Intel-and AMD-powered PCs--which account for more than 90% of all personal computers--are powerful and expandable, and operating systems like Windows and Linux do a great job of running well on this hardware. But to maintain maximum stability and predictability, these operating systems don't push the hardware to its limits. That doesn't mean you can't. PC Hacks shows PC users like you how to get the most out of your hardware and software to make your PC experience more satisfying than ever. You don't need another collection of simple tips and command-clicks; you need PC Hacks, where you'll find proven techniques for enhancing performance and preventing problems with your PC hardware. This step-by-step, hack-by-hack guide, with invaluable tips and tricks throughout, will get you hacking the system board, CPU, BIOS, peripherals and operating system--everything but the unhackable power supply! In PC Hacks, Jim Aspinwall, the Windows Helpdesk columnist and feature editor for CNET.COM and author of three books on PC maintenance, delivers basic to advanced hacks for overclocking CPU and video cards, tweaking RAM timing, selecting the best performing components, and much more. He includes suggestions for reusing an old PC to off-load work from newer systems as well as ways to prevent security hacks. He also offers many tips for avoiding common mistakes--and for getting the system back up and running if something does go wrong. PC Hacks combines of the bestselling Hacks series style with the world's most popular computing hardware. Presented in a clear and direct format and covering both Windows and Linux operating systems, PC Hacks ensure that you'll hack and tweak your way to the best performance possible out of your trusty PC.

Amazon.com® Reader Reviews (Ranked by Helpfulness)

Average Amazon.com® Rating:  Based on 9 Ratings

Getting down to the bare bones... - 2004-12-21
Reviewer Rating:
A lot of books on the market take you through the inner-workings of Windows, Linux, [insert favorite OS here]. However, there are very few out there that go deep inside the PC itself and get down to the hardware level. In "PC Hacks", the author takes us inside the PC to look at what can be done at the hardware level to tweak system performance and stability.

First off, this book is not for the novice user. If you are not willing to "risk a little" then you should not attempt the hacks set forth in the book. Many of them, if not performed precisely, can cause serious damage to your system -- some could even cause permanent hardware damage (such as overclocking your CPU). However, for those who are brave -- the rewards and adventure that await are well worth it.

Covering topics such as upgrading your power supply, changing CPU voltage (overclocking), moving and changing disk partitions, even overclocking your video card (that was even a new one for me!) will have most dedicated PC geek up to all hours trying out different settings and tweaks.

Even if you aren't ready to start messing with the voltage, the book provides a good handbook on topics such as "Why should I worry if my paging (virtual memory) file is fragmented?" and "Do I need to upgrade by BIOS?" that even middle-of-the-road users might fight well worth reading up on. There are a number of items that the author talks about that are merely informational, but could really come in handy the next time your system decides to stop functioning the moment you need it to the most.

For those "old timers" out there, this book comes close to the old Norton books of the mid 1980's that explained what went on under the hood of early PC's. For the younger users, it is a terrific way to explore the true "hobbyist" side of computing and tweaking a system much like a car enthusiast tunes his engine.

OK book, but lacking in content - 2005-01-04
Reviewer Rating:
The title of this book should be "Windows PC Hacks" since 99% of the hacks are Windows based. If you no longer use Microsoft products (like me), this is not a very good book for you.

If you are no longer new to PCs and want to know a little more about the inner workings of your PC, you will probably enjoy this book.

If you've built several PCs already, you already know 90% of what's in this book and won't care about the other 10%.

100 Hacks to Make PCs Do What You Want - 2004-12-28
Reviewer Rating:
This is a fascinating book that is filled with 100 clever, important hacks for today's modern PCs. More, better, faster, cheaper, easier, cooler, safer: All these and more capture our desire to understand and get the most out of our investment in PCs. From making a PC boot faster, to improving its reliability, to using multiple operating systems, to being able to recover quickly when something goes wrong, the PC hacks in this book will improve your PC experience and make you a lot more computer-savvy.

You can read the book from cover to cover, but each hack stands on its own, so you can also browse and go to the different sections that most interest you. If there is a prerequisite you need to know about, a cross-reference will guide to the right hack.

Since you will be hacking your PC, you are seriously encouraged to for follow three basic tenets of PC ownership: Back Up, Back Up, and Back Up. While the hacks are not intentionally designed to harm a PC system, life with a PC is not a matter of if your system will crash, but when.

Pay careful attention to the details and precautions for each hack. Not all hacks will work with all PCs or installed hardware. After you have done your backup, it will be to your benefit to gather all your manuals and driver disks or visit the web sites for your PC and peripheral vendors to get current documentation and drivers.

If your PC or any of its components are under manufacturer's warranty, you should think twice or three times about the impacting of hacking on it. If a hack could void your warranty, you will probably want to wait until the warranty expires, before trying it.

No preamble, I loved it. - 2005-07-05
Reviewer Rating:
What a beautiful little book!

It will only take you a day or two to read, and more importantly, give you a dozen projects you'll be dying to try out. Personally I found about ten I intend to use, twenty I'd like to try, and ten more I wish I'd known about years ago.

The tips include hacks for the BIOS, hardware and the operating system. Some of the tips relate to very old hardware or operating systems, but this is fine since there aren't that many of these tips. The OS tips tend to relate mostly to flavours of windows, but there are enough Linux tips to still make it a worth while read.

Each tip is written in a concise format which provides plenty of information without being long winded, making the book easy to browse and use.

If the last chapter, covering configuring a new computer (anti-virus, malware and firewalls) was first, I'd recommend this book to be distributed with any new computer. Regardless, this is a great book that anyone will get value from.

Overclocking CPU (Hack 21) at your own risk - 2005-01-05
Reviewer Rating:
Overclocking CPU (Hack 21) is not as easy as adding more memory or upgrading the hard disk. If you have nothing to lose, you might think about overclocking the CPU. Manufacturers may not honor the warranty on an overclocked CPU. The modifications may also void the warranty on the motherboard and other components (such as video card & hard drives).
To increase performance of your PC: I would first try to add more memory (Hack 30), and then try to replace the hard disk with a faster (& larger) one (Hack 58).

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