Aimed at technically literate users already familiar with both the inside and outside of their PCs, the PCURB clearly explains a vast range of hardware issues, and what you can do about fixing them. It goes without saying CPUs, memory, storage, displays, networks and all manner of buses and I/O subsystems are covered in considerable detail. While some old ground is covered, its still a handy reference.

Beyond the basics, the PCURBdelves into diagnosis, repair, enhancements and the ins and outs of benchmarking. The latter is particularly useful for anyone whos wanted to interpret graphs and figures into a real-world message that perhaps its time for a specific memory or CPU upgrade. Those who like getting their hands dirty will also enjoy construction sections which include literally cool tips on heatsinks and airflow. The final chapters describe how to build and configure both desktop PCs and even servers complete with FreeBSD Unix on a supplied CD. Theres also a section of Q&As for revising certification exams.