Replacing CPU

The reason for replacing CPU can be various. Many people just want something faster and other just don't like the particular one they have. For either reason you will have to do some research to find out what you really need or want.

If you are just changining the computer cpu because it blew up while trying to overclock or it was damaged while installing the best CPU cooler, which is usually some odd shape and weighs 5lbs then it is one thing. If you just want to learn how to upgrade CPU it is another.

You can look at the computer motherboard manufacturer's instruction manual and figure out what computer processors you can install in your pc motherboard. This important step will keep you from buying something that won't even work and wasting your time. Once you get the correct computer cpu you can do the following, which is listed below.

Open the computer

Take off the CPU cooler

Remove the thermal compound

Take off the computer CPU

Insert the new computer CPU

Apply the new thermal paste

Install the new CPU heatsink

Close the computer

Start computer and run Prime95 for at least 6 hours

If nothing blows up enjoy your new computer processor

Replacing CPU Tips

Removing the CPU Cooler

while you do this you may come upon some complications. I wil try to give you some tips to help you along. When you take off the CPU cooler it would be good to prop it off with a device that won't slip and jab a hole into your expensive computer motherboard. I have done this before, but my Soyo Dragon Plus was quite resilient to my mistakes back then.

Removing the Thermal Compound

You can just wipe off the excess thermal compound. It is pretty easy to remove. You can use some isopropyl alcohol to get the rest of the tidbits off if you want too. It is not too important to get it totally clean around the edges, but it will look cleaner if you are presenting it.

Replacing CPU

You can take off and insert a computer cpu by flipping some kind of lever that either locks the computer processor in place or it is a plate that lays on top of the computer cpu. Zero Insertion Force (ZIF) socket have a lever arm. Newer computer processors don't have pins on the actually chips and use a plate on the computer motherboard to snape themselves in. This helps a lot with the previous problem with damaging pins.

Applying Thermal Compound

Applying thermal compound is really easy. Just remember that this will be flattend more than your sandwich full of mayo. You don't need to use that much. You just have to make sure that when you install the cpu heatsink that the thermal paste will completely cover the die where the heat will be extracted from.

Installing CPU Cooler

When you install the CPU cooler make sure you go easy when pressing on the computer cpu. You must bring it down completely flat when you lock it into the place. Sideways may act like a log cutter and just crack that thing in half, but that rarely happens because of the way the insertion device is made. So don't be afraid!

Burn-in Testing

I stated before that you should do burn-in testing using prime95 or something of that nature to make sure everything is working correctly before you forget about it. If your temperatures remain stable and you get no weird errors from computer parts you should find that their is no problem after replacing CPU in your computer.