The bland beige box is dead. Fueled by a passion for performance and an eye for style, a new breed of PC user is taking matters into its own hands. Combining cutting-edge components with the latest trends in system design, they're turning the standard personal computer into a high-speed work of art.

Building Extreme PCs is the ultimate guide to the world of PC modification and customization. Both a showcase and a DIY handbook, it goes in-depth into system building, overclocking, cooling, and modification, reveals the secrets of optimization and benchmarking, then moves on to cover some of the most exciting and inspirational custombuilt systems around. From silent systems to multi-processor monsters, from gaming powerhouses to neon-lit speed machines, this book has it all, complete with guidance from the people who made them.

Ben Hardwidge is the news and features editor of the leading U.K. enthusiast magazine Custom PC, and has spent five years working for computer magazines.

Amazon.com® Reader Reviews (Ranked by Helpfulness)

Average Amazon.com® Rating:  Based on 8 Ratings

Pretty Pictures - Poor Build Info - 2006-12-31
Reviewer Rating:
Hello,

In a nutshell: I was looking for a book to help build a high-end PC from the ground up. I ordered this book used. As others indicate above, if you like pretty pictures of exotic PCs, this book is for you. If you want specific pictures for how to build such a PC, avoid this book. There are no step by step photos that show how to assemble the Motherboard with components...where to put the chip (processor); how to hold the chip (and how not to hold the chip) as you place it on the Motherboard; how to apply thermal paste (Arctic); how to place a Zalman fan over the chip....Anyway, these are the important things one needs to know (+see) in order to assemble one of these high end computers.

My advice: look elsewhere for a how to build book. However, if you want pretty pictures of what a fancy computer looks like, or flashy color photos of a nice motherboard, or a nice power supply...then this book is for the dreamer in you. Trust me though: look elsewhere for a book that will walk you through step by step - how to build a PC adding one part at a time.

Great images, but... - 2006-11-14
Reviewer Rating:
This book has some great pictures of some really amazing cases and mods, but not much in the way if information on how to actually do the modding.

Not exactly a wealth of information. - 2007-03-31
Reviewer Rating:
Not much more than a lot of nice pictures of what other people have done. This book is not for learning how to build a computer, so if your thinking about getting it for that reason look elsewhere.

Awesome Pictures! - 2006-10-07
Reviewer Rating:
This is a very professionally done book on how to build your own computer. The pictures alone make it one of my favorite books. The detail is just right for anyone with some computer knowledge. The only knock is the fine print on the glossy photo pages can be a bit hard to read with tired eyes.

excellent product - 2008-12-26
Reviewer Rating:
This product is very heavy piece of granite. Well made, handles easily, The pestle is beautifully crafted and fits well in the hand.

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