installing a new processor

rooster

I have took the plunge and decided to replace my old processor with an AMD 4200 x2 socket 939, However I have never changed one and would be grateful for some advice. I have the new processor but it has come without installion instructions.

my current spec is:
Board: ASUSTeK Computer INC. A8N-SLI DELUXE 1.XX
Bus Clock: 200 megahertz
BIOS: Phoenix Technologies, LTD ASUS A8N-SLI DELUXE ACPI BIOS
2.60 gigahertz AMD Athlon 64 FX

thanks

opportunity_cost

YouTube is your friend. See:

Installing a Processor and Heatsink

mmillie

Mechanically it's a trivial thing to do;

First of all, ground yourself. You can do this by leaving the power cord connected to your PC, but turned off at the mains. When you touch the case, you will be connecting yourself to ground.

You then just open the PC case, find your existing processor (it's going to be one of the things with a major heatskink over it. Unscrew or unclip the heatsink depending on the design, and your old processor will then probably simply lift out. Your processor will only go in one way round - look at the shape and look for a tab or a pin out of one corner. Gently place your new processor in the right way round. You will not have to force it in - if it seems like you do, check the chip is the right way round. Put some heatsink compound on the top of the chip to conduct the heat between the chip and the heatsink, and then replace the heatsink. Put the cover back on, and you're done.

You may need to change the bus speed in your BIOS, or you may not. It depends on your motherboard, and I don't know anything about that one.

Martin

JonnyThunder

It's actually pretty easy. Im gonna assume the processor is compatible with your motherboard. Im also assuming you have some heatsink compound. I can recomment Arctic silver - you WILL need this. So here goes....

1. Open the case

2. Unclip the CPU heatsink (there are clips which you usually push down and away from the processor. Remove the heatsink (and fan)

3. Lift the CPU seating arm (a bar that runs the length of the CPU - you pull it out slightly and lift it up).

4. The old processor should lift out. Put it somewhere safe in case it goes wrong!

5. Apply a SMALL amount of thermal grease to the CPU die (the metal bit in the middle). This is a tiny amount, usually about a millimeter in diameter and a couple / few millimeters in length. Spread the grease evenly across the CPU die using your finger. I usually cover my finger in Clingfilm so no grease is applied)

6. Seat the CPU in the slot. The cut corner has a certain direction so be careful to fit it correctly - if I remember right, it wont seat in any other direction anyway. Also be careful not to force the chip - it should just drop in.

7. Put the heatsink / fan back on and connect fan to motherboard.

rooster

thanks very much opportunity_cost, mmillie and JonnyThunder that was just the information I was looking for.

Zeitgeist

Once installed, Windows will detect the new processor and install the relevant drivers, however it's worth installing these items that are mentioned here:

http://www.hardforum.com/showthread.php?t=983781

There is a lot of info here but essentially you should install:

(1) The AMD Dual Core Optimizer
(2) Updated AMD Processor driver
(3) The Microsoft Hotfix (XP SP2)
(4) Newer video drivers for your graphics card

nutty1

we're just having a new processor fitted. will all our stuff still be on the computer eg music,photos,fav web sites. when the new processor is installed

bat999

Yes, your own files should still be there. They probably won't need to disturb them if they're just changing the processor.
:cool:

ps But if you have anything there that is extremely important then you should make a copy on a cd or a memory stick or a floppy disk, just in case.