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Build Your Dream Machine

We'll help you turn your boring beige box into the specialized system you covet. Experts spell out minimum requirements, list the parts you need, and show you exactly how to put it all together.

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How to Proceed

There are three basic steps to take when you use our project guide.

  1. Take stock of your PC. If most of your system's components meet our minimum requirements, your upgrade will be that much simpler. In other cases (such as when your CPU does not meet the specified minimum), buying a new system is a more sensible first step.

  2. Decide what upgrades you really need (or want). To help you decide, we provide advice on how each upgrade will benefit your computer. Consider the price, the time, and the difficulty of each upgrade--and be honest with yourself about how comfortable you feel handling an advanced-level upgrade. If you have misgivings, think about paying a computer dealer to do the upgrade, or call on a trusted friend who is more experienced.

  3. Refer to the "How to Upgrade (Almost) Anything" section. After you have made your choices and purchased the components, the How to Upgrade (Almost) Anything material will walk you through installing your upgrades. The end result: You'll have a task-specific hot rod ready to chase the checkered flag. And you won't even need to get your hands greasy.

Under the hood: Our base system, a Dell Dimension XPS T600r, came equipped with a Pentium III-600 CPU, 64MB of RAM, a 9.5GB IDE hard drive, a 16MB ATI Rage 128 graphics board, a 48X CD-ROM drive, a sound card, and a 56-kbps modem.

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