While building your own PC can often save you money, the real advantage is that you can create a system to your exact specifications, whether you want a lean, mean gaming machine or a cheap and cheerful unit for bashing out emails and surfing the web.

If you want to build but you don't know where to start, Gavin Cox's 'Build Your Own PC' site is an excellent resource, talking you through each step, using clear language without being patronising.

And if, once you've built your machine, it won't work, there's a troubleshooting section and discussion forums you can turn to for help.

www.netmag.co.uk