PC Hacks

Most desktop and laptop computers built around Intel or AMD processors are expandable and capable, yet mainstream operating systems such as Windows and Linux hold back the hardware to keep things stable and predictable. That restraint leaves performance on the table, and this book is for anyone who wants to reclaim it. Rather than offering another list of routine tweaks and menu clicks, it presents tested methods for speeding up a machine and heading off trouble with its components.

The guide moves through the system board, processor, BIOS, peripherals and operating system, one hack at a time, with practical advice sprinkled throughout. Readers will find techniques for overclocking the CPU and graphics card, adjusting memory timing, picking components that perform well, and more. It also explains how an older computer can take over some of the workload from a newer one, shows ways to guard against security intrusions, and gives advice on avoiding common errors and recovering a system that has stopped working. Coverage spans both Windows and Linux. The author, Jim Aspinwall, writes the Windows Helpdesk column and serves as feature editor for CNET.COM, and has written three earlier books on PC maintenance. The book belongs to the Hacks series, applied to mainstream PC hardware.