item

 

[Cybordolphin]

Hey Rog.... that's Cyb"o"rdolphin (cyberdolphin was taken....lol).

And that's "Mr." to/for you!

I learned tons from visiting sites like BX., Sharks, and others. I still think that is a better way than just reading books. I think he will gain lots of "practical" use stuff from these sites. Plus it will be more up to date, and offer hardware options for him to consider in building his system(s).

And of course, coming here for advise is a great idea (just be careful who you listen too..lol)

 

[BoberFett]

<< How do I become like y'all? >>

You can be like me in 12 easy payments of $49.95 each. E-mail me to get the address to send the checks.

 

[Roguetech]

Mr. Cybordolphin:
Absolutly, but no computer geek is complete without the copy of Uprgrading and Repairing. [edit] That being said, how much should I bid on a copy that's a version or 2 out of date ?

 

[Cknyc]

Only experience will make you [H]ard.

 

[Blayze]

as said above get the book Upgrading and Repairing PCs by Scott Mueller. It will help you understand everything a lot.

Oh and also stick around the forums here at Anandtech. I find out something new everyday.

 

[goofy2000]

thanks every1 for everything.
gonna buy that book (2nd hand

 

[compuwiz1]

MCSE is highly overrated. I've known some who were pretty inept when it comes to doing any tech work on PC's.

Many of us learned by doing, reading and doing some more. I can fly with the best of them and I've never spent a minute in a class and have no certificates or formal training. I decided what I wanted to learn and found the info to do it.

 

[jimmygates]

LOL...Roguetech..I have the exact same book.....

We must be old farts learning about old technology




-Jimbo

 

[Dulanic]

And just sticking around here will do it. Youd be suprised how much you can learn from all of us fools around here I still learn things all the time here, as im sure everyone here does.

 

[Cosmic_Horror]

read ! anything and everything you can get your hands on!
Never be afraid to ask anything you don't know.

 

[BurnItDwn]

book ??? whats a book ???


thats those paper things ????



there are Thousands of hardware sites around ...

just read up on all the articles on anandtech, tomshardware, sharky extreme, and such ...



Take apart your PC ... put it back together ... add new things to it ... learn ...

reading may get you part of the way .. but you gotta actually do most of the stuff to really know it well

 

[Blain]

Nice links CRV.

I've learned a lot from Tom's Harware Guide
It's a little dated now, but it has a lot of good basic information. And it's also &quot;user friendly&quot;

 

[LordSandMan]

<< That being said, how much should I bid on a copy that's a version or 2 out of date >>




well, I paid $60 at a bookstore about a year ago. I friend bought it on Amazon.com for $40. I would say if it goes over $25 you might as well buy the new one if you can still find it new for $40. Those were for new editions though.

 

[Tweakin]

I'm sorry, but I just ahve to post my 2cents worth...as for compuwiz1's comment regarding MCSE's not being the greatest regarding computer repairs, but that's not the point of their certification...developing, administration, rollout and configuration, and maintenance of the Enterprise Model are the key areas of an MCSE, if you want a system level techie, attach all the A+ people that don't even remember what a 286 is. I know some great IT Administrators whom are MCSE's, but I wouldn't trust them to work on my machine. I would however trust them to help diagnoise a forest structure problem or active directory failure on a 1000 node WAN system.

I'm sorry, I have been working very hard for the last 6 months on trying to finish my MCSE and sometimes my pms shows up. I feel better now. Happy Holidays