Where did you get your knowledge of computer hardware?

Hey i just had a few questions for you guys.

1. How did you learn what is compatible as far as parts go

2. Where did you learn to tamper with the Bios and learn about overclocking and how to do it

3. Do you guys know about networking and how to speed up connections and so forth

4. Do you know a lot about using Windows, details that most people dont know, (thats kinda vague sorry)

The reason i ask these questions is because i want to learn as much about computers as i can so i was wondering how you guys learned so much about them. I plan on taking Computer Science in college and the more i know now could help me. if you have lnks that will help or just common knowledge of these topics i will take anything i can get. I just want to fill my brai with as much knowledge of this as i can because it is so useful. Thank You in advance.

1. PCPowerPlay

2. PCPowerPlay

3. Father

4. I don't consider myself to know a "lot" about Windows, but I know the bascs and a few advance features

P.S. If your wondering what PCPowerPlay is, it's an Australian PC magazine that's really quite terrific in my personal opinion, it's helped me out alot choosing parts for the PC etc. :)

I learned most stuff from these forums to be honest.

Just from reading what other people have written i have learnt a reasonable ammount.

Hey i just had a few questions for you guys.

1. How did you learn what is compatible as far as parts go

Alot of online research.

2. Where did you learn to tamper with the Bios and learn about overclocking and how to do it

I never touched overclocking.

3. Do you guys know about networking and how to speed up connections and so forth

Speed up connections? Networking kind of just grew on me as I played around with networking hardware.

4. Do you know a lot about using Windows, details that most people dont know, (thats kinda vague sorry)

Just using it everday. If I have a problem, I try to google an answer and learn from it after that.

LMSTSB

Everything i know i learned on my own. Never had a class. Never had a teacher. Never had a person show me ANYTHING.

It all started when i built a 486dx about 15 years ago. Since then ive learned everything from networking to building custom evaps for phase units.

I wouldnt change any of it. As much as i suck at alot of stuff i take comfort in knowing that NOBODY helped me know what i know about computers.

I learned most stuff from these forums to be honest.

Just from reading what other people have written i have learnt a reasonable ammount.

dbowman

thanks for the quick responses, and i understand a lot comes from experience, I know i have learned a lot by doing things myself and find answers on forums and google. If you guys recmmend any books, magazines, or links i will glady accecpt. BTW i am located in the US so the powerplay is unfortuantely gonna be hard to come by unless they sell it here. But im sure they have something like it in the states.LMSTSB

Maximum PC use to be decent for stuff like this. Now its just shootout comps thrown together for whoever pays them the most. Not to mention the mag is 90% ads now.

Online would be your best bet. And its free to boot ( minus your isp fee lol )

1, Google, and tons of forums. Including this one.

2. More Google, and tons of different guides, then just taking it slow, and learning by trial and error, of course i spent about a week reading before i tried for the first time.

3. Again, a lot of googling and just looking for any guide, or forums about ppl talking about it. Ive messed with just about every setting my router has, googled them and learned what every one did.

4. Some google, and this place called tweakguides . Has tons of game tweaking guides, but then he also has system tweak guides, honestly reading his XP Tweak guide can teach you just about everything you need to know. I highly recommend to download the pdf and read through. It not only teaches you to tweak it, but about general hardware and can teach you a lot.

At first when learning about computers it will be a bit blurry, but after a while everything will just start to click. After some time you wont even be able to remember how you just didnt understand this stuff, or how others dont get it.

Good luck to ya! Read lots!

i also learned eveything i know mostly from the GS forums, since July i think then i started just reading reviews

also 3dgameman was helpfulw hen it came to reviews :)

but mostly you guys

Hey i just had a few questions for you guys.

1. How did you learn what is compatible as far as parts go

2. Where did you learn to tamper with the Bios and learn about overclocking and how to do it

3. Do you guys know about networking and how to speed up connections and so forth

4. Do you know a lot about using Windows, details that most people dont know, (thats kinda vague sorry)

The reason i ask these questions is because i want to learn as much about computers as i can so i was wondering how you guys learned so much about them. I plan on taking Computer Science in college and the more i know now could help me. if you have lnks that will help or just common knowledge of these topics i will take anything i can get. I just want to fill my brai with as much knowledge of this as i can because it is so useful. Thank You in advance.

LMSTSB

1. Read. Learnt from others, kept reading, word of mouth on the internetz.

2. My friend on xfire and the people on this board.

3. Yes.

4. Depends what type of people. Sure I know more things to do in Windows than an average user would know how.

Computer Science has nothing to do with the questions you asked. Computer Science is all about programming in computer language (i.e. Java, C++, C, Pascal, etc...) From these topics, none of it will help. You better start reading a book on computer languages and not on PC Hardware.

1, Google, and tons of forums. Including this one.

2. More Google, and tons of different guides, then just taking it slow, and learning by trial and error, of course i spent about a week reading before i tried for the first time.

3. Again, a lot of googling and just looking for any guide, or forums about ppl talking about it. Ive messed with just about every setting my router has, googled them and learned what every one did.

4. Some google, and this place called tweakguides . Has tons of game tweaking guides, but then he also has system tweak guides, honestly reading his XP Tweak guide can teach you just about everything you need to know. I highly recommend to download the pdf and read through. It not only teaches you to tweak it, but about general hardware and can teach you a lot.

At first when learning about computers it will be a bit blurry, but after a while everything will just start to click. After some time you wont even be able to remember how you just didnt understand this stuff, or how others dont get it.

Good luck to ya! Read lots!

crazymonkey092

Yes! Anything you want to know, just Google it.

I started learning on my old 386DX 40mhz. I would tinker around with things, break it, and then fix it before my dad found out, that thing cost about 3k back in 1990! Learning DOS really helped me understand HOW a PC should work and it really helped me in understanding future hardware and software. If you can get games and hardware to work in pure DOS, then you are golden. Linux also helps too the same way DOS did.

1. How did you learn what is compatible as far as parts go

I purchased a book called Upgrading and Repairing your PC sometime in 1997. I have been reading books ever since, plus that led me to getting my AAS in Computer Networking & Systems at TSTC in 2001 (great timing on my part as the tech sector goes down the tubes and heads to India).

2. Where did you learn to tamper with the Bios and learn about overclocking and how to do it

I don't overclock, but there is a lot of books out there that go into detail. There are also some good websites out there.

3. Do you guys know about networking and how to speed up connections and so forth

Yes

4. Do you know a lot about using Windows, details that most people dont know, (thats kinda vague sorry)

I have picked up some interesting Windows tips just searching the web. I'm a typist, so anyway I can keep from hitting using the mouse speeds up how fast I can work and multitask. Stuff like WinKey+E will open explorer. Or WinKey+R will bring up the run command and you can type in, say Firefox and it will bring up that program. I need to find more commands on that.

I got my knowledge from my Dad, gamespopt and google.

I learned most stuff from these forums to be honest.

Just from reading what other people have written i have learnt a reasonable ammount.

dbowman

Pretty much the same for me.

TIME!!!

You will eventually know a lot more then you do now. Just keep hitting the forums :D

if computer science doesnt involve these kinds of things what classes in college do pertain to these types of thingsLMSTSB

Computer Networking, Computer Maintence, Networking Security, etc. Not to sound harsh, but google this. Will teach you more about what degrees to go into and explain them. So you can pick right one.