That fucking magazine (and boot, whichever was first, I think it was boot) I used to so look forward to and it also cost me so damn much money. Internet wasn't a big thing yet so most of my PC news came from it.
EDIT: This was my first build from scratch, I thought I knew enough to build one from scratch but that 1ghz proc was finicky as fuck. I read the 'approved' list and ordered off it. I'd already been hit with 'buy cheap RAM , save $$ (except it only worked half the fucking time) building half a system*. Ordered all the parts directly off the approved list with one exception. I think the approved PSU was a 'something with flower in the name' 300watt PSU. My dumb ass brain thinks - if 300w is approved, 350w is better and it's the same brand as the approved one I'm good.
Go to boot it up, nothing. I say fuck 100,000,000,000 times. Pizza box it, nothing, say fuck some more. Isolate parts. I get lights but no boot. Finally I start calling manufacturers. One that worked was a long distance call on my dime to California (from SC) to the engineer at the PSU place. I have my volt meter and he's walking me through stuff. When I mention it's the new 1ghz CPU he told me I cannot use the 350, gotta use the 300. Return (on my dime) for the 300 and it worked good as new.
If I'm giving you all PTSD I'm sorry!
*By half a system I mean Alienware (and Gateway before them) would let you buy a case/cpu/mobo shipped out the door and I'd piecemeal the other parts cheaper that buying from them.
